Gap Year After Matric: 8 Productive Things to Do Before University

A gap year doesn't have to be wasted time. Here are 8 productive things South African students can do between matric and university — from working and volunteering to improving your results or starting a business.

By Milah Galant in Learning Strategies · 6 min read

Key Takeaways

  • A gap year is productive when it has a plan — it becomes procrastination when it doesn't
  • Working for a year can fund your studies, build your CV, and give you clarity about what you want to study
  • You can improve your matric results during a gap year by registering as a part-time candidate for the November exams
  • Short courses and certificates (3-6 months) can make you more employable and help you test a field before committing to a degree
  • Learnerships let you earn while learning — and some lead directly to permanent employment
Not everyone goes straight to university after matric — and that's perfectly fine. Whether you didn't get accepted, can't afford it yet, aren't sure what to study, or just need a break, a gap year can be one of the smartest decisions you make. But here's the honest truth: a gap year is only valuable if you do something with it. Sitting at home for 12 months scrolling through social media isn't a gap year — it's a lost year. The difference is a plan. Here are 8 productive things you can do during a gap year in South Africa, along with honest advice on when a gap year is the right call and when it's avoidance. ## 1. Work and Save This is the most practical option — and the one most gap year students actually choose. Working for a year lets you: - Save money towards tuition, accommodation, or registration fees - Build your CV with real work experience - Develop soft skills (time management, responsibility, dealing with people) - Gain clarity about what you actually want to do You don't need a fancy job. Retail, hospitality, call centres, admin work — any paid employment teaches you things that a classroom can't. If you can save even R20,000-R40,000 in a year, that's your registration fees and first semester's accommodation sorted. If you're applying for [NSFAS application 2026](/blog/nsfas-2026-who-qualifies-how-to-apply) the following year, having work experience doesn't disqualify you — it's your household income that matters, not yours. ## 2. Volunteer Volunteering gives you experience, purpose, and something meaningful for your CV and bursary applications. South Africa has numerous volunteer organisations: - **Habitat for Humanity SA** — help build houses in communities that need them - **SPCA and animal welfare** — if you love animals, every shelter needs help - **Afrika Tikkun** — youth development programmes in disadvantaged communities - **Food gardens and community kitchens** — practical work with immediate impact - **Hospital and clinic volunteering** — especially valuable if you're considering health sciences Many [bursaries for matric students 2026](/blog/top-bursaries-matric-students-south-africa-2026) specifically ask about community involvement. A year of volunteering can make your application stand out from hundreds of others. ## 3. Travel (On a Budget) You don't need a plane ticket to Europe. South Africa itself offers incredible experiences: - **Backpacking** along the Garden Route, Wild Coast, or Drakensberg — hostels cost R150-R300 per night - **Working holiday** at a backpackers' lodge, game farm, or coastal town — many offer free accommodation in exchange for work - **Explore your own province** — there's always more to see closer to home than you think Travel broadens your perspective, builds independence, and gives you stories that make you interesting. Even a few weeks of budget travel between jobs can reset your thinking. ## 4. Learn a Trade or Skill If you're not sure university is for you — or if you want a backup plan — learning a trade is one of the most underrated options available. - **Plumbing, electrical work, welding** — artisans are in massive demand in SA, and earn well - **Hairdressing, beauty therapy** — short courses that lead to immediate self-employment - **Coding bootcamps** — 3-6 month intensive programmes in Cape Town, Joburg, and online - **Digital marketing** — free and paid courses available through Google, HubSpot, and local providers Many of these skills can be learned at a [TVET college vs university](/blog/tvet-college-vs-university) for a fraction of the cost — and NSFAS funds TVET programmes too. ## 5. Improve Your Matric Results If your matric marks weren't good enough for the programme you want, a gap year gives you time to rewrite. You can register as a part-time candidate and rewrite specific subjects in the November exams. This is especially smart if you: - Missed a Bachelor pass by one or two subjects - Need a higher mark in Maths or Physical Sciences for your target programme - Want to boost your [APS score requirements](/blog/aps-score-requirements-every-sa-university-2026) for a more competitive programme Use the year wisely — study consistently, use [grade 12 past papers](/past-papers) for practice, and treat the rewrite as seriously as your original exam. Our guide on [what to do if you failed matric](/blog/i-failed-matric-now-what-complete-guide-options) covers the full rewrite process. ## 6. Do a Short Course or Certificate Short courses (3-6 months) let you test a field before committing to a full degree, and they're often affordable or free: - **Project management fundamentals** — useful in any career - **First aid and firefighting** — required in many workplaces - **Bookkeeping and basic accounting** — immediately employable - **Computer literacy (ICDL)** — still required by many employers - **Entrepreneurship short courses** — offered by many TVET colleges and organisations like SEDA Some of these count as credits towards a full qualification later, so you're not starting from zero when you do enrol. ## 7. Do a Learnership or Internship Learnerships combine classroom learning with workplace experience, and you earn a stipend while doing them. They're offered through SETAs (Sector Education and Training Authorities) across every industry. **Where to find them:** - Your nearest Department of Labour office - SETA websites (there are 21 SETAs covering different sectors) - Job portals: Indeed SA, Careers24, LinkedIn - Company graduate programme pages Internships are similar but usually shorter and not always paid. Both give you real workplace experience that makes your CV stronger when you eventually apply for jobs or university programmes. ## 8. Start a Small Business You don't need capital to start a business. With a phone and internet access, you can: - Offer social media management to local businesses - Start a tutoring service (especially if you were strong in certain matric subjects) - Sell products online through Facebook Marketplace or Instagram - Do freelance writing, design, or data entry on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork - Start a car wash, garden service, or cleaning business in your community Even if the business doesn't become your full-time career, the skills you learn — marketing, financial management, customer service, self-discipline — are invaluable. ## When a Gap Year Is the Right Call A gap year makes sense when: - You genuinely don't know what to study and need time to figure it out - You can't afford tuition this year but have a plan to fund it next year - You didn't get the matric results you need and want to rewrite - You got accepted but want to work first to build savings - You're burnt out from matric and need a mental health reset ## When a Gap Year Is Procrastination Be honest with yourself. A gap year is avoidance when: - You're using "I'm not sure what to study" as an excuse not to apply anywhere - You have funding available (NSFAS, bursaries) but aren't taking action - You have no plan for what you'll do during the year - One year turns into two, then three, with no progress - You're avoiding the application process because it feels overwhelming If this sounds like you, the best thing you can do is take imperfect action. Apply to a programme you're interested in — even if you're not 100% sure. You can always change course, but you can't get the year back. ## Making the Most of Your Gap Year Whatever you choose to do, make it count: 1. **Set specific goals** — "I will save R30,000" or "I will complete my Maths rewrite" — not just "I'll figure it out" 2. **Set a return date** — decide now when you'll enrol, and work backwards from that deadline 3. **Stay connected to education** — keep reading, keep learning, keep your brain active 4. **Apply for funding** — use the year to prepare [NSFAS applications](/blog/nsfas-2026-who-qualifies-how-to-apply) and [bursary applications](/blog/top-bursaries-matric-students-south-africa-2026) for the following year 5. **Build your CV** — every experience during your gap year should add something to your CV If you're also exploring your options after matric, check our guide to [best courses after matric](/blog/best-courses-to-study-after-matric-south-africa) to start narrowing down what you want to study. And if university isn't appealing, read about the [TVET college vs university](/blog/tvet-college-vs-university) comparison — TVET might be exactly what you need. A gap year isn't a failure. It's a strategy. But only if you treat it like one. [Explore matric exam preparation resources →](/exam-preparation)