Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Higher Certificate in Law

Qualification code: 98751
NQF level: 5
Total credits: 120
SAQA ID: 90851
APS/AS: 15
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. Students who have passed phased out modules will retain the credit and do not need to pass the replacement modules. However, phased out modules must have been passed for this specific qualification and it does not necessarily mean the modules are equivalent. EUP1501 Students do not need to register for IRM1501. SCL1502 Students do not need to register for IRM1501. ENN103F Students do not need to register for ENG1503.
Purpose statement:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare students, who do not comply with the minimum institutional admission requirements for access to diploma or degree studies in the College of Law. The qualification is intended to introduce students to some of the foundational legal principles and legal practice by imparting systematic knowledge, skills, and theoretical competence within the field to prepare them for more specialised training at an advanced level. It is furthermore the intention of the higher certificate programme to deliver graduates who have sound knowledge and the confidence to apply their skills in contemporary society and to enable further study in the College of Law, or even in other colleges who do not set specific subject requirements, like Mathematics. In this respect, the specific purpose is to: - prepare candidates for studies in the world of law; - improve candidates basic proficiency in the English language in order to study in the fields of law; - improve candidates general computer skills, especially for business purposes; and - prepare candidates for higher education in an open and distance learning environment.
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
AFL1503 - Language and Communication Skills Acquisition in an African Language I
CPD1501 - Citizenship, Public Participation and Democracy
CRW1501 - Introduction to the General Principles of Criminal Law
ENG1503 - Academic Language and Literacy in English
ILW1501 - Introduction to Law
INS1502 - Developing Information Skills for Lifelong Learning
IRM1501 - Introduction to Research Methodology for Law and Criminal Justice
PAR1501 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies Recommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501 and ILW1501.
SCL1501 - Skills Course for Law Students
SJD1501 - Social Dimensions of Justice