NQF 5
qualification level
The Occupational Certificate: Software Developer is an occupational Certificate offered by CTU for 2027 learners, taking 2 years (24 months) full-time or part-time to complete. This page covers the Grade 12 subjects and admission score you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Do you qualify
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study Occupational Certificate: Software Developer at CTU
- An NQF Level 4 qualification such as a National Senior Certificate (matric)
- Prior IT or Computer Science subjects are not required
- Learners who have passed Grade 11 can first complete CTU's bridging programme
What you study
About Occupational Certificate: Software Developer
This QCTO occupational certificate (SAQA ID 118707, NQF Level 5) trains you to build software from start to finish: analysing what users need, writing and testing code, developing applications and improving existing systems. You do not need a background in IT or programming to start, which makes it CTU's usual entry point into its coding pathways. You can study through day classes (full-time, a blend of on-campus and virtual learning) or evening and Saturday classes (part-time).
Alongside the national qualification, CTU builds in international vendor certifications. In the 2027 prospectus the first year includes AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner plus Python, HTML/CSS and JavaScript, and the second year adds Microsoft Azure AI and C# certification. It is an occupational qualification registered with the QCTO, so you complete knowledge, practical and workplace components and then write an external integrated summative assessment (EISA) to be certified.
Graduates can continue to the NQF Level 6 Software Engineer or Extended Reality Developer qualifications, which CTU packages as three-year pathways such as Full Stack Developer.
After you graduate
Careers After Occupational Certificate: Software Developer
Course intelligence for Occupational Certificate: Software Developer
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Good sign: Developer Programmer appears on South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand, a Department of Higher Education and Training analysis of employer hiring activity. Employers have been reporting real recruitment pressure for this role, which generally works in your favour once you’ve completed Occupational Certificate: Software Developer.
NSFAS funding
NSFAS does not usually fund students at private institutions like CTU. Ask CTU directly about its own bursaries or payment plans, and check whether a sector SETA offers funding for this field.
Admission chances
CTU’s intake and this course’s requirements with its published admission requirements generally leave more room than the most sought-after courses, so you likely have a reasonable window to apply without rushing, though applying early is always the safer bet.
These insights are estimates generated from South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand (DHET, November 2023 draft), NSFAS’s published funding rules, and this university’s general applicant demand. They’re planning guidance, not a guarantee. Always confirm funding and admission specifics directly with CTU and NSFAS.
Step by step
How to Apply for Occupational Certificate: Software Developer in 2027
Apply online through CTU's registration portal (full-time) or the part-time and distance application portal, or visit your nearest campus. You will need a certified ID copy and your highest school or post-school results. CTU has two intakes a year, in February and July, and you can book an Open Day or speak to a career consultant on WhatsApp 083 825 9366 before you register.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to CTU Training Solutions’s own official application page.
Apply NowYou will leave studies.mycourses.co.za and apply directly with CTU Training Solutions.
Answers
Occupational Certificate: Software Developer: Frequently Asked Questions
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
Enter your own subject marks and we'll show you real courses you're likely to qualify for, right now, plus what those courses tend to lead to: how in-demand the work is, whether NSFAS is likely to fund it, and how competitive admission is.
Similar options
Related Courses
Source: Official website: https://ctutraining.ac.za/qualifications/software-developer/, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with CTU Training Solutions before applying.