Before Enrolling: Check the Qualification and the Provider

Updated October 2026. Follow the current instructions for the programme and institution involved.

An attractive course title is not enough to establish what qualification you will receive or whether the provider is authorised to offer it. Before paying, identify the exact award, the organisation teaching it and the body issuing it. These can be different organisations, and their roles need to be clear.

Write down the exact claim

Record the course’s full name, qualification title, issuing body, mode of study, campus and intended intake. Ask for any registration or accreditation identifiers the provider claims. Save the dated offer or prospectus so you can compare it with official information.

Avoid relying on a general statement such as ‘internationally recognised’. Ask which organisation recognises the award, for which purpose and in which jurisdiction. Recognition for entry to a course is not necessarily recognition for professional registration or employment.

Check the qualification record

For South African qualifications, the SAQA register of qualifications and unit standards is an official starting point. Search the exact qualification and compare the details with the provider’s claim. Do not rely only on a similar-sounding name or a screenshot of a search result.

A qualification record and a provider’s permission to deliver a programme are separate questions. Finding an award in a register does not by itself answer every question about a particular campus, mode of delivery or training arrangement.

Ask who is responsible for each part

This table does not declare which organisation regulates your course. Use the appropriate official authority for the country, qualification and profession involved. If you cannot establish the responsible body, that uncertainty needs resolving before payment.

Compare the records with the offer

Check the qualification name, study level and any reference number. Look for differences in campus, delivery arrangement or the organisation named in the contract. Ask the provider to explain discrepancies in writing and verify material claims independently.

Do not assume a provider’s previous permission covers every new course it advertises. Equally, an old directory entry may not reflect a current arrangement. Use the current official record and ask the responsible authority about unresolved questions.

Check what the course will let you do

Think about the purpose of the study: further education, a job requirement, professional registration or skill development. Ask the relevant receiving institution, employer or professional body what evidence it accepts. A course may be useful without satisfying every purpose for which it is marketed.

For a short course, ask whether the outcome is a certificate of attendance, a skills credential or a formal qualification. Do not treat all certificates as equivalent. Keep the provider’s explanation with the course information.

Read the practical arrangements

Confirm how assessment works, what student support is available and which expenses are included. If practical training or a placement is involved, ask who arranges it and what happens if it is unavailable. Read cancellation and refund terms rather than relying on a salesperson’s summary.

Avoid paying under pressure while material questions remain unanswered. Use the payment instructions independently verified through the institution’s official channel. A polished advertisement or a familiar logo cannot establish a claim’s accuracy.

Keep a verification record

• Exact qualification and provider names.
• Official records or authorities consulted.
• Date of each check.
• Any discrepancy and the written answer.
• The final offer, contract and payment instructions.

A record helps you make a decision and explain a concern later if necessary. It does not replace the responsible authority’s determination. Eduloaded does not certify institutions; this checklist helps you ask precise questions before committing to a course.