Flavius Mareka TVET College serves the Fezile Dabi District of the Free State Province, offering accredited vocational qualifications to school leavers and working adults across Kroonstad, Sasolburg, and the rural communities around Tweeling. The college takes its name from Flavius Mareka, a respected local educator, and has built its reputation on practical, employment-focused training in engineering, business, and general vocational fields. This guide breaks down exactly how to apply, what the process requires, and what to expect at each stage.
College Structure and Campus Specialisations
Flavius Mareka operates from three campuses, and understanding what each one offers helps narrow down where to apply before even opening the application portal.
| Campus | Town | Programme strength |
|---|---|---|
| Sasolburg Campus | Sasolburg | Engineering and technical trades, equipped with workshops for hands-on training |
| Kroonstad Campus | Kroonstad | Business, management, and office administration studies |
| Mphohadi Campus | Tweeling | A combination of business, engineering, and short skills programmes for surrounding rural students |
Two qualification pathways run across these campuses. The first is the NCV (National Certificate Vocational) route, covering Levels 2 to 4 over three full academic years, functioning as an alternative to Grades 10 to 12 in a mainstream high school. The second is the NATED pathway (also called Report 191 or N-courses), which runs N1 through N6 and requires learners to complete a period of practical workplace training alongside their theory modules before qualifying for a National N Diploma. Alongside these, the college also runs shorter skills programmes and learnerships, many of which are funded through Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), giving students additional routes into the job market outside the standard diploma structure.
Application Timeline
The college’s main annual intake typically opens on 1 September and closes around the end of September or the first week of October, targeting enrolment for the following academic year. This roughly four-to-six week window is the busiest application period, and delaying submission until the final days significantly raises the risk of running into upload errors or being unable to resolve document issues in time.
A second intake window generally follows later in the academic year, aimed at NATED programmes structured around semesters or trimesters. This gives applicants who missed the September deadline, or who only decide to study partway through the year, a further chance to register without waiting an entire year. Because these secondary intake dates are not fixed and can shift between cycles, applicants should confirm current dates through the college’s own channels rather than relying on dates from a previous year.
How to Submit an Online Application
Flavius Mareka uses the Coltech system to manage applications. Below is the sequence a new applicant follows from start to finish.
- Access the official application portal. Find the correct application link through the college’s own website. Applications submitted through unofficial or unaffiliated sites are not recognised by the college.
- Create an account. New applicants register using a working email address and a password, then supply basic personal information, including full name and contact details.
- Confirm the academic year and intake. Select the correct academic cycle before proceeding, since the portal may show more than one open intake at certain times of year.
- Indicate the qualification structure. Choose between an NCV programme or a NATED course, and where relevant, specify whether the NATED application falls under a semester or trimester structure.
- Pick a campus. Base this choice on the programme rather than convenience — an applicant wanting to study electrical engineering, for instance, should look toward Sasolburg rather than Kroonstad.
- Select full-time registration. Most first-time applicants apply for full-time study, which is the standard mode offered to new NCV and NATED students.
- Choose the specific course. Browse the list of programmes available at the selected campus and choose the one matching the applicant’s interests and prior academic results.
- Complete every field of the application form. Provide academic history accurately, since discrepancies between the form and uploaded documents can delay processing.
- Upload certified documents. All supporting documents must be uploaded as clear, certified copies at this stage.
- Complete the compulsory placement test. Every applicant, regardless of programme, must sit the Flavius Mareka placement test before an application can be finalised. This step exists to check that an applicant is being placed at an appropriate academic level.
- Submit and record the reference number. After submission, the system generates a reference number that should be saved, since it is used to track the application afterward.
Getting Help With an In-Person Application
Not every applicant has stable internet access or feels confident navigating an online system alone, and Flavius Mareka accounts for this by allowing walk-in support at all three campuses. Staff at each campus admissions office assist applicants in completing the same online form, using campus computers, and can answer specific questions about course content, entry requirements, and the practical component built into NATED programmes. This route tends to be especially useful for applicants from rural areas near Mphohadi Campus, where home connectivity can be inconsistent, and it allows an applicant to resolve document or eligibility questions on the spot rather than through back-and-forth communication after submitting online.
