UCT Online High School Further Studies (Advanced) Programmes
Secure your competitive edge and get a head start for university with Further Studies Maths, Physics & English.
From R760.62 per month
Wondering whether Further Studies is right for you?
Further Studies is offered by the IEB as a certified exam and is quality assured by Umalusi. The exam is written by learners in their Grade 12 final exams but the programme has been designed to be taught over three years from grades 10 to 12 in order to build the necessary foundation of knowledge in advance. Over the course of this programme, learners develop independence, critical thinking skills and an extended understanding of Mathematics, Physics or English which builds a foundation for tertiary education.
- Become more comfortable with your core schools subjects and, thus, improve your results.
- Get a head start on difficult university topics.
- Improve your university application by standing out from other candidates.
- Develop your independent study skills and critical thinking in preparation for university.
- Open doors to international universities.
- Learners with a strong core subject results e.g. learners achieving above 70% for Mathematics can apply for Further Studies Maths
- Learners with an interest in the subject who want to extend themselves
- Learners who want to better their core subject results by extending themselves
- Learners who want to better prepare themselves for tertiary study
- Learners who want to differentiate themselves when applying to universities
- Learners who are looking to apply to international universities
- Study at your own pace anytime, anywhere
- Learn from expertly-designed curriculum and video lessons
- Revise concepts as much and as frequently as needed
- Test your understanding through online quizzes and sample questions
- Access live chat support from Further Studies educators to help you reach your learning goals
- Track your learning through comprehensive reports and feedback from your educators
Just recently the IEB announced the launch of their newest qualification – the IEB International Secondary Certificate (IEB-ISC). Along with this launch, the IEB has taken the decision to rename the Advanced Programmes as Further Studies from 2022. These qualifications have already been benchmarked by UK-ENIC as comparable to the overall GCE Advanced level (A-level) standard and this has been so for a number of years.
Along with the name change are some other notable changes. The pass mark for Further Studies subjects is 50% (previously 40%). Also, in Further Studies Mathematics learners will, as of 2022, have the option to write only Paper 1 (which will result in a Further Studies Mathematics Standard Certificate) or both Paper 1 and Paper 2 (which will result in a Further Studies Mathematics Extended Certificate). Read more about Further Studies here.
Learning Further Studies in a style that suits you
Live Online lessons
Live Online lessons are for learners who want a regular structure to learning Further Studies by attending weekly online live lessons.
- Learners can engage and ask questions like they would in a classroom environment.
- Attendance and progress are tracked in line with the live online lesson programme.
- Lessons are recorded and made available to all our Further Studies learners.
Guided Online video lessons
Guided Online video lessons are for learners who want to take control of their learning timetable. We will prescribe weekly completion goals, but then our learners can choose when to study based on their timetable.
- Studio-produced video lessons with a subject expert
- Guided Online live support and coaching
Course details
Further Studies Grade Details
- Further Studies Mathematics should be taken as a subject between grades 10 – 12.
- Further Studies Physics should be taken as a subject between grades 11 – 12
- Further Studies English should be taken as a subject between grades 9 – 12.
Learners are able to join programmes later depending on their aptitude to catch up on missed lessons. Should you be interested in joining a programme late, please proceed to still fill in the application form and someone from our team will be in touch with you.
Further Studies Timetable Details
Our Further Studies programmes work on a 2-semester calendar. All lessons, tests and examinations work within a 4-term school calendar and we strive, as far as possible to ensure that our 3-term school learners are accommodated in our lesson and assessment dates. Start dates are grade-dependent which is why you will see a date range below rather than one start date.
Pricing
Further Studies fees are paid annually and cost the same for all grades 9 to 12. Learners commit to the programme each year and can pay via one of the various payment methods outlined in the table below.
The learning stream you choose differs in price due to the various costs associated with running that specific learning stream. The learning stream you choose to learn in is how your core modules will be taught. For example, if you choose the Live Online learning stream, you will be learning your core modules via Live Online lessons but your extended programme modules may be taught via a guided online medium.
| Payment plan | Guided Online | Live Online |
|---|---|---|
| Annual upfront - early bird (Apply before the end of the year & pay before the programme begins) | R6,085.00 | R6,294.14 |
| Annual upfront (Pay upfront for the year) | R6,711.40 | R6,942.07 |
| Semesterly (Pay over 2 invoices) | R3,803.13 | R3,933.83 |
| Monthly Debit Order Pay over 10 months | R760.63 | R786.77 |
* Monthly payments are run via debit order and include a 10% administration fee for the monthly processing of debit orders.
** If you join during the course of the programme your monthly payment will be adjusted and will be calculated at the point of joining.
*** Semester payment deadline is within two weeks of the start of each semester.
**** Debit orders will only be allowed for those who apply to join the programme before the 10th of April 2024.
Further Studies Mathematics Modules
Like university degrees, the Further Studies Maths curriculum is broken down into core modules and electives. The core modules are Calculus and Algebra, and learners choose one elective from the following three options: Finance and Modelling, Graph Theory and Matrices, or Statistics.
| Modules | Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus and Algebra | Available for all learning streams | Available for all learning streams | Available for all learning streams |
| Statistics | Available for all learning streams | Available for all learning streams | Available for all learning streams |
| Finance and modelling | Guided Online lessons only | Guided Online lessons only | Guided Online lessons only |
| Graph theory and matrices | Guided Online lessons only | Guided Online lessons only | Guided Online lessons only |
*In-person learning stream subject to minimum learner numbers.
Live Online lessons timetable per grade
The live online lessons are held weekly for each grade and in each lesson, learners will be guided by their Further Studies educator as well as a technical support team member. Before each lesson, learners will be given notes for their upcoming session to enable them to download and print them or have them available on their devices before the lesson.
