The Department of Higher Education and Training has replaced the Central Applications Clearing House with a new national system called the Central Application Service, changing how prospective students access post-school education and training opportunities in South Africa. The shift affects Grade 12 learners, past matriculants, and individuals seeking placement in universities, TVET colleges, CET colleges, and occupational skills programmes for the 2026 academic year. This change matters now as applications for post-school education increasingly rely on centralised systems ahead of the next academic cycle.

According to the department, the Central Application Service is being implemented as a pilot project to improve access, coordination, and applicant support across the Post School Education and Training system.

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What the Central Application Service Is

The Central Application Service, commonly referred to as CAS, is a national access platform introduced by the Department of Higher Education and Training to support learners seeking entry into post-school education and training institutions.

CAS replaces the former Central Applications Clearing House, which primarily operated as a post-metric placement intervention after the release of Grade 12 results. Unlike CACH, which functioned within a limited time window, CAS operates throughout the year and supports applicants at multiple stages of the application and placement process.

The department said CAS integrates career information, career guidance referrals, application support, and clearing services into a single coordinated system while institutions continue to apply their own admission requirements and selection criteria.

Why CACH Was Replaced

CACH was introduced to assist learners who remained unplaced after matric results were released. While it helped identify available spaces at institutions, its scope was limited to clearing and did not support early application planning or structured career guidance.

According to the department, CAS was introduced to address these limitations by expanding access to information, supporting early decision-making, and improving coordination between applicants and institutions throughout the year.

The replacement of CACH forms part of broader reforms aimed at modernising access to education and strengthening alignment between education pathways and national skills development priorities.

Core Services Provided Through CAS

The Central Application Service provides four main services to applicants navigating the post-school system.

According to the department, these services include:

• Career information services that provide applicants with access to information about qualifications, institutions, campuses, entry requirements, and related career pathways
• Career guidance and counselling referrals for applicants who require additional support in making study or career decisions
• A centralised application service that allows applicants to submit applications for multiple post-school education and training opportunities
• An application clearing service that supports applicants who are not placed through standard institutional application processes

The department said these services are intended to support informed choices and improve placement outcomes across the system.

How The Application Clearing Service Works

The application clearing service remains a key function of CAS, particularly after the release of Grade 12 results.

According to the department, verified examination results, applicant study preferences, and contact information are shared with participating institutions that still have available spaces. Institutions may then make placement offers to applicants who meet minimum entry requirements.

Applicants who receive placement offers through the clearing process are required to respond within three days. If no response is received within this period, the offer lapses, and the space may be allocated to another applicant.

The department said this process is intended to reduce delays in placement and ensure that available spaces are filled efficiently.

Who Can Use the Central Application Service?

CAS is designed to support applicants at different entry points into the post-school education and training system.

This includes:

• Learners currently completing Grade 12
• Applicants who completed Grade 12 in previous years
• Applicants seeking entry into universities
• Applicants applying to TVET colleges and CET colleges
• Learners applying to TVET colleges using Grade 9, 10, or 11 results
• Individuals seeking access to occupational training and skills programmes

The department said applicants who are unsure about their study or career choices may be referred to career guidance and counselling services through the system.

Application Timing and Academic Entry Cycles

According to the department, applications through CAS generally open from April each year for entry in the following academic year, depending on programme and institutional requirements.

Applicants may apply for:

• Degree, diploma, and higher certificate programmes at universities
• National Certificate Vocational and NATED programmes at TVET colleges

While CAS provides a centralised access point, institutions continue to determine entry requirements, programme capacity, and the number of applications an individual applicant may submit.

CAS does not replace institutional admission systems.

What CAS Does and Does Not Do

The Department of Higher Education and Training has clarified that CAS is designed to support access and coordination rather than guarantee outcomes.

CAS:

• Supports access to career information and application processes
• Provides referrals for career guidance and counselling
• Facilitates clearing for applicants who are not initially placed

CAS does not:

• Guarantee placement
• Override institutional admission criteria
• Automatically enrol applicants into programmes

Final admission decisions remain the responsibility of individual institutions.

What This Means for Gauteng Residents

For Gauteng residents, the introduction of CAS is particularly significant due to the province’s large population of school leavers and post-school applicants. Gauteng consistently records some of the highest application volumes nationally, especially at universities and urban TVET colleges.

The expanded scope of CAS may improve access to information and create clearer pathways for applicants who are not immediately placed. It also introduces a more structured system for managing high application volumes across the province.

However, the department has emphasised that CAS does not increase the number of available spaces. Placement remains dependent on institutional capacity and applicant eligibility.

Governance and oversight

The Central Application Service operates under the authority of the Department of Higher Education and Training and is being implemented as a pilot within the broader post-school education and training framework.

The department said the system aligns with national policies on youth access to education, skills development, and coordinated service delivery across public institutions.

FAQs

What has replaced CACH?
The Central Application Service has replaced the Central Applications Clearing House.

Is CAS only for university applications?
No. CAS supports access to universities, TVET colleges, CET colleges, and skills programmes.

Does CAS guarantee placement?
No. Placement depends on institutional requirements and available spaces.

When can applicants use CAS?
CAS operates year-round and is not limited to post-matric clearing periods.

Is CACH still operating
No. CAS has replaced CACH.

What Happens Next

The Department of Higher Education and Training is expected to continue refining the Central Application Service as preparations for the 2026 academic year continue. Further operational guidance may be issued as institutions and applicants engage with the system.

For now, CAS has been positioned as a central access platform intended to improve coordination, information flow, and applicant support across South Africa’s post-school education and training system.