Johannesburg — 2024 Matriculants who applied for admission to public universities and colleges but were not offered a place are encouraged to use the Central Application Clearing House (CACH) service to explore alternative options for higher education and skills development in 2025.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) introduced this online service to help students secure spots in higher education institutions or skills programs after unsuccessful applications. The service aims to connect students with available spaces in universities, colleges, and other post-school education and training (PSET) opportunities , be it TVET college, universities and accredited institutions of higher learning.
The CACH service for 2025 officially opens on Monday, January 20, 2025, at 8am and will run until the end of March 2025.
Who is eligible to apply?
CACH is designed for students who meet the following criteria:
- Matriculants from 2000 Onwards: Anyone who completed Grade 12 in 2000 or later and is seeking placement in a higher education institution can apply.
- Unplaced applicants from 2024: This service is especially beneficial for students who applied for university or college admission in 2024 and meet the entry requirements based on their matric results (2024), which were released on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, but were not offered a place in their desired program.
- Changed results applicants: Students who were provisionally accepted based on their Grade 11 results but no longer meet the entry requirements after receiving their final Grade 12 results can also use the service to explore other options.
How does CACH work?
The CACH service is completely FREE and works by matching students’ National Senior Certificate (NSC) results and their study preferences with available spaces at institutions in the PSET system. The Department of Basic Education sends NSC results directly to the CACH system to simplify the process.
Once students sign up, their information is shared with universities, colleges, and other educational institutions. While CACH helps connect students to opportunities, the service does not guarantee admission, as placement depends on the availability of spaces and specific entry requirements.
In a statement on the official website, the Department noted:
“We cannot guarantee that you will be offered a place, but we will do our best to ensure your data is shared with institutions looking to fill their available spaces.”
Operating hours
The CACH sign-up service operates during the following hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8 am to 6 pm
- Saturday: 8 am to 2 pm
What you need to sign up
To complete your registration on the CACH platform, you will need the following information and documents:
- A copy of your NSC/SC Certificate or your official Statement of Results.
- Your ID/Passport Number or Examination Number, as well as your Name, Surname, and Date of Birth exactly as they appear on your NSC results or certificate.
- A valid cellphone number.
- A valid email address for communication purposes. If you do not have an email address, CACH provides an option to create a Gmail account during the sign-up process.
Why use CACH?
The CACH platform serves as a valuable resource for matriculants seeking guidance and placement in post-school education. It ensures that no opportunities are missed and provides a lifeline for students to connect with institutions that still have available spaces.
Students are encouraged to act quickly and make use of this service to take the next step toward achieving their educational goals. Individuals can register or sign up online via the website at http://cach.dhet.gov.za.
