Questions to ask when deciding on your career

Which careers will match with your values and ambitions?

It is important that you choose a career which will help you achieve the sort of lifestyle you want as well as matching your working personality. Answering the following questions might help you get a clearer picture of what type of career would be right for you.

Does this career offer the sort of challenges and rewards I need?

People work for different reasons. Some work best when they are well paid; others are more stimulated by a challenge than by money. Some like a feeling of importance; others are inspired by the gratitude of people they have helped. Some get a kick out of creating something. It may help you if you write down your answers to the following questions:

• What values and ambitions do you have?
• Think back to when you did some work you were really pleased with - what encouraged you to do your best?
• Do you perform at your best when you stand to gain a reward or money, or when you are doing what you enjoy?
• What are the things that are important to you as a person?

Will this career suit the sort of lifestyle I want?

Once you have identified some careers that interest you, it is always a good idea to talk to people who are already doing the job. Ask them how hard they had to study and what sort of demands their job makes on them; find out what they like and dislike about the job. That way you will be able to determine whether the career you are considering will fit into your chosen lifestyle.

Check job advertisements in the newspapers to find out what salaries are paid for the jobs you are considering, and how many openings there are.

What am I good at?

Many, many more subjects are offered at tertiary level than at school - so how can you work out what you are likely to be good at?

Most subjects will build on knowledge and skills you have already been developing at school; for instance if you study engineering you will make extensive use of what you learnt at school in maths and science. If your best subjects at school are languages or those involving essay writing, you should consider a programme which will further develop those skills.

Don't be restricted to the subjects you are best at in school, but use them to guide you in identifying your personal strengths.

Do I qualify?

Be careful to identify programmes you are likely to qualify for. For example, if you are writing Maths at Standard Grade, you won't be considered for programmes requiring Higher Grade Maths. If you have better symbols or are writing at a higher level than that specified, the institution will be delighted to consider your application.

Check out all the different options very carefully. Different institutions have different entry requirements for similar programmes.

There are alternative routes to many of the programmes listed. The alternative routes are called 'Access Programmes' and they are designed to assist those from disadvantaged schools who do not meet the normal entry requirements.

If you are over 23 years old and do not meet the entry requirements, please contact the institution to check whether they have a Mature Age entry route.

How long am I prepared to study?

To answer this question you should estimate the cost of the programme you are considering.

Multiply the cost for one year by the number of years that the programme lasts. Remember that most costs go up each year, and that a lot of students need longer than the minimum period for the qualification.

Many students depend heavily on financial aid - remember that you should apply in good time, particularly if you are looking for external bursaries. Very few students find funding that will cover the whole cost of study.

A list of bursary donors is produced annually in The Bursary Register, available from PO Box 178, Florida Hills, 1716 (purchase price approx. R150). Consult your library or the Financial Aid Bureau of an institution. Bursaries are often advertised in the jobs section of newspapers.

Remember that part-time or distance learning options are considerably cheaper and can be combined with a job so that you can earn while you learn.

Do I have enough information to make up my mind?

After you have answered all the above questions, you may have enough information to make up your mind. If you need more information:

• For details about the content of programmes and about campus life, contact the Admissions Office of the institutions concerned.
• For help with identifying appropriate careers, contact your Guidance Counsellor if your school has one, or the Counselling or Career Guidance Centers at any of the institutions, or a Career Centre if there is one near where you live.

Higher Education Institutions - which is for you?

This website groups programmes of study into career directions, to help you focus your thinking on the area you would prefer to work in.

There are 25 different career directions, and all of them include programmes that are studied at Higher Education Institutions. The comparison below highlights the difference in approach between degree and diploma studies. Each approach has different strengths - one may suit you better than the other.

DIPLOMA STUDY	DEGREE STUDY
Diploma study is vocation-based, and develops career-oriented skills and practical knowledge.	Degree study develops the ability to work with ideas, to think in terms of systems, to experiment and to communicate.
Diploma programmes train high level person power - people who are ready to start work on completion of their study.	Some degree programmes are vocationally-oriented, but graduates in most disciplines will require post-graduate professional or on-the-job training to equip them for their future careers.
The institutions work hard to maintain close partnerships with commerce and industry, ensuring that they are sensitive to the needs of the communities they serve.	A growing focus on inter-disciplinary studies and programmes helps students to develop the flexibility to respond to the challenges they will face.
The institutions are striving to establish research programmes, so that they will be able to provide technological leadership.	Teaching staff are actively involved in research; some are world experts in their field.
Students are taught through a combination of instruction in theoretical knowledge and practical experience, in many cases in an appropriate work situation.	Instruction is theoretical and classroom or laboratory-based.
Students learn how to apply their knowledge in real-life situations.	Students learn how to learn, and how to evaluate.
Many programmes allow students to graduate at a number of different stages. For instance, students successfully completing the first year of most National Diploma programmes can apply to be awarded a National Certificate; those passing the second year can apply to be awarded a National Higher Certificate. The National Diploma is awarded on successful completion of the third year, and those who wish to pursue their studies further can usually register for a Bachelor of Technology, which will take a further one year full-time or two years part-time.	Most degree programmes last three or more years. Some institutions are introducing modular degree structures to allow students to move in and out of the institution depending on their personal and financial circumstances. Some institutions award certificates recognising courses that students have successfully completed. Most institutions will grant credit towards degrees for courses undertaken at other degree institutions.

On-campus, distance, or part-time study - which is for me?

On-campus full-time study:

Students are on-campus or in work placements for most of the year. Lectures and tests take place during the day.

• Advantages
  • Easy access to facilities such as libraries and computer rooms.
  • Plenty of contact with other students and easy access to student social life.
• Disadvantages
  • The most expensive option - especially if you stay in a residence.
  • Not normally compatible with full-time employment.

Distance learning:

Students work at their own pace using study material at home. They write assignments which they submit to institutions by post. Often tutors are available to offer assistance by phone as well as at occasional lectures/tutorials. Some distance learning institutions have local facilities for those who live nearby.

UNISA is a distance learning institution, which means that all its programmes of study are offered as distance learning. Their programme codes begin with SA (degrees) and TS (diplomas) respectively.

• Advantages
  • Less expensive than on-campus study.
  • Compatible with commitments such as employment.
• Disadvantages
  • It can be lonely studying alone.
  • Some students find it difficult to motivate themselves without regular face-to-face contact with lecturers.

Part-time study:

Some on-campus programmes are available on a part-time basis, and are taught either in the evenings or one day a week.

• Advantages
  • Can be combined with full-time employment.
  • Offers all the advantages of on-campus study.
• Disadvantages
  • It takes a year or two longer to complete the degree/diploma than when studying full-time.
  • When combined with full-time employment, this route is very hard work, especially for those who also have family commitments.

Advice on applications

With just one application form you are able to apply for certificate, diploma, undergraduate degree and postgraduate degree programmes across many different fields of study at any of the national institutions for higher education in Mpumalanga. There are more than 120 different programmes to choose from!

For more information contact the university or campus where you wish to study: