The Central Application Clearing House (CACH) system , which is relied upon by the Department of Higher Education (DHET), matches students with available spaces at tertiary institutions based on their qualifications, location, and preferred courses.
The CACH system has been open for prospective students to sign up since 30 January, with the deadline for applications closing today, Friday, 31 March.
Once registered, students provide information about their qualifications, the courses they are interested in, and their location. The system then matches the student's information with available spaces at institutions and provides the student with a list of possible options.
The system operates on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning that students who apply as soon as possible have a greater chance of finding an available study opportunity. However, it's important to note that institutions offering placements can withdraw their offers.
As of Monday 6 March, 1,454 placement offers were made to individuals using the CACH system. However, only 144 of these offers were accepted while 103 were declined. Currently, 32 placement offers are classified as pending, while 1,175 placement offers have expired.
For those who have been rejected and were unable to find a place to study, the DHET has advised them to visit and register on the SAYouth website and submit applications for job opportunities.
The department has also launched a project called the iWIL service to encourage the creation of a reliable and appropriate information repository that can be used by businesses to place trainees, students, and graduates for workplace-based learning (WPBL).
The CACH system is particularly helpful for students who may have missed application deadlines, did not receive any acceptance letters, or who are looking to change courses or institutions.
To assist a greater number of students, the higher education department extended the project cycle of the CACH. This will see them move from 10 universities to 26 universities and a more active role in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
Overall, the CACH system aims to improve access to higher education for South African students and help them find alternative study opportunities, which in turn can increase their chances of completing their studies and gaining employment.
For more detailed information on the CACH System, applications and specified deadlines relating to CACH, you can visit our CACH system directory.
