Unisa NQF Levels

Unisa NQF Levels: NQF level 6

The University of South Africa (UNISA) utilizes the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to categorize and outline the various qualification levels they provide. This framework standardizes educational qualifications throughout South Africa, ensuring that all qualifications and part qualifications are registered, quality-assured, and internationally comparable. Unisa’s qualifications are aligned with the NQF, maintaining these standards.

Credits are usually the number of notional study hours needed for acquiring the learning outcomes. Notional hours consist of study time, assignments and examinations. The Unisa credit rating system rates 10 notional hours as equal to one credit. A Higher Certificate has 120 credits which consists of a 10 x 12 credit module. A module which is made up of 12 credits equates to 120 notional hours. It consequently requires at least 8 hours of study per week in a 15-week semester.

Qualifications need a certain number of credits, which are broken down into simple units. Undergraduate modules are usually 12 credits at Unisa. All module is pegged following a specific NQF level. A bachelor’s degree of 360 credits, for instance, is made up of 30 modules of 12 credits each.

A bachelor’s degree can consist of the following

• between 8 and 10 modules of 12 credits in each at NQF level 5
• between 10 and 12 modules of 12 credits in each at NQF level 6
• 10 modules of 12 credits in each at NQF level 7

All these levels proceed ahead of one another. When selecting a module, you have to first of all pass the module at the lower level. To be awarded a qualification, you should have finished the needed number of credits. The modules can be completed at the needed NQF level.

READ: Unisa South Africa 2025

Breakdown of Unisa NQF Levels

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) levels at Unisa classify qualifications as follows:

• NQF Level 10: Doctoral degree
• NQF Level 9: Master’s degree
• NQF Level 8: Postgraduate diploma, Bachelor degree, Honours degree
• NQF Level 7: Advanced diploma, Bachelor’s degree
• NQF Level 6: Diploma (240 credits and 360 credits), Advanced certificate (120 credits)
• NQF Level 5: Higher certificate (120 credits)

These levels help to standardize educational qualifications across South Africa, ensuring all qualifications are registered, quality-assured, and internationally comparable.