Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Higher Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work

Qualification stream:	Not Applicable
Qualification code:	90011 -
NQF level:	5
Total credits:	120
SAQA ID:	93971
APS/AS:	15
Rules: This qualification consists of 10 modules. Students must be registered with the SACSSP at the start of their studies. The Department of Social Work at UNISA will facilitate registration with the Council at the time of registration or as soon as possible after registration. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGISTER WITHOUT THE POLICE CLEARANCE AND THE TWO TESTIMONIALS. Students should note that during the course of their studies they would be required to have access to a computer or laptop, printer and the internet.
Purpose statement: The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with the knowledge and skills to practice effectively as a social auxiliary worker under the guidance and supervision of a social worker to achieve the aims of social work. The qualification also develops the competencies of learners in chosen fields of social auxiliary work knowledge and practice, thereby enabling qualifiers to provide supportive services in specialised fields or focus areas of social work. The qualification will enable the learner to register with the SA Council for Social Service Professions as a Social Auxiliary Worker.
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
AFL1501 - Language Through an African Lens
APY1501 - Anthropology in a Diverse World
ENG1511 - English Proficiency for University Studies
INS1502 - Developing Information Skills for Lifelong Learning
SAW1501 - Introduction to Social Auxiliary Work	Co-requisite:SAW1503 & SAW1506
SAW1502 - Human Development and Fields of Practice in Social Auxiliary Work
SAW1503 - Social Auxiliary Work Practical Skills	Co-requisite:SAW1501 & SAW1506 Recommendation:Registration with SACSSP
SAW1504 - Integration of Theory and Practice	Pre-requisite:SAW1501, SAW1503 & SAW1506 Recommendation:Registration with SACSSP
SAW1505 - Introduction to Social Welfare, Social Work and Social Auxiliary Work
SAW1506 - Introduction to Social Auxiliary Work to Social Work as a Profession	Co-requisite:SAW1501& SAW1503