Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration

Qualification code: 98208
NQF level: 8
Total credits: 120
SAQA ID: 83587
APS/AS: 60
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:
Upon completion of the Postgraduate Diploma: Public Administration, the qualified student would have been actively engaged in becoming a well-rounded, educated person, specifically preparing for further, more specific study and/or the work environment as an employer/manager in an administrative section. He or she will have a theoretical foundation that will guide him/her in the work environment to act as a functional level manager or at a higher management level. The person achieving this qualification will have developed certain values and be able to integrate general administrative knowledge and skills, management functions and the application of the theory of administration and management to achieve his/her goals. Qualifying postgraduate learners can demonstrate: - Systematic knowledge, specialised skills, applied competence and appropriate attitudes and values in the field of public administration to become employable workers and contributors to public administration in various public and civic contexts. - In-depth knowledge and the ability to identify, define and solve complex problems. - The ability to widen the leadership base in innovative and knowledge-based public administration and scholarly activity. - The skills to play a constructive role as change agents in the field of public administration. - An understanding of the need for life-long learning and continued personal development.
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)

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Compulsory.
PUB4867 - Strategic Public Management IV
PUB4868 - Strategic Public Human Resource Management
PUB4869 - Public Policy Management
PUB4870 - Public Financial Accountability
PUB4871 - Reflective Public Administration