2024 CACH online application opening date announced: How to sign up

How to sign up for CACH online application 2024 opening date

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has announced that the opening date for 2024 CACH online applications is 26 January 2024, with the closing date being 31 March 2024.

The Central Application Clearing House (CACH) offers another chance to learners who have not yet received a place to study at an institution of higher learning. It is therefore important to know how to sign up on the portal if you are interested.

The portal matches your National Senior Certificate (NSC or Matric) results – as well as your study preferences – with available places at post-school education and training (PSET) institutions. While there is no guarantee that you will get a place, many applicants have been successful.

In a media briefing on Tuesday (23 January), Nzimande said CACH has already started a social media campaign to inform affected learners. It has also sent access credentials to institutions so that they can sign into the portal, identify suitable learners and offer them places.

“Institutions will access CACH system from 30 January 2024 until 30 October 2024. CACH services are available from Mondays to Friday between 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 2pm,” the Minister added.

How to sign up and apply

If you’re a learner who has not yet received a place at an institution, you can sign up on the CACH online application portal. You will need to upload a copy of your NSC/SC certificate or statement of results and enter your email address and cellphone number.

“You are required to enter your ID/passport number or examination number, name, surname and date of birth exactly as it appears on your NSC statement of results or your NSC/SC certificate so we can retrieve your final Grade 12 results directly from the Department of [Basic] Education (DBE),” the portal states.

Once you’re ready, sign up using the steps outlined below (the preferred internet browser is Chrome):

On the portal, click “Learner Sign-Up” followed by “Sign-Up Online NOW.”
Choose whether you’d like to use your ID number, passport number or examination number. If you’re a South African, you should use your ID number, not the passport number. You can also use your examination number, but only if there is no match for your ID number on the portal.
Enter the chosen details and click “Submit.”
On the next page, you will see a form where your ID number is prepopulated. Enter your details (names and date of birth) as they appear on your NSC/SC certificate or statement of results.
Scroll to the next page and enter your email address and other details (cellphone number and address).
Check the box to accept the terms and conditions, and then click “Next.”
The portal will then display your unique CACH number and password as shown in the example image below. Use the CACH number for all future correspondence with the Central Application Service (CAS).

Copy the password (you will need to paste it on the next page) and click “Continue with Online Sign-Up.”
On the next page, paste your password and click “Log In.” If all is in order, you will now be logged into your CACH account.
Check the pre-populated information to confirm if it is correct and then click “Next.”
Enter additional information about yourself and click “Next” after each section. The information includes financial aid, biographical, next of kin/alternative contact and school attended. Once you have completed all the sections, you will see a study options screen as shown in the image below.

Enter your study options. Start by choosing a maximum of three provinces you would like to study in. Next, select your career direction followed by up to two fields of study for your selected career direction. You can choose a maximum of two career directions, and each will have a maximum of two fields of study.
Once you have entered all the required information, you will see a summary of your CACH sign-up. Check all the details and then click “Submit my Sign-Up” at the bottom of the screen. You will then see a “Success” message on the screen.

CACH status check

Once you have signed up successfully, you can check the status of your application on the same portal under the “Learner Sign-Up” link. Simply click “Check my Offers” and sign into your CACH account to view your offers. The option will be available between 26 January and 31 March 2024.