Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Higher Certificate in Education

Qualification stream: Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase
Qualification code: 90093 - FIP
NQF level: 5
Total credits: 120
SAQA ID: 101813
APS/AS: 18
Rules:
This Higher Certificate in Education FIP stream is the only Higher Certificate articulating into the UNISA. Bachelor of Education Foundation and Intermediate phase qualifications.
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.

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

All modules in Group A are compulsory, ONE module needs to be selected from Group B.
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Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
AFL1501 - Language Through an African Lens
BPT1501 - Being a Professional Teacher
CAD1501 - Child and Adolescent Development
DPP1501 - Diversity, Pedagogy and Practice
EST1501 - Academic Proficiency in English for student Teachers
EUP1501 - Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions
INS1502 - Developing Information Skills for Lifelong Learning
MTE1501 - Mathematics 1 for Teachers
PSC1501 - Practical Science for the Classroom
Group B. Choose ONE module from below
ATH1501 - Art and Handwork
GCS1501 - Guidance, Counselling and Life Skills Development
GRT1501 - Introduction to Grade R Teaching
IED1501 - Introduction to Environmental Education