Unisa offers occupational health and safety training through short learning programmes (SLPs) run by its Centre for Lifelong Learning, rather than through a single unified “OHS short course.” Each programme has its own fee, entry requirement, and duration. This article sets out exactly what each option costs, what it covers, and how the fees are structured, so a prospective student can budget accurately before applying.
Where Unisa’s OHS Short Courses Sit
Occupational health and safety training at Unisa exists on two separate tracks. The first is the formal Diploma in Safety Management, a multi-year NQF level 6 qualification with fees calculated per module through Unisa’s standard fee calculator. The second track is the short learning programme route, administered through the Centre for Lifelong Learning in partnership with the Department of Operations Management. This second track is what most people mean when they search for “Unisa occupational health and safety short course fees,” and it consists of three distinct offerings:
- Programme in Safety Management (code 72435)
- Programme in Advanced Safety Management (code 76914)
- Short Course in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (code 01724)
These are not modules within one bigger course. They are separate, stand-alone short learning programmes, each requiring its own application, registration, and payment. A student can complete one without necessarily continuing to the next, although the Advanced Safety Management programme does require the first Programme in Safety Management as an entry condition.
Programme in Safety Management: Fee and Structure
The Programme in Safety Management (72435) is the entry-level short course in this field. The fee per candidate is R7,200, and this amount covers all study material and examination fees, so there are no separate charges added later in the course for materials or writing the exam.
Admission does not require a full matric pass with university exemption. The course accepts people already working in safety-related roles, as well as those who hold a Senior Certificate or equivalent qualification. This makes it accessible to supervisors, safety officers, and line managers who want formal grounding in safety principles without committing to a full diploma.
The programme runs for approximately 12 months and consists of four modules: two pitched at NQF level 5 and two at NQF level 6, for a combined total of 48 credits. Each module is assessed through a two-hour written examination, and a student needs at least 50% in every module to qualify for the completion certificate. Examinations take place at official Unisa examination centres across South Africa, and students may answer in either English or Afrikaans.
Registration for this programme opens on 1 December and closes at the end of March, which is different from the standard undergraduate registration window, so students interested in this course need to track the Centre for Lifelong Learning’s own registration calendar rather than the general Unisa academic calendar.
Programme in Advanced Safety Management: Fee and Structure
The Programme in Advanced Safety Management (76914) is the follow-on course for people who have already completed the Programme in Safety Management, or who can show at least three years of relevant experience in occupational health, safety, and environmental work combined with a National Senior Certificate.
The fee per candidate is R8,000, and, as with the entry-level programme, this covers study material and examination costs in full. Registration also runs from 1 December to the end of March.
This course goes further into the behavioural and cultural side of workplace safety. It covers how safety culture is established and maintained, how safety vision statements and organisational goals are set, and how safety management systems influence day-to-day performance on the ground. It is aimed at practitioners who already understand the basics and now need to operate at a more strategic or supervisory level within a safety department.
Short Course in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993: Fee and Structure
The Short Course in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (01724) is a narrower, single-semester course focused specifically on the legislation itself rather than on broader safety management theory. It runs over six months, with intakes in January and June each year, giving two entry points per academic year instead of the once-a-year cycle used by the two safety management programmes above.
Because this course sits under a separate fee-quotation system rather than a flat published price, applicants receive their exact fee once they request a study fee quotation as part of the application process. This is standard practice for several of Unisa’s shorter Centre for Lifelong Learning offerings, and the amount is confirmed before payment is required, so there is no risk of being billed an unexpected sum after registering.
Entry only requires a Senior Certificate or an equivalent NQF level 4 qualification, making it one of the more accessible short courses in this category. The content itself is heavily regulation-focused, covering areas such as the Lead Regulations, the Asbestos Regulations, the Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Substances, the Major Hazard Installation Regulations, and the Regulations for Hazardous Biological Agents. It suits health and safety practitioners, engineers preparing for a Government Certificate of Competency, union representatives, and employees who need a working understanding of their rights and duties under the Act.
Fee Comparison Table
| Short Course | Code | Fee | Duration | Entry Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programme in Safety Management | 72435 | R7,200 | Approx. 12 months | Senior Certificate or equivalent; open to those with relevant work experience |
| Programme in Advanced Safety Management | 76914 | R8,000 | Approx. 12 months | NSC or 3 years’ OHS-related experience, plus completion of Programme in Safety Management |
| Short Course in the OHS Act, 1993 | 01724 | Confirmed via fee quotation on application | 6 months (single semester) | Senior Certificate or equivalent NQF level 4 qualification |
All fees stated here reflect the amounts published by Unisa’s Centre for Lifelong Learning at the time of writing. Short course fees are reviewed periodically, so a student should always confirm the current amount directly through the official application portal before submitting payment, particularly if applying close to a new registration cycle.
What the Fee Actually Covers
For both the Programme in Safety Management and the Programme in Advanced Safety Management, the published fee is inclusive rather than a base tuition charge with add-ons. It covers:
- Registration for all modules within that specific programme
- All prescribed study material for the duration of the course
- Examination fees for the standard sitting
This differs from formal degree or diploma study at Unisa, where tuition, prescribed textbooks, and re-examination or supplementary exam fees are often billed separately per module. Because these short learning programmes charge one inclusive fee per candidate, budgeting is simpler: a student pays once at registration and is not expected to make further payments partway through the course unless they need to re-register after an unsuccessful attempt.
How These Short Courses Differ From the Diploma in Safety Management
Students sometimes confuse the short learning programmes with Unisa’s formal Diploma in Safety Management (90107), an NQF level 6 qualification intended for people pursuing a full career change into safety management rather than a focused skills top-up. The diploma takes a minimum of three years of part-time distance study, requires a National Senior Certