Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Diploma in Public Administration and Management

Qualification code: 98203
NQF level: 6
Total credits: 360
SAQA ID: 83467
APS/AS: 17
Rules:
Students should note that during the course of their studies they would be required to have access to a computer, printer and the internet.
Purpose statement:
The primary purpose of the qualification is for learners to demonstrate vocational knowledge, skills, applied competence and the necessary attitudes in the field of public administration and management to become lifelong learners, employable workers and contributors to public administration in various institutions. A second purpose of the qualification is for learners in public administration to widen the vocational leadership and managerial base of innovative and practice-based public administration and management. Qualifying learners could follow a variety of careers within the Public Sector: - Financial Services. - Administration. - Management. - Human Resources Management. - Knowledge Management.
This qualification will be presented using both online and distance learning modes.

Who can register?

  • Applicants (new applicants & Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online. Unisa reserves the right to not process and / or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification. 
  • Re-registering students may register for the 2024 academic year once the registration period opens.

Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.


How to choose your modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a certain amount of time in order to graduate.

  • Co-requisite: Module A is a co-requisite for Module B. You want to register for Module B, but have not yet passed Module A. You must then register for both Modules A and B simultaneously. You may NOT cancel your registration for Module A unless Module B is also cancelled.

  • Pre-requisite: If Module A is a pre-requisite for Module B, you must pass Module A before you may register for Module B.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits / modules per academic year and / or semester: 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.

The maximum number of credits do not include supplementary and / or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately

  • 6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
  • 4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Click here for more information on managing your studies.

Curriculum for this qualification

While you are deciding on the modules for which you will be registering, write down the module names and codes so that you have something to refer to when completing your registration.

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

First level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
MNB1501 - Business Management IA
PUB1501 - The Nature, Content and Scope of Public Administration
PUB1504 - Public Resource Management I
PUB1505 - Public Supply Chain Management
PUB1506 - Public Office Management I
PUB1507 - Public Information Services I
PUB1508 - Public Service Delivery I
PUB1509 - Public Decision-Making I
PUB1510 - Self Management I
PUB1601 - The Structuring and Functioning of Public Services Co-requisite:PUB1501
SUS1501 - Sustainability and Greed

Second level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
PUB2607 - Public Financial Management II Pre-requisite:PUB1504
PUB2608 - Public Financial Control II Pre-requisite:PUB1504
PUB2609 - Public Human Resource Management IIB
PUB2610 - Public Procurement & Logistics Management II Pre-requisite:PUB1504
PUB2611 - Public Information Practices II Pre-requisite:PUB1507
PUB2615 - Project Management IIA
PUB2617 - Project Management IIB Co-requisite:PUB2615
PUB2618 - Fundamentals of Public Administration Research II
PUB2619 - Public Human Resource Management IIA

Third level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
PUB3711 - Approaches to Programme Management III Pre-requisite:PUB2617
PUB3712 - Aspects of Programme Management III Pre-requisite:PUB2617
PUB3715 - Public Financial and Procurement Management IIIA Pre-requisite:PUB2607 & PUB2610
PUB3716 - Public Financial and Procurement Management IIIB Pre-requisite:PUB2607 & PUB2610
PUB3717 - Public Human Resource Management III Pre-requisite:PUB2609 & PUB2619
PUB3718 - Management of Information III Pre-requisite:PUB2611
PUB3719 - Management of Information Systems III Pre-requisite:PUB2611
PUB3720 - Policy Studies III
PUB3721 - Public Management Practice III
PUB3722 - Intersectoral Collaboration