Documents to Prepare Before Applying
Having documents ready and correctly certified before starting an application saves time and avoids the most common cause of delay. The following are required:
- A South African ID document, or a passport for applicants who are not South African citizens
- The applicant’s highest completed school qualification — a full matric certificate where Grade 12 has been completed, or the most recent school report for applicants at an earlier stage
- A parent or legal guardian’s ID copy, required only where the applicant is under 18
- Proof of residence, either a recent utility bill or a signed affidavit where no utility bill is available
Certification should be recent, and every copy should be fully legible before it is uploaded. A poorly scanned document or an outdated certification stamp is one of the most frequent reasons an otherwise complete application gets flagged for follow-up.
Who Qualifies to Apply
Minimum entry requirements differ by qualification level. NCV Level 2 is generally open to applicants who have completed Grade 9, since it is designed as a parallel option to the standard senior phase of schooling rather than a continuation of it. NATED courses at N1 to N3 level can likewise accept Grade 9 or Grade 10 leavers, particularly in engineering fields. From N4 upward, and for most NATED business studies courses, a National Senior Certificate is typically required, with some programmes specifying minimum results in particular subjects.
The compulsory placement test and an accompanying selection and placement form work together to confirm that an accepted applicant is placed into a class appropriate to their current ability. This is a standard part of the process for nearly every programme at the college, not an additional barrier reserved for select courses.
Costs of Applying
Submitting an application to Flavius Mareka TVET College costs nothing. No application fee is charged at any stage of the process, and the only costs a prospective student needs to plan for are registration and tuition fees, which apply after a place has been formally offered and accepted. Any individual or platform asking for payment in order to submit or accelerate an application is not part of the college’s official process and should be treated with caution.
NSFAS Funding for Flavius Mareka Students
Most students enrolled at Flavius Mareka rely on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to cover their studies. NSFAS funding, where approved, covers tuition costs and can include a living allowance for students who meet the household income threshold. This funding is applied for separately, directly through the NSFAS website, and has no connection to the Coltech application system used by the college.
Applicants should not delay their college application while waiting for the NSFAS window to open, since the two processes run on different schedules and are assessed independently. A student who is accepted into a Flavius Mareka programme but is later found ineligible for NSFAS funding can still withdraw their registration before classes begin, which removes much of the financial risk of applying to the college ahead of confirming funding.
Tracking an Application After Submission
Applicants can return to the Coltech portal at any time after submission, log in with their account credentials, and check whether their placement test has been recorded, whether any documents are outstanding, and whether an offer has been made. The reference number generated at submission is central to this process and should be kept accessible. For applicants without convenient internet access, the same information can be obtained by contacting or visiting the relevant campus directly.
What Happens Once an Application Is In
After submission, the college’s selection committee reviews each application to verify that supporting documents are complete, that minimum entry requirements are met, and that the placement test has been finished. Application volumes rise noticeably as the September to October deadline nears, which can extend processing times during that period. If an applicant has not received any response after a reasonable amount of time, contacting the specific campus applied to is the correct next step, rather than submitting an entirely new application, since duplicate submissions tend to slow the process down rather than speed it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to apply to Flavius Mareka TVET College?
No. The application itself is completely free. Fees only come into effect once a student has been offered and accepts a place, at the point of registration.
Can I skip the placement test?
No. The placement test is compulsory for every applicant and is used to place students at the correct level within their chosen programme.
Which Flavius Mareka campus is best for engineering studies?
Sasolburg Campus is the college’s main hub for engineering and technical training. Kroonstad focuses more on business and management, while Mphohadi in Tweeling offers a mix of both alongside shorter skills programmes.
What qualification do I need to apply?
It depends on the course. NCV Level 2 and lower-level NATED courses (N1–N3) generally accept applicants from Grade 9 or Grade 10. Higher NATED levels (N4–N6) and most business studies programmes require a National Senior Certificate.
Should I apply to the college before applying for NSFAS?
Yes. College admission and NSFAS funding are assessed on separate timelines, so applying to the college first is the recommended approach. If NSFAS funding is not approved afterward, registration can still be cancelled before the academic year begins.