Majuba TVET College is a public technical and vocational education institution based in Newcastle, in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal. It operates under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and is one of the larger technical colleges in South Africa, known in particular for its strong focus on engineering and artisan trades. This article covers the courses Majuba offers, what students can expect to pay in 2026, and how to apply.
Overview of Majuba TVET College
Majuba TVET College serves the Amajuba and Umzinyathi districts of KwaZulu-Natal, an area with a strong industrial base that includes coal mining, steel manufacturing, cement production, and heavy engineering. The college’s programme offering reflects this: it specialises in producing skilled artisans such as welders, diesel mechanics, boilermakers, and electricians, alongside more general business and IT qualifications.
The college operates across several campuses in and around Newcastle, Madadeni, and Dundee. Its main sites include the Newcastle Technology Centre, which focuses on engineering and technical trades, the IT & Business Campus in Newcastle for information technology and commercial programmes, the Dundee Technology Centre, and additional facilities at Madadeni (referred to as MTC) and surrounding areas. Each campus tends to specialise in a particular cluster of programmes, so prospective students need to select not just Majuba as an institution but the correct campus for their intended field of study.
Majuba TVET College is quality-assured by Umalusi for NCV and NATED qualifications, and its occupational and trade programmes align with the relevant SETAs and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). This ensures that certificates issued by the college are recognised by employers and other education institutions across the country.
Types of Qualifications Offered
Majuba TVET College offers the same broad categories of programmes found across South Africa’s public TVET system, structured to suit different entry points and career goals.
National Certificate Vocational (NCV): A three-year, full-time qualification structured across Levels 2, 3, and 4. It suits learners who have completed Grade 9 and combines classroom theory with hands-on workshop or lab-based training. NCV Level 4 carries matric-equivalent status, meaning it opens the door to further study at a college or, in some cases, university, depending on the subject combination and the specific institution’s admission rules.
Report 191 / NATED (N-Courses): These programmes are split into engineering studies (N1–N6) and business studies (N4–N6), and run on a trimester or semester basis rather than a full academic year. Engineering NATED levels are typically trimester-based (roughly three months per level), while business NATED levels often run on a semester basis (roughly six months per level). After completing N6, students need a defined period of relevant practical workplace experience, logged and verified, before qualifying for the National N-Diploma.
Artisan and Occupational Trades: Given the industrial character of the region, Majuba places heavy emphasis on trade qualifications such as welding, boilermaking, fitting and turning, diesel mechanics, and electrical trades. These follow the QCTO occupational qualification framework, which combines theoretical knowledge, practical skills training, and a structured period of workplace experience, leading to a recognised trade or occupational certificate.
Skills Programmes: Shorter, often SETA-funded courses that build specific competencies without constituting a full qualification. These are useful for students wanting to add a focused skill to their CV or as a stepping stone toward a longer programme.
Courses Offered at Majuba TVET College
The table below sets out the main fields of study available at Majuba, organised by qualification type.
| Qualification Type | Field/Programme | Levels Offered |
|---|---|---|
| NCV | Engineering and Related Design | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Electrical Infrastructure Construction | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Civil Engineering and Building Construction | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Mechatronics | Level 2 – 4 (select campuses) |
| NCV | Information Technology and Computer Science | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Office Administration | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Finance, Economics and Accounting | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Marketing | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Hospitality | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Tourism | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Primary Agriculture | Level 2 – 4 |
| NCV | Safety in Society | Level 2 – 4 (select campuses) |
| NCV | Education and Development | Level 2 – 4 (select campuses) |
| NATED (Business) | Business Management | N4 – N6 |
| NATED (Business) | Financial Management | N4 – N6 |
| NATED (Business) | Human Resource Management | N4 – N6 |
| NATED (Business) | Management Assistant | N4 – N6 |
| NATED (Engineering) | Electrical Engineering (Heavy and Light Current) | N1 – N6 |
| NATED (Engineering) | Mechanical Engineering | N1 – N6 |
| NATED (Engineering) | Civil Engineering | N1 – N6 |
| Artisan/Trade | Welding, Boilermaking, Fitting and Turning, Diesel Mechanics, Electrical Trades | Occupational levels |
Specialist programmes such as Mechatronics, Safety in Society, and Education and Development are not necessarily offered at every campus, so it is worth confirming programme availability with the specific campus before applying. As a general pattern, the Newcastle Technology Centre carries the bulk of engineering and artisan trade training, while the IT & Business Campus in Newcastle focuses on commercial, administrative, and IT-related NCV and NATED programmes.
Majuba TVET College Fees
TVET college fees are considerably lower than university tuition because government subsidises a significant portion of the cost per student. At Majuba, no application fee applies — submitting an application, whether online or in person, is free, and any communication demanding payment for “application processing” or “admission fast-tracking” is not legitimate and should be reported to the college.
Fee structures at Majuba are not perfectly uniform across all reporting, since figures are sometimes quoted per year, per subject, or per trimester/semester depending on the programme type. As a general guide, full-year NCV tuition tends to fall roughly between R5,000 and R18,000 annually, with the exact figure depending on the field of study — engineering and other workshop-based programmes cost more due to the tools, safety equipment, and consumable materials involved, while office-based and business programmes are generally cheaper. For NATED programmes charged on a trimester or semester basis, engineering levels often cost in the region of R3,000 to R5,000 per trimester, while business levels running on a semester system tend to fall between R4,000 and R6,000 per semester.
