A matriculation exemption is a legal requirement for first-degree study at a South African university. By law, students who did not pass their Senior Certificate with exemption need to apply for one through the Matriculation Board.

Foreign students wishing to register for first-degree studies in South Africa must have their school qualifications evaluated by the Matriculation Board. The board will then issue a certificate of exemption to those who qualify.

You need to get hold of and M30e form from:

  1. Admissions offices of universities; or
  2. Click here to download it from the matriculation board website; or
  3. Email exemption2@Universities South Africa-enrol.ac.za to request a form; or
  4. Phone on and we will fax a form to you.

There are various types of exemption certificates issued depending on the qualifications of the applicant.

a) Complete exemption certificates

Certificates that do not have expiry dates but take effect on a date that is dependent on the qualification based on which it is awarded. A detailed explanation of the different types of exemption certificates can be found on this web page http://hesa-enrol.ac.za/mb/exreq.htm  of the website.

b) Conditional exemption certificates

  • Mature age which is offered to 23 year old students and lasts for full-time duration of study plus two years;
  • Foreign conditional which lasts for full-time duration of study plus two years; and
  • Ordinary conditional, which lasts for a year, and have to be renewed on yearly basis until the student meets the requirements of the exemption. Senate’s discretionary exemption, which is granted once the student, has completed a recognised access course or a foundation programme and lasts for three years.

The exemption certificate types vary from one to another, the validation period is shown on the certificate.

If you change universities, you need to send an application to the board so your exemption certificate can be transferred to the receiving university.

If you qualified for Senate’s Discretionary exemption, you need to find out from the receiving university whether they are prepared to accept you with that kind of exemption.

Exemptions are issued to a university where you have been registered. You can apply to as many universities as you like but you can only register at ONE university for an academic year.

It takes the matriculation board 3-5 working days to process the faxed inquiries.

If the applicant qualifies for an exemption, a provisional letter is issued which is sufficient to facilitate admission to South African public university subject to the applicant meeting the institutional requirements.

The actual exemption certificate is issued approximately 6 weeks after receipt of all relevant and correctly certified documents and the requisite payment.

  • Fax or email a copy of your identity document or passport or birth certificate reflecting full names and date of birth to 086 677 7744 (fax) or
  • You need to fax or email a copy of your school results to 086 677 7744 (fax) or :
  • Senior Certificate/results or
  • and A levels, or
  • IGCSE and HIGCSE results, or
  • KCSE, WAEC or NECO etc.

Remember to write your fax number. Please allow 5 working days for a response to be faxed back to you.

Please note that this will just be a provisional letter not the actual certificate of exemption.

The standard application fee is R430 (non-refundable) as from 1 January 2010. However, should you qualify for conditional exemption, you will be charged R160 as from 1 January 2010 and any fees in excess be refunded.

The money can be deposited into the following bank account:

Bank : ABSA Account name : Matriculation Board
Account number : 4059036917
Branch : Sunnyside Branch
Code : 630345
Swift code : ABSA ZA JJ

Please Note: When completing the bank deposit slip make sure that your surname and initials are clearly indicated in the reference column and fax proof of payment to Matriculation Board at: 086 677 7744 or 086 686 1720.

You need to send us the following details:

  • Surname and full names that appear on your certificate;
  • Name of school where you sat for JMB examinations;
  • Year of examinations;
  • The area where the school is or was situated;
  • Your date of birth;
  • Your fax and telephone numbers.

Once the above information has been verified, the Matriculation Board will then issue a duplicate copy of your Senior Certificate.

Please Note: The Matriculation Board keeps the records of the then Joint Matriculation Board Examinations up to 1992.

If you wrote any other examination contact the national Department of Education at one of these numbers: 012 303 3500 or 012 312 5843 or 012 312 5846.