How Many Years Is Teaching Course At Unisa?

How Many Years Is Higher Certificate Teaching Course At Unisa? Diploma in teaching at Unisa

Teaching is a noble profession that requires passion, commitment, tolerance, perseverance, character and dedication to making a difference in the lives of a diverse group of young and older children, depending on your choice of phase specialization. This profession will allow you to nurture and mould young and growing minds and to develop a variety of vital lifelong skills in children.

Studying a teaching course at Unisa for the 2025-2026 academic year can take a duration of about three(3) to four (4) years depending on the area of specialization a student is studying. Others can take even up to eight(8) years. Teaching qualifications offered at Unisa include a Higher Certificate in Education, Bachelor’s degree (BEd), Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), Advanced Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Honours degrees, Master’s and Doctoral degrees and Short Learning Programmes.

READ: UNISA Postgraduate Registration Dates for 2025

How Many Years Is Teaching Course At Unisa?

Pursuing a teaching course at Unisa for the 2025-2026 academic year typically takes around three to four years, depending on the area of specialization. However, some programs may extend up to eight years. Unisa offers a range of teaching qualifications, including a Higher Certificate in Education, Bachelor’s degrees (BEd), Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), Advanced Diplomas, Postgraduate Diplomas, Honours degrees, Master’s and Doctoral degrees, as well as Short Learning Programmes.

How Many Years Is Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching Course At Unisa?

A student who has completed this qualification will be able to teach from Grades R to 3. Teaching Practice is a compulsory component of this program and must be taken according to the specific criteria every year. Five weeks of practicals are required every year, and three weeks must be offered consecutively. This qualification comprises both semester and year modules.

Year modules may only be registered during the January registration period of each academic year. Students must also register themselves with SACE (South African Council for Educators) from the first year of BEd registration. Please visit the SACE website for more information: https://www.sace.org.za/ With the migration from the non-aligned BEd to aligned BEd, transitional arrangements have been approved by the College of Education unique to this specific degree and are not transferable to any other qualification.

Teaching Qualifications Offered At Unisa For 2025

Below are teaching qualifications available at the University of South Africa;

Higher Certificate in Education:

The purpose of the Higher Certificate is to enable candidates to be able to meet the admission requirements for a BEd degree should they not meet the minimum entry requirements for admission to the degree. Kindly note that completing the Higher Certificate does not guarantee admission to the BEd degree. You will need to apply for admission to the BEd in your final year of study for the Higher Certificate and your admission will depend on the space available within the BEd qualification.

Bachelor’s degree (BEd):

The Bachelor of Education (BEd) is the basic teaching qualification that will enable you to qualify as a professional teacher and register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE).

Unisa offers the following BEd degrees:

BEd in Foundation Phase Teaching (Grade R-Grade 3)
BEd in Intermediate Phase Teaching (Grades 4-7)
BEd in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training (Grades 7-12)

Advanced Diploma:

Unisa will be offering an Advanced Diploma in Education in Intermediate Phase Mathematics. Teaching from 2020. The primary purpose of the Advanced Diploma is to enable teachers to deepen their subject content knowledge related to teaching school mathematics. Interested students are strongly advised that Mathematics up to the second-year level (NQF 6) will be highly beneficial.

Note that the Advanced Diploma in Education is not a “reskilling” qualification. If you want to change your subject specialisation (e.g. you are currently an English teacher and you now also want to be able to teach mathematics), you are advised to apply for a BEd degree.

Postgraduate Diploma:

Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Education. The purpose of this qualification is to build the knowledge base of teachers in inclusive settings for them to be conversant in this field of study and to equip them with relevant theoretical knowledge, teaching skills and assessment strategies to respond to the individual needs of learners. Take note of the admission requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma before you apply for admission.

Honours Degrees:

Honours BEd General, Honours BEd Early Childhood Development, Honours BEd ABET, Honours BEd Education Management, Honours BEd Inclusive Education, Honours BEd Psycho-Education Support, Honours BEd Mathematics Education, Honours BEd Natural Sciences, and Honours BEd Environmental Education.

Master’s And Doctoral Degrees:

Unisa offers several Master’s and Doctoral degrees related to education.

Short Learning Programmes:

Unisa offers several short learning programmes related to education. The programmes offered by the Centre for Continuing Education and Training provide specific and practically oriented training. The duration of these programmes varies from six to 24 months and covers a wide range of subjects related to education, training and development practices, environmental education, in-service teacher education, and counselling.

READ: Unisa Courses In Teaching 2025

Contact Unisa

Main campus: Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria
Sunnyside campus (applications, registrations & learning centre): Cnr Justice Mahomed & Steve Biko Streets, Sunnyside, Pretoria
0800 005 311
hotline@kpmg.co.za

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