The timetable will be released by 1 November 2023.
Self-study video lessons
Learners who choose to work through the programme via studio-produced video lessons will still be guided by an online coach. They will be given weekly completion goals but can structure their timetable however they wish.
Assessments
Learners will be assessed throughout the programme to determine their understanding of the subject. Assessment dates will be provided before the programme begins
Further Studies Includes
- Our library of Further Studies studio-recorded video lessons for your grade
- Printed textbooks for the programmes that require textbooks
- Recordings of the weekly live online lessons
- Support from our team of Further Studies teachers via live chat
- Termly assessments, reporting and feedback
- End-of-year completion certificates
5% discount for joining multiple subjects
If you apply to join multiple subjects and your application is successful, you will receive a 5% discount off each additional subject you are taking with us. Terms and conditions apply.
Learners can join Advantage Learn for Further Studies Programmes from the beginning of 2024 by successful application only. Applications close on 10 January 2024 and late applications will incur a 10% admin fee.
Lesson preview
Taught and designed by subject matter experts
Trish Pike HDE (PG)
Degree Major: Mathematics
Institution: University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Graduated: 1977
Teaching experience
- Advantage Learn NBT, AP Maths and Maths Academy teacher since 2013.
- Previously HOD of mathematics at Kearsney College, KZN.
- Previously HOD of mathematics at Thomas More College, KZN.
- AP Maths teacher since 1996.
- Core Maths teacher since 1978.
- First NBT preparation educator in South Africa.
Reviews
Informative lessons, quite helpful in some aspects, however I felt the lessons were quite long without sufficient breaks more especially for the AQL class.
- Mohammed Razeen Patel -
03 Oct 2022
Good experience. Helped me to achieve good marks in the NBT tests.
- Robert Orrock -
30 Sep 2022
Extremely helpful! Managed to achieve 86 for the math with the use of Advantage Learn! Highly recommend
- ammaarahadams2 -
29 Sep 2022
I found the workshop really helpful. I was well-equipped to tackle the AQL!
- Ipeleng Tshukudu -
29 Sep 2022
Advantage Learn really helped me. I gain a lot from these classes. I wish everyone should start here before writing the NBT.
- nonhloniphonosiphodlamini -
29 Sep 2022
I have enjoyed my time in learning at Advantage learn. There are so many helpful resources and the teachers are very patient and friendly. It has been tough but I enjoyed every moment.
- Mihle Manana -
27 Sep 2022
A good course, well taught administrated
- heather.mahood -
23 Sep 2022
The teacher are amazing, as they make sure that you understand what they are teaching and they do not leave any question not answered. It drastically increased my love for maths on another level, which this is evident in my school maths marks. I really enjoy this programme and would love to encourage everyone to join it
- Nosipho Mthethwa -
23 Sep 2022
I thoroughly enjoy the content of the FS Physics syllabus and enjoy the way in which it is presented. The textbooks as well as the slides are beneficial in learning about new concepts. Mr Rod is very passionate about the work and teaches in a way that captures my attention fully and allows me to understand the concepts clearly. Everyone has their own schedule and program for tests, assessments, tasks and examinations, therefore, a fixed time schedule for writing tests or exams is inconvenient. An open period of at least two weeks to write assessments could be beneficial to all students as they can then plan their time accordingly. For example, Ssir with whom I do extra IT has an open period to write tests. Assessments counting out of low marks results in a high percentage impact due to a few mistakes can be detrimental to the overall average of students. Removing marks from these tests and counting them out of less can reduce the overall average by a lot and greatly impact a student's results. Problems with a lot of steps should rather be written down and submitted to assess workings and the capabilities of the students, which will result in a more fair reflection of their ability.
- nicolebooyens -
19 Sep 2022
I take further studies physics. I am a fan of physics and intend on going far with it, in my life after high school. Often sitting in my physics class, I feel very restricted by the core physics curriculum's depth, I have always wanted more! And that's what Advantage Learn Further Studies Physics is doing for me. For example - from our thermodynamics course, I learn that the rule hot things expand and cold things contract is general - with water being one of the substances that don't follow that rule. While it sometimes feels extremely difficult to maintain my grade 11 work and extracurricular activities simultaneously with making time to attend and give my energy to further physics, I always enjoy the lessons even though they may be a bit lengthy sometimes :). Our teacher, Tyler Rodrigues explains the work concisely and encourages further discussions on contemporary research on related topics. I am quite happy with having Further Studies Physics with Advantage Learn!
- mokaetumiso -
18 Sep 2022
The most competent and reliable online school I've enrolled in.
- Eugenie Burger -
18 Sep 2022
I have really enjoyed my further studies program with advantage learn. The teachers are amazing and they are always willing to go the extra mile in order to help out. The content that you learn here, expands your way of thinking and helps to develop your problem-solving skills, which is a very useful technique to have in and out of school. Thank you.
- Kausha Pillay -
17 Sep 2022
It's great, valuable, and well run.
- saul.fox -
15 Sep 2022
It is really helpful and challenging. At school I just feel that I am not challenged but here I feel that I found my level and it is also fun and well as educative
- raghavberawala0 -
15 Sep 2022
I take Further studies in Maths & Physics. I am also in the Maths Academy. The teachers are outstanding, and I couldn't have wished for better. I have definitely improved in my core subjects and definitely recommend taking either course. Further studies in maths & Physics are incredibly challenging but the approach that the teachers at advantage learn takes to make it easy truly does help. Ever since I enrolled with the Maths Academy, I haven't seen a mark lower than a distinction in maths core. The team at Advantage Learn does make learning easier and more enjoyable and I recommend them to everyone.
- Hazeeq Patel -
15 Sep 2022
