Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting Course Requirements at DUT
Durban University of Technology · Faculty of Health Sciences
The Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting is a higher Certificate offered by DUT for 2027 learners, taking 1 year 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.
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting at DUT
- National Senior Certificate Higher Certificate pass with English (Home Language or First Additional Language) at level 3, Mathematics at level 3 (or Mathematical Literacy at level 5), Life Sciences or Physical Sciences at level 3, and two further 20-credit subjects (no more than one language subject counted).
About this course
This one-year qualification trains students to support dentists in clinical practice, covering chairside assistance, sterilisation procedures and basic dental office administration. It offers a quick entry route into the dental profession's support workforce. Graduates work as qualified dental assistants in dental practices.
Possible careers
Course intelligence for Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list as a Dental Assistant. That’s not a red flag on its own, most jobs in South Africa aren’t on that list, it just tracks where employers reported the strongest hiring pressure. Your own results, experience and network will matter more here than national demand trends.
NSFAS funding
As a Higher Certificate at DUT, a public institution, this course generally falls within NSFAS’s undergraduate funding scope. Funding is means-tested and not automatic, so confirm your own eligibility at nsfas.org.za before relying on it.
Admission chances
DUT’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 DUT and NSFAS.
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) or directly via DUT's own online application system at www.dut.ac.za; enquiries can be sent to info@dut.ac.za.
- Applications for 2027 studies
- Open: 1 March 2026
- Close: 30 September 2026
View all Courses at DUT
- Website
- Visit official site
- info@dut.ac.za
- Duration
- 1 year
- NQF Level
- 5
- Campus
- Steve Biko Campus, Durban
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.
Related courses
Source: durban-university-of-technology.json, last verified 2026-08-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Durban University of Technology before applying.