Unisa offers qualifications across seven academic colleges plus a dedicated College of Graduate Studies, ranging from one-year Higher Certificates to full bachelor’s degrees, honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees, and doctorates. Admission to any of these qualifications depends primarily on a student’s National Senior Certificate results, calculated into an Admission Point Score (APS), with the minimum APS varying by qualification level and specific programme. Understanding how Unisa structures its courses, and what each qualification level actually requires, makes it far easier to choose the right starting point and apply correctly.
This article breaks down Unisa’s course structure by qualification level and college, explains the general admission requirements that apply across the university, and covers the practical details a prospective student needs before applying.
How Unisa Organises Its Courses
Unisa does not offer a single flat list of courses. Instead, qualifications are grouped first by academic college, and within each college, by qualification level. This structure matters because a prospective student applies to a specific qualification within a specific college, rather than applying to Unisa in a general sense.
| College | Main Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| College of Accounting Sciences (CAS) | Accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial management, including pathways toward chartered accountancy |
| College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) | Agricultural production, food science, and sustainable natural resource management |
| College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS) | Business management, marketing, human resources, and public administration |
| College of Education (CEDU) | Foundation, intermediate, senior, and further education teaching qualifications |
| College of Human Sciences (CHS) | Social sciences, languages, communication, theology, and community development fields |
| College of Law (CLAW) | Legal studies, including qualifications leading toward legal practice and related career paths |
| College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) | Mathematics, computing, engineering-related fields, and applied sciences |
| College of Graduate Studies (CGS) | Cross-disciplinary postgraduate research degrees and specialised graduate programmes |
A prospective student typically starts by identifying the field they want to study, which naturally points them toward the relevant college, and from there narrows down to the specific qualification and level that matches their academic background and career goals.
Qualification Levels Offered at Unisa
Within each college, Unisa structures its offerings across several qualification levels, each with its own duration, credit requirement, and general purpose.
- Higher Certificates (NQF Level 5): One-year, 120-credit entry-level qualifications, useful both as standalone credentials and as a bridge into a diploma or degree for students who do not yet meet direct entry requirements.
- Diplomas (NQF Level 6): Typically 360 credits, requiring a minimum of two to three years of study, focused on practical, vocational, and career-oriented training.
- Bachelor’s degrees (NQF Level 7): Generally a minimum of three years of full-time study, though some professional degrees such as a Bachelor of Laws require four years.
- Honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas (NQF Level 8): One additional year of specialised study after completing a relevant bachelor’s degree.
- Master’s degrees (NQF Level 9): Research-based or coursework-based postgraduate study, generally requiring an honours degree or equivalent for entry.
- Doctoral degrees (NQF Level 10): The highest academic qualification level, requiring a relevant master’s degree for admission and centred on original research.
Alongside these formal, NQF-registered qualifications, Unisa also offers Short Learning Programmes (SLPs) through Unisa Enterprise. These are shorter, skills-focused courses that do not carry the same academic weight as a registered qualification but can be useful for professional development within a much shorter timeframe, often a few months.
General Admission Requirements
Unisa applies a consistent general admission framework across its undergraduate qualifications, built around the Admission Point Score system.
The APS is calculated using a student’s National Senior Certificate results across six recognised 20-credit subjects, scored on the NSC’s 1 to 7 achievement scale. The highest possible APS a student can achieve is 42. Life Orientation, while a compulsory NSC subject, is excluded from this calculation since it only carries 10 credits and does not count toward the six recognised subjects used for the score.
The minimum APS required differs by qualification level and specific programme rather than being fixed university-wide. As a general guide, Higher Certificates typically require the lowest minimum APS, diplomas require a somewhat higher score, and bachelor’s degrees require the highest minimum among undergraduate qualifications. Because these figures vary by college and specific qualification, a prospective student should always check the exact requirement listed for their intended programme rather than relying on a general range.
Meeting the minimum APS for a qualification does not guarantee admission. Unisa allocates a limited number of spaces per qualification for each intake, and admission decisions take space availability into account alongside academic results.
Alternative Admission Routes
Not every applicant enters Unisa through a standard NSC-based application, and the university provides alternative routes for specific circumstances.
Applicants aged 23 or older who do not hold a matric certificate can apply through Unisa’s mature age entry process, which evaluates eligibility based on relevant work experience and prior learning rather than school-leaving results. This route is assessed on a case-by-case basis and requires direct engagement with Unisa’s admissions office to confirm eligibility for a specific qualification.
Students who have already completed prior formal study, whether at Unisa or another recognised institution, may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or academic credit exemptions. This process requires submitting a completed exemption request form along with a certified copy of the applicant’s official academic record, and in some cases the relevant course syllabus, so that Unisa can assess whether previous credits can count toward a new qualification. Not all credits from another institution are automatically recognised, and each case is evaluated individually.
International students can also apply to study at Unisa, though they face additional requirements beyond the standard NSC-based process. This generally includes a South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) evaluation of any foreign qualifications and proof of legal residence status where applicable.
The Application Process Across Qualification Levels
While the exact application window differs depending on the qualification level, the underlying process follows a similar structure across undergraduate and postgraduate categories.
- Identify the qualification and college that matches the student’s career goals and academic background.
- Confirm the specific admission requirements, including the minimum APS or, for postgraduate qualifications, the required prior qualification and minimum average mark.
- Submit the application online, ranking up to three qualification choices in order of preference for undergraduate applications.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee, using the student number issued after submission.
- Upload certified supporting documents, including school or prior academic records, identification documents, and any additional documents specific to the chosen qualification.
- Complete the compulsory First-Year Experience (FYE) MOOC, required for new undergraduate applicants before accepting an offer of admission.
- Track the application outcome using the assigned student number, and accept the offer once a space is confirmed.
Undergraduate, honours, and postgraduate diploma applications generally share a similar application window each year, while master’s and doctoral applications typically open slightly later, and Short Learning Programme registrations follow a separate schedule altogether.
Choosing the Right Starting Point
A student unsure of which qualification level to start with should weigh their current academic results against their long-term goals. A student who already meets the direct entry requirements for their intended bachelor’s degree can apply straight into that degree. A student whose results fall short of a specific diploma or degree’s requirements can consider starting with a related Higher Certificate in the same college, using it as a structured stepping stone rather than delaying study altogether while waiting to meet the higher requirement directly.
FAQs
How many colleges does Unisa have?
Seven undergraduate and professional colleges, plus a separate College of Graduate Studies for cross-disciplinary postgraduate research programmes.
What is the minimum APS needed to study at Unisa?
This varies by qualification level and specific programme, with Higher Certificates generally requiring the lowest minimum APS and bachelor’s degrees requiring the highest among undergraduate qualifications.
Can I apply to Unisa without a matric certificate?
Yes, through the mature age entry route available to applicants aged 23 or older, based on relevant work experience and prior learning, assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Does meeting the minimum requirements guarantee admission to a Unisa qualification?
No. Admission also depends on space availability for that specific qualification and intake, so meeting the minimum APS makes an applicant eligible for consideration, not automatically accepted.