 |
|
Recent Student newsCareers Cost Comparison02 Sep 2009No doubt about it, education is expensive. That's why it's important to discuss the funding of your tertiary education with your parents in a responsible, realistic way. Johan Wasserfall, CEO of Eduloan, South Africa's dedicated educational finance provider, advises students and school-leavers to research study options thoroughly and decide which option suits them best. Financing your studies Eduloan provides insight into four popular career areas. Where can you study? What kind of fees you are looking at? Business - With a business qualification, you will be well equipped to enter almost any branch of commerce and industry - from tourism, manufacturing, financial services and information technology to sales and marketing, retail, transport and tourism. You could consider positions such as economist, business analyst, business consulting, and general management-level positions. Usually, you would need a BCom degree, or a BCom with a particular specialisation, or you could consider a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). If you want to study further, consider a Masters in Business Leadership (MBL) or Masters in Business Administration (MBA). An undergraduate BCom degree usually takes about 3 years at University and you can expect to pay anywhere from R16,000 to R40,000 per year, depending on what and where you study. You could choose a Business Management N4 to N6 at a FET college (an 18-month course) with an option to obtain 18-months of practical experience in order to obtain a National Diploma. Courses average about R7,000 per year and there is a pre-matric option, for those without their National Senior Certificate, at approximately R3,500 per year. Marketing - A good first choice is the IMM Graduate School of Marketing, which offers internationally recognised certificate, diploma and degree courses. A 1-year Certificate in Retail Marketing or Sales Management will cost from about R6,500, the 3-year Diploma in Marketing approximately R5,000 per year and the 4-year Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Marketing (BBAM) about R5,000 per year. You could start with a Certificate and work your way right up through to the BBAM, gaining credits for subjects passed and so also shortening the length of study. For example if, after obtaining your Diploma in Marketing, you take the BBAM conversion course, you can complete it 1-year full-time or 2-years part-time, as opposed to the full 4-year degree course. You could also consider studying a BCom with a specialisation in Marketing Management, or a BBA, which will ensure you are able to work in a variety of industries, such as advertising, sales or product development, and in a range of occupations, including marketing manager or consultant, market researcher, sales manager and brand manager. You could also opt for a 3-year National Diploma in Marketing and thereafter a 1-year BTech (Marketing) at University level, which will cost from R16,000 to R40,000 per year, depending on what and where you study. You can also study at a University of Technology for a 2-year NDip (Marketing), at a cost of between R11,000 and R16,000 per year, and from there you could study for a BA(Hon) or BTech Degree. Many FET (Further Education and Training Colleges) offer the National Certificate in Marketing N4 to N6, with courses averaging about R7,000 per year, and a pre-matric option for about R3,500 per year. Teaching - You will need a 3 or 4-year bachelor degree, such as a BA, BCom, BBA or BSc, with approved teaching subjects. You can also consider a Bachelor of Education (BEd), either ECD (Early Childhood Development) and Foundation Phase, Intermediate and Senior Phase or Senior Phase and FET. Fees range from R16,000 to R40,000 per year, depending on what and where you study. There is talk in government of bringing back the teacher's training colleges of the past, which is sure to increase accessibility to and the affordability of training in the teaching profession. Science & Technology - The government is backing the science and technology industries, as there is a shortage of skills in this area. There are a lot of potential careers to choose from - some of the more popular choices are biochemist, environmental scientist and engineering technician. For a career as a chemical engineer, you would need to study a 4-year BEng (Chemical) at University; as a biochemist, you could consider a BSc General (majoring in Biochemistry) through UNISA; as an environmental scientist a BSc (with a specialisation in Environmental Management) through UNISA and as an engineering technician a NDip Civil Engineering at a University of Technology. The fee range is varied, but you're looking at approximately R25,000 per year and upwards for a University degree and between R8,000 and R18,000 per year at a University of Technology. If you are interested in mechanical, electrical or civil engineering, then an FET college is also an option - you can start by obtaining your National Certificate (N4 to N6) in your chosen discipline, at a cost of approximately R8,000 per year and, after a prescribed period of practical work experience, you can then apply for your National Diploma. Useful websites: • For more career information visit: www.careers.co.za; www.careers24.com and science and technology career info on: www.biocareers.co.za. • For a good list of universities and universities of technology in South Africa, visit: South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) access the ‘university profiles' listing on www.studysa.co.za or see the listings on http://www.gradx.net/pressoffice/institute/. • For a list of FET (Further Education and Training Colleges) visit: www.fetcolleges.co.za. • IMM Graduate School of Marketing. • For a comprehensive listing of colleges in South Africa, do a search on the Easy Info search engine. Email your name, surname and university that you are studying at to info@eduloan.co.za and you could be one of ten lucky readers to be sent an Eduloan Drawstring bag, T-Shirt and lanyard.
|