These figures are indicative rather than fixed. The college publishes an official, dated fee schedule (sometimes called a fee booklet) on its website each year, and this is the only reliable source for the exact amount a student will owe for a specific programme and campus. Fees are also subject to change from one year to the next, sometimes without extensive prior notice, so confirming the current figure directly with the college before registering — rather than relying on a number quoted elsewhere — is essential.
Fees generally cover tuition, access to workshops or computer facilities relevant to the programme, and course materials specific to that subject. They typically exclude protective clothing for trade and engineering programmes, textbooks beyond what is prescribed, transport, and accommodation, unless these are separately covered through NSFAS funding.
NSFAS Funding at Majuba TVET College
Majuba TVET College is registered on the NSFAS funding list for TVET colleges, meaning eligible students don’t pay tuition out of pocket. To qualify, a student generally needs to be a South African citizen with a combined household income at or below R350,000 per year. Students who receive a SASSA grant, or whose household does, generally qualify automatically without needing to submit separate proof of income.
For students who qualify, NSFAS funding at TVET level covers full tuition, prescribed learning materials, a transport allowance, a personal care allowance, and — where the student needs to live away from home — an accommodation allowance. Accommodation allowances are banded by area type, with urban placements attracting a higher allowance than peri-urban or rural placements, since cost of living differs by location.
To apply, students register directly on the NSFAS website during the application window, which usually opens in August and closes around November for the following academic year. After registering, applicants list Majuba TVET College and their chosen campus as part of the application. Once approved, students bring their NSFAS reference number to Majuba’s bursary or student finance office at registration to finalise the funding arrangement. NSFAS applications are handled independently of the college application, so students need to apply to both NSFAS and Majuba separately and within the correct timeframes.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements at Majuba depend on the qualification type and the level being applied for.
For NCV Level 2, the general requirement is a Grade 9 certificate or equivalent. Programmes with a strong technical or numerical component, such as Information Technology and Computer Science or the engineering-related NCV fields, usually require a minimum of 50% in Mathematics from the applicant’s most recent school report, since the coursework depends on logical and numerical reasoning from the outset.
For NATED engineering programmes starting at N1 to N3, the general requirement is Grade 10 with at least 50% in Mathematics, or Grade 11 with at least 40% in Mathematics. For N4 engineering entry, applicants need a National Senior Certificate (matric) or NCV Level 4, along with passes in Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy) and Physical Science. Students who hold Mathematical Literacy rather than pure Mathematics are typically advised to begin at N2 or N3 rather than N4, so they can build the required mathematical grounding first.
For NATED business programmes, matric or an equivalent Grade 12 qualification is generally the standard entry point for N4, since these programmes are theory-heavy from the start.
Given the technical focus of many Majuba programmes, applicants for engineering and trade-related fields are often required to complete a placement or aptitude test as part of the application process, to confirm they have the numerical and spatial reasoning ability the coursework demands.
How to Apply
Majuba TVET College uses an online application system (the Coltech portal) accessible through the college’s official website. Applicants create a student profile, select the intended year of study and specific campus, complete a career interest or placement test where required, and upload certified copies of supporting documents. These typically include a certified copy of the applicant’s ID, the most recent certified school report or matric certificate, and proof of residence.
Selecting the correct campus during the application matters, since programmes are split across sites — applying to the wrong campus for a specific trade or subject can delay processing or result in the applicant being placed on the wrong programme list.
Application windows for the main January intake typically open around August or September of the preceding year and close by around November to January, though some programmes accept late applications depending on available capacity. Popular engineering and trade programmes tend to fill up early, so applying as soon as the window opens improves a student’s chances of securing a place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Majuba TVET College charge an application fee?
No. Application to Majuba TVET College is free, and any request for payment to process an application or guarantee admission is a scam.
How much does it cost to study at Majuba TVET College per year?
Costs vary by programme and how fees are structured for that programme (annually, per trimester, or per semester). NCV tuition generally falls between R5,000 and R18,000 a year, while NATED programmes are often billed per trimester or semester instead. The college’s official, annually updated fee schedule is the accurate source for a specific programme’s cost.
Does NSFAS cover full tuition at Majuba?
Yes, for students who meet the household income threshold or receive a qualifying SASSA grant. NSFAS-funded students at Majuba pay no tuition and may also receive allowances for materials, transport, personal care, and accommodation.
Which Majuba campus should I apply to?
This depends on the field of study. Engineering and artisan trade programmes are concentrated at the Newcastle Technology Centre, while IT and business-related NCV and NATED programmes run mainly through the IT & Business Campus in Newcastle. Confirming the right campus for a chosen programme before applying prevents delays.
Can I start N4 engineering with only a Grade 9 or 10 certificate?
No. N4 engineering requires matric or NCV Level 4, along with passes in Mathematics and Physical Science. A Grade 9 or Grade 10 certificate with the right Mathematics mark instead qualifies a student for NCV Level 2 or N1–N3 engineering, from which they can progress upward.