The education section answers one question for the employer: do you have the qualification the job needs? Make that answer quick to find.
The basic format
Most recent first. One line each: qualification, institution, year completed, then a short details line if it helps.
Diploma in Human Resource Management · Durban University of Technology · 2024
Majors: labour relations, training and development
Matric
Write “National Senior Certificate (matric)”, the school and the year. Early in your career, add the subjects and marks that relate to the job, such as maths, English or accounting. Once you have a diploma, degree or a few years of work, one line is enough.
NQF levels and short courses
Adding the NQF level helps South African employers and learnership panels compare qualifications: “Certificate in Bookkeeping (NQF level 4)”. Put short courses and online certificates under a separate Certificates heading so they do not crowd your main qualification.
Unfinished or ongoing studies
Be exact: “BCom Accounting, final year, completing in 2026” or “BSc Computer Science, completed two of three years”. Never list a qualification as finished when it is not; employers verify.
Foreign qualifications
If you studied outside South Africa, mention whether your qualification has been evaluated by SAQA, or that the evaluation is in progress.