Extended Curriculum Programmes and Student Trajectories in South African Higher Education. Evidence from Linked Administrative Data, 2012–2022

Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECPs) form a central pillar of South Africa’s strategy to promote equity and improve student success in higher education. By embedding foundational provision within extended qualification pathways, ECPs aim to support students from disadvantaged schooling backgrounds while maintaining academic standards. Since the 2012 Foundation Provision reforms, ECPs have expanded system-wide and now represent a substantial and ongoing fiscal commitment. This report evaluates whether ECP enrolment improves student outcomes relative to mainstream pathways under the contemporary policy framework. Using system-wide linked administrative data from the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS), National Senior Certificate (NSC) records, and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) data, the analysis follows first-time entering students between 2012 and 2022 to assess their outcomes in the public higher education system in South Africa.