After you have submitted your application, be sure to check in with the CAO to see whether it has been received and processed. You will discover how to perform a CAO status check online in this post. In addition, you will discover all you need to know about this non-profit organisation in great detail.
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About Central Application Office (CAO) South Africa
CAO is the foremost provider of services aimed at making post-secondary education more accessible to students. The organisation is responsible for coordinating undergraduate applications to South African colleges and universities.
All universities, universities of technology, private colleges, and the five TVET institutions in KwaZulu-Natal rely on the CAO for their students’ futures. Only in South Africa can you find a non-profit organisation like this one.
Furthermore, students can receive one of four annual bursaries, as well as a three-year full tuition scholarship, each year.
Over 730 different courses are represented by over 250 different job paths in the applications. With the use of a self-assessment quiz, the CAO provides a list of possible career paths.
Applicants may apply online or in person at CAO’s office or partnered institutions, such as district offices, public libraries, schools, and employment fairs in KZN, as well as at the Department of Basic Education.
Students just need to submit one application and pay one fee when applying to several schools. Instead than paying and submitting to each university separately, one cost includes submissions to up to six different universities.
Keep reading to the end to find out how to properly perform a CAO status check.
CAO Programmes List
The CAO manual and the official CAO website are two options for students who want to see what programmes are available at their desired school.
The first option is to follow the steps outlined below:
- Go to ac.za to access the CAO’s official webpage.
- Choose the “Programmes” option.
- “Programme list” may be found on the left navigation bar by clicking on it.
- You may narrow down your search by institution, test type, working personality, or career path by using the criteria on this page.
- Otherwise, if you know the name or code of a certain programme, enter it here.
By following these methods, you may also verify it in the CAO handbook:
- The list of programme options is separated into sections based on potential career paths.
- Career paths are broken down into two categories: Programmes at public and private colleges and universities are listed in the blue section, while programmes at for-profit schools and universities are included in the orange.
- To find a course, type in the subject area you are interested in and then click on the link provided.
- Within each career field, programmes are divided into tiers based on their academic rigour.
The different levels of study are:
- Shorter course study
- National Certificate (Vocational) study
- Nated Certificate and Diploma study
- Certificate study
- Diploma study
- Degree study
- Bachelor of Technology or Masters of Technology study (programmes for people with a diploma or a degree)
Consult the institution if you are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies that are not included on the CAO’s website or in its handbook. Shorter courses and programmes are also available for educators and nurses who are currently in the field.
The following is what you will see in the programme listing:
- Programme name
- Colour codes in programme name
- Programme code
- Institution and campus codes
- Closing date
- Entry term
- Duration
- Minimum points
How to Apply through CAO
Students interested in applying through CAO can do so in two ways: online or physically. The instructions below will be helpful for you to complete and submit your application.
How to Apply through CAO: Online
First, follow the step-by-step guide below to apply via CAO online:
- Go to the CAO website at cao.ac.za.
- Read “How to use the programme list.”
- Refer to the summary of codes used.
- Use the “Index” to find which page the programme is on.
- Click on “Apply” on the banner.
- Go to “Apply Now.”
- Complete the application by filling all required details and following the prompts.
- Print out the declaration and deposit slip.
- Pay application fee.
- Attach required documents and proof of payment to the form of declaration.
- Post to CAO deliver by hand to the CAO offices.
- Keep the receipt and make a note of CAO number and password in order to track your application status later.
How to Apply through CAO: Physical
Second, the following guidelines only apply if you wish to submit your application to one of the CAO offices:
- Go to the CAO website at cao.ac.za.
- Read “How to use the programme list.”
- Refer to the summary of codes used.
- Use the “Index” to find which page the programme is on.
- Download the application form from the site and print it.
- Fill in the application form with all relevant details.
- Pay application fee.
- Attach required documents and proof of payment to the form of declaration.
- Post to CAO deliver by hand to the CAO offices.
- Keep the receipt and make a note of CAO number and password in order to track your application status later.
You will learn how to do the CAO status check online in the next section. Also, you will be able to see your application’s current status and what each one means.
CAO Status Check: How To
You can check your CAO application status online via the CAO site. The following guide will tell you how to do it step by step:
- Access the CAO website at cao.ac.za.
- Select and enter one of the following identification numbers: CAO Number, ID Number, or Passport Number.
- Click the “Submit” button.
- You will be informed of the current status of your CAO application.
Bonus: CAO Application Status Definition
If the institution has made any headway in examining your application, it will be noted in the CAO report. The following is a list of the latest admission application statuses:
- Waiting for a Decision: Your application has not yet been reviewed by the institution or school. For on-time applications, this is the default status.
- Late Application: If your application was submitted after the deadline for the programme, you will be given this status as a result. Late applications are handled differently by each school. For further information, consult the institution’s prospectus.
- Awaiting Results: The university is holding off on making a decision on your application until it receives further information.
- Conditional Offer: If you fulfil all of the institution’s standards, you will be allowed to attend. In cases where space is at a premium, the minimal criteria for the programme may be exceeded. At the time of registration, certain programmes may provide an assessment exam. If you do not accept the spot, or if your final results are not as excellent as your previous results, this may be removed.
- Firm Offer: Your application has been accepted by the school or university. If you do not accept the spot, or if your final results are not as excellent as your previous results, this may be removed.
- Has Not Met Programme Ranking Criteria: You do not satisfy the requirements of the institutions you are applying to. There is a Change of Mind Request Form on which you can request to change the programme’s rank.
- Interview/Audition/Portfolio: The selection process is unique to the programme. The university should reach out to you to provide information about the event’s date, time, and location. You may need to contact the institution directly to get the information you need.
- Please Supply Academic Record: In order to apply, you will have to provide a copy of your academic transcript from any tertiary school you have attended in the past or present.
- Please Supply USAf/SAQA Evaluation: The institution requires a Universites South Africa (USAf) or SAQA evaluation of the foreign exam results you may have written.
- Programme Closed: There will be no further applications accepted.
- Refer for Decision: The application must be evaluated before the status may be updated.
- Regret Programme Discontinued: The university has chosen to discontinue a programme that was previously included in the handbook. In some situations, schools may recommend that you apply for a different programme. Fill out a Change of Mind Request Form at no charge to you.
- Regret Unsuccessful: For whatever reason, based on their selection procedures, the institution has chosen not to provide you a seat.
- Short-listed, Standby and Wait-listed: Despite the fact that the institution is examining your application, no decision has been made on whether or not you will be granted admission.
- Unsuccessful Following Placement Test/Interview: As a result of your performance on the entrance exam or interview, the university has chosen not to extend an offer of admission to you. Additionally, the school might employ a variety of methods to inform you that you will not be accepted.