UNISA Higher Certificate qualifications are in high demand, especially for students who did not qualify with a Bachelors’s Degree pass in Matric. Studying for a degree at university after school is usually a top priority for students wanting to further their education. However, it’s not always possible due to not meeting the admission requirements of certain qualifications.
Therefore many students opt to do a bridging course to improve their marks and chances of doing an upgraded higher qualification. This is where the Higher Certificate qualifications offered by UNISA come into play.
Why Should I Consider Doing A UNISA Higher Certificate?
Naturally, people are disappointed when they find out that they’re not able to do a degree and instead of having to do a lower qualification. It’s like, for example, craving for a Big Mac but you only have enough money for a small Cheeseburger. It’s simply not the same.
That does not mean that there’s no value in having the cheeseburger though. You’re still having that cheeseburger rather than going on an empty stomach. The same goes for studying a lower qualification. Just because it’s not what you were originally aiming for, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any value to it.
Did you know though that students can use the UNISA Higher Certificate qualifications to apply for a higher qualification? Not to say that the National Senior Certificate (NSC) isn’t valuable, but wouldn’t you think that you stand a better chance of being accepted for the qualification of your choice if you already have a UNISA qualification in your chosen field behind you?
Here are a few pointers to consider while you’re thinking about whether to do a Higher Certificate qualification or not:
- The higher certificate qualifications are seen as an introductory phase into the career path of your choice;
- Higher certificates are more industry-orientated than other qualifications;
- This will thus prepare students well when it comes to implementing the skills learned in the workforce;
- Becoming a specialist in a certain area of expertise would result in a higher chance of applicants offered job opportunities than those without the required skills;
Important Facts about the Higher Certificate at UNISA
There are a number of factors students need to consider before applying for a higher certificate qualification at UNISA:
- The minimum APS for all Higher Certificate qualifications is 15.
- The maximum time to complete a Higher Certificate qualification is 3 years.
- The NQF level of the Higher Certificates is Level 5
- Each qualification consists of 10 modules, equalling 120 credits
Separately, additional requirements needed to qualify for a Higher Certificat includes:
- Meeting a subminimum of 30% n the language of teaching and learning (NSC); or
- Having at least an F symbol on HG or E symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning (SC); or
- A National Certificate (Vocational) (NCV) with at least 40% in the language of teaching and learning in terms of the NSC.
Some qualifications do require further additional mark requirements (Mathematics, Life Sciences, etc.). Requirements have to be met in order for students to qualify. In other words, it’s not only the APS that matters when it comes to qualification.
Also Read: How To Calculate Your APS
What Higher Certificate Courses Do Unisa Offer?
UNISA offers a variety of Higher Certificate qualifications that students can use to apply for a higher qualification. At the time of writing, UNISA offers 15 Higher Certificate courses in various subject fields:
- Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences
- Higher Certificate in Animal Welfare
- Higher Certificate in Archives and Record Management
- Higher Certificate in Banking
- Higher Certificate in Criminal Justice
- Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences
- Higher Certificate in Education
- Higher Certificate in Insurance
- Higher Certificate in Law
- Higher Certificate in Marketing
- Higher Certificate in Physical Sciences
- Higher Certificate in Retailing
- Higher Certificate in Social Auxillary Work
- Higher Certificate in Supervisory Management
- Higher Certificate in Tourism Management
When choosing what qualification to study, always remember that you have to choose a course that aligns with your chosen career choice. It wouldn’t make sense to study, for example, a Higher Certificate in Animal Welfare when you’ve decided to pursue a career in the Arts.
When Can I Apply for A Higher Certificate?
Students interested in applying to study for a Higher Certificate in the 2020 academic year can apply anytime during the year (read more here). In order to apply, students can either apply via Unisa’s application tool online or a hard copy submission. Successful applicants will then be able to register during the next registration period.
Also Read: UNISA Application Dates 2020
Also Read: Guide on Applying to UNISA 2020
Please note that we are not UNISA. UNISA reserves the right to deny applicants even if they do meet the admission requirements. This would be mainly due to a qualification being oversubscribed. UNISA offers limited space to each qualification and there may be too many students applying for a single course.
Last Updated: 22 January 2020