The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has released the official 2025 calendar for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. This calendar specifies the academic year's start and end dates, holiday breaks, and examination periods.
TVET Colleges play a pivotal role in nurturing South Africa's future artisans. The skills acquired at TVET Colleges equip graduates with the knowledge and competencies needed to pursue diverse technical and vocational careers, secure employment, or explore entrepreneurial prospects.
In South Africa, there are fifty TVET colleges, comprising over 250 campuses. These institutions offer training in a variety of fields, including engineering, media, hospitality, business, utilities, and tourism.
NC(V) Courses
The National Certificate: Vocational, abbreviated as NC(V), serves as an alternative to a Matric Certificate. These programmes aim to develop students in specialised areas, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for successful careers.
NATED Programmes
NATED programmes typically involve months of theoretical study at a TVET college followed by months of practical application in workplaces.
TVET College 2025 Academic Calendar
NC(V) Programmes
- Term 1: Staff for National Certificate Vocational (NCV) programmes will commence work on 6 January 2025, with classes starting on 13 January 2025. The term will conclude with exams ending on 28 March 2025, and colleges will close on the same day.
- Term 2: Classes will commence on 7 April 2025, and the end exam date is set for 20 June 2025, with colleges closing on the same date.
- Term 3: Classes will start on 15 July 2025, and the exam date will be on 30 September 2025, with special days allocated for internal examinations.
- Term 4: Classes will begin on 6 October 2025 and conclude with the end exam date on 7 November 2025. An additional examination period for Life Skills & Computer Literacy (P2) is scheduled from 3 November to 7 November 2025.
- The final exam date is set for 10 November 2025 to 11 December 2025, and colleges will close on 11 December 2025.
- The NCV programme for the entire year comprises 182 lecturing days and 210 staff service days.
NATED/Report 191 Programmes
The academic calendar for NATED programmes is divided into two semesters.
For Report 191 Business and Utility Studies
- Semester 1: Term 1 begins on 6 January 2025 and concludes on 28 March 2025. Term 2 starts on 7 April 2025 and ends on 20 June 2025.
- Semester 2: Term 3 begins on 15 July 2025 and ends on 30 September 2025. Term 4 commences on 6 October 2025 and ends on 11 December 2025.
- The entire year encompasses 155 lecturing days and 210 staff service days.
For Report 191 Natural Science Programmes
The calendar for Natural Science Programmes follows a trimester system.
- Trimester 1 begins on 6 January 2025 and concludes on 15 April 2025.
- Trimester 2 commences on 12 May 2025 and concludes on 19 August 2025.
- Trimester 3 starts on 8 September 2025 and ends on 11 December 2025.
- The programme's entire year includes 141 lecturing days and 210 staff service days.
Bursaries Students enrolled in approved programmes at TVET colleges are eligible to apply for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). NSFAS covers a funded student's tuition and registration fees and provides several allowances.
You can also get the School Calendar for 2024.
