Umfolozi TVET College Course List and Campus Locations 2026

Key Takeaways: Umfolozi Essentials

Location: North Coast KZN (Richards Bay, Empangeni, Eshowe, Stanger).

Campuses: 9 Main Sites (Richtek is the Technical HQ).

Specialty: Maritime Studies (Transport & Logistics), Instrumentation, and Millwright trades.

Context: Serves the massive Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ).

Application Mode: Online (Coltech).

Accommodation: Official residences available at Richtek and Esikhawini campuses.

While Coastal KZN College dominates Durban, Umfolozi TVET College rules the North Coast. Headquartered in Richards Bay, this college is the primary feeder for one of Africa’s most important industrial hubs: the Richards Bay Coal Terminal and the surrounding smelting/mining industries.

However, Umfolozi is a college of contrasts. While the Richtek Campus in Richards Bay feels like a modern institute of technology with robotics labs and heavy machinery, the Nkandla and Bambanana campuses are deep in the rural heartland, focusing on agriculture and community development.

For 2026, the college is aggressively pushing its Maritime and Logistics programs to support the “Ocean Economy.” If you want to work in the port or the factories of Isithebe, this is your college.

This guide breaks down the confusing list of 9 campuses, explains which ones offer the highly paid Instrumentation and Millwright courses, and how to navigate the 2026 application system.

1. The 9 Campuses: Industrial vs. Rural

Umfolozi’s campuses are spread across a massive area. You cannot apply to “Umfolozi” generally; you must apply to a specific site.

1. Richtek Campus (The Industrial HQ)

Location: Naboomnek Street, Arboretum, Richards Bay.
Focus: Engineering and Maritime.
Context: Located near the port and the CBD. This is the flagship campus. It is where the heavy engineering workshops (Fitting, Turning, Electrical) are located.
Specialty: Instrumentation and Millwright trades (highly sought after by local mines).

2. Esikhawini Campus

Location: Esikhawini Township (South of Empangeni).
Focus: Engineering (Civil) and Business.
Context: A massive campus serving the township community. It has a strong focus on Civil Engineering (Bricklaying, Plumbing, Carpentry) and construction trades.
Residences: Has large on-campus student accommodation.

3. Eshowe Campus

Location: Main Street, Eshowe.
Focus: Business Studies and Public Management.
Context: Eshowe is a historic administrative town. Consequently, this campus focuses on producing clerks, HR managers, and public administrators for the local government offices.

4. Mandeni Campus

Location: Mandeni (near the Tugela River).
Focus: Engineering and Education.
Context: Situated next to the Isithebe Industrial Park (a major manufacturing zone). This campus trains artisans specifically for the factories in Isithebe.

5. Chief Albert Luthuli Campus

Location: Groutville (near Stanger/KwaDukuza).
Focus: Engineering and Business.
Context: Serves the southern tip of the college’s catchment area, bordering the iLembe district.

6. Sundumbili Campus

Location: Sundumbili Township (Mandeni).
Focus: Skills Training and NCV.
Context: Works closely with the Mandeni campus to provide bridging programs for local youth.

7. Isithebe Campus

Location: Isithebe Industrial Park.
Focus: Occupational Skills.
Specialty: Short courses and learnerships directly linked to the factories in the park (e.g., Clothing Production, Welding).

8. Bambanana Campus

Location: Jozini area (Northern KZN).
Focus: Primary Agriculture and Community Skills.
Context: Deep rural. Focuses on food security and farming.

9. Nkandla Campus

Location: Nkandla.
Focus: Business and Public Admin.
Context: Provides tertiary education access to one of the most remote parts of KZN.

2. Course List: Specialized Programs

Umfolozi offers standard NATED courses, but their “Industrial” and “Maritime” offerings are what make them unique.

Engineering Studies (NATED N1 – N6)

Available at: Richtek, Mandeni, Esikhawini.
Electrical Engineering: Heavy Current (Mines/Factories) and Light Current.
Mechanical Engineering: Fitting & Turning, Boilermaking.
Instrumentation: (Richtek only) – The science of measurement and control. Critical for the processing plants in Richards Bay.
Millwright: A hybrid trade (Electrical + Mechanical). The “Super Artisan.”

Maritime & Logistics (NCV)

Available at: Richtek / Esikhawini.
Transport & Logistics: This NCV course covers the supply chain, shipping regulations, and port operations. It is the entry point for students wanting to work in the Richards Bay Port.

