Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Higher Certificate in Education

Qualification code: 90093
NQF level: 5
Total credits: 120
SAQA ID: 101813
APS/AS: 15
Rules:
Students enrolling for and completing the Higher Certificate in Education with the intention to apply for admission towards either the BEd Foundation Phase or the BEd Intermediate Phase must select MTE1501 (Mathematics 1 for Teachers) as one of the elective modules. The second elective module choice will depend on the BEd phase you intend to pursue after completion of this Higher Certificate. The second elective for Foundation Phase must be one of the following: (ATH1501 or GRT1501). The second elective for Intermediate Phase must be one of the following: (GCS1501 or IED1501 or MTE1502 or SCC1501 or SCC1502 or TEC1501 or TEC1502). Students enrolling for and completing the Higher Certificate in Education with the intention to apply for admission towards, either the BEd Senior Phase and Further Education and Training (Mathematics and English MTE) or the BEd Senior Phase and Further Education and Training must note that completion of this Higher Certificate will not satisfy the additional mathematics admission requirements for these BEd streams with an additional Mathematics requirement. Students intending to pursue any other currently offered BEd Senior Phase and Further Education and Training stream can select any two elective modules. Please note that completing this qualification does not guarantee admission into the BED Admission towards the BEd qualifications will also be dependent on any other existing pre-requisites as well as space available within the BEd qualification and/or stream.
Purpose statement:
The purpose of this qualification is to provide access, with a reasonable chance of success, to candidates with potential who otherwise would not meet the new minimum entry requirements. The curriculum is aimed at providing these students with the necessary basic skills to succeed within the Open Distance Learning (ODeL) environment and also some articulation into first year undergraduate Degree/Diploma qualifications offered. The purpose of the learning therefore will be to enhance generic competencies within ODeL such as basic language and learning skills, information management skills and teaching skills, as well as some elective subject knowledge.
This qualification will be presented using both online and distance learning modes.
Qualification offered until 2024, and ONLY for students previously registered for this qualification.

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

Level Combination Rules:
Group A: Choose all 8 compulsory modules.
Group B: Choose 2 modules from the group.