Bachelor of Arts Honours in Environmental Management

Qualification code:	90108
NQF level:	8
Total credits:	120
SAQA ID:	112203
APS/AS:	60

Maximum time to complete this qualification:

3 years

Purpose statement:
The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide BA Hons (Environmental Management) graduates with systematic knowledge, specialized skills and theoretical competence in environmental management. A second purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with professional environmental management graduates with appropriate skills, managerial and leadership acumen to reach sound and responsible environmental decision-making in keeping with the precautionary principle and sustainable development principles. Such graduates can serve the country in a variety of important ways, in both the public and private sectors. The third purpose is to equip graduates with innovativeness, problem-solving competencies, and the ability to operate in multi-disciplinary teams designed to manage environmental matters. Graduates are also expected to be able to carry out proper scientific research in environmental management thereby resolving environmental problems and contributing to new knowledge in the field. These are further all aligned to the NQF level 8 descriptors.

Admission and re-admission requirements

Qualification admission requirements

Please note:

• Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the specific admission requirements for your chosen qualification.
• Unisa reserves the right to withdraw any offer for admission to the 2026 academic year should it be found that you do not meet the statutory, college and/or minimum admission requirements for the qualification to which you have been admitted. In such a case, the university will refund any registration fees paid towards the said qualification.

An appropriate Bachelor's degree in Environmental Management or equivalent (Anthropology, Archaeology, Development Studies, Economics, Environmental Health, Geography, Law, Sociology, Tourism, Town and Regional planning) with an average of 60% or more, in the related field on NQF level 7,
or
applicants who do not meet the admission requirements as indicated above may apply for admission through recognition of prior learning (RPL) provided they are at least 30 years old with a minimum of five years' current, relevant working and research experience in line with the approved qualification's RPL requirements. For more information on RPL criteria visit: http://www.unisa.ac.za/rpl applicants may submit an appeal on the application portal at https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Apply-for-admission-to-study:-application-tool and will be required to provide a motivation for special admission.
The motivation must incorporate the following:
* academic motivation offering evidence of your ability to study a postgraduate qualification,
* work experience relevant to the qualification and courses completed since graduating with a Bachelor's degree or Advanced Diploma.
These appeals will only be considered if the enrolment target of the qualification has not been met and/or additional enrolment spaces are available.

Student fees and funding your studies

Apply for admission

Apply for admission to honours degrees or postgraduate diplomas for the 2026 academic year between 18 August and 10 October 2025. 

Please note:

• You must apply for each new qualification even if you already have a formal Unisa student number. This includes first-time Unisa applicants, Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or changing the specialisation of their current qualification, and applicants completing an undergraduate qualification who wish to continue with postgraduate studies.
  * Student numbers issued for short learning programmes and the Graduate School of Business Leadership are not formal Unisa student numbers.
• You may apply for a maximum of two qualifications, ranked in order of preference (although you may only register for one should all of your applications be successful). No changes may be made after the closing date for applications.
• You must accept or decline Unisa's offer within the prescribed period of time.
• You may only accept one offer. If you accept an offer, the other application for admission/offer will automatically fall away.
• If you accept Unisa's offer for the 2026 academic year, you may only register for the qualification and specialisation for which you received an offer. You may also only register for the 2026 academic year. Should you decide not to register for the 2026 academic year for any reason, you will need to apply for admission during the next application period.

Registration

Successful applicants should visit the registration website in January 2026 for updated registration information (eg qualification rules, curriculum/transitional arrangements, pre-requisites and co-requisites): www.unisa.ac.za/register

Curriculum / modules