Business Studies (NATED N4 – N6)

Available at: Eshowe, Esikhawini, Chief Albert Luthuli.
Financial Management.
Public Management (Very popular at Eshowe).
Human Resource Management.
Management Assistant.
Farming Management (Bambanana).

NCV Programmes (Level 2 – 4)

Primary Agriculture.
Hospitality.
Office Administration.
Civil Engineering & Building Construction.

3. Admission Requirements 2026

A. NATED Engineering (N1 – N6)

Target: Matriculants.
Requirement: National Senior Certificate (NSC) with Mathematics (Pure Math) and Physical Science.
Math Lit: Students with Math Lit are NOT accepted for N4 Engineering (especially Instrumentation). You must start at the N2 or N3 level.

B. NATED Business (N4 – N6)

Target: Matriculants.
Requirement: NSC (Diploma/Bachelor pass preferred).
Public Management: No specific subjects required, but English is critical.

C. NCV (Level 2)

Target: Grade 9, 10, or 11.
Requirement: Grade 9 Pass.
Maritime (Transport & Logistics): Requires a Grade 9 pass with good marks in Mathematics, as logistics involves complex calculations.

4. How to Apply Online (Step-by-Step)

Umfolozi TVET uses the Coltech system.

Step 1: The Compulsory Placement Test

Go to www.umfolozicollege.co.za.
Click “Online Applications”.
You must register for and complete the Placement Assessment (Career Profiler).
Why? The system will block you from applying for Engineering if your numeracy score is too low.

Step 2: Create Profile

Select “New Applicant”.
Enter ID Number and create a PIN.
Tip: If you have forgotten your PIN from a previous year, use the “Forgot Pin” function sent to your email.

Step 3: Select Campus & Course

Select Year: 2026.
Select Campus: Be careful. If you select “Nkandla” for “Instrumentation,” the system will show an error because Nkandla doesn’t offer it. Select Richtek.

Step 4: Upload Documents

Certified ID Copy.
Certified School Results.
Proof of Residence (Affidavit is accepted for rural students).

Step 5: Check Status

You will receive an SMS regarding “Provisional Acceptance.”
Registration: You must physically come to campus or log in again in January 2026 to register your subjects and print your proof of registration.

5. Fees and Funding (Estimates)

Umfolozi is a public college.

Engineering (Trimester): Approx. R2,500 – R3,000 per trimester.
Business (Semester): Approx. R3,000 per semester.
NCV (Year): Approx. R11,000 – R15,000 per year.
NSFAS:
- Transport Allowance: Very important for students traveling from Empangeni to Richards Bay.
- Accommodation: Richtek and Esikhawini residences are funded. Private accommodation in Arboretum/Veldenvlei is also funded if accredited.

6. Residence and Accommodation

Richtek Residence: Located on campus in Arboretum. High demand. Priority given to NCV Level 2 and N4 Engineering students from far away (e.g., Pongola/Jozini).
Esikhawini Residence: Large hostel serving the township campus.
Private Digs: Many students rent “back rooms” or flats in Richards Bay CBD or Empangeni. Ensure your landlord is NSFAS accredited, or you won’t get your allowance.

FAQ: Umfolozi TVET College

Q: Does Umfolozi offer Farming?

A: Yes. The Bambanana Campus is the specialist agricultural hub. Eshowe also offers some agricultural subjects.

Q: Can I study Maritime Studies?

A: Yes, via the NCV Transport & Logistics program. This is the foundation for a career in port operations (Stevedoring, Warehousing, Freight Forwarding).

Q: Is Richtek campus safe?

A: Generally, yes. It is in a suburban area (Arboretum). However, students commuting from the CBD taxi rank should be vigilant.

Conclusion: The North Coast Engine

Umfolozi TVET College is the gateway to the KZN industrial economy. If you want to be an artisan in the aluminium smelters, the coal terminal, or the paper mills of Mandeni, this is the place to train.

Action: If you are targeting Richtek for Engineering, apply now. It is the most popular campus in the entire district and fills up months in advance.

Disclaimer: Course offerings and campus locations are subject to change. Always verify with the official Umfolozi TVET College Prospectus 2026.

This video provides a visual introduction to the college environment, showcasing the facilities and student life across the various campuses, which helps prospective students get a feel for the “vibe” before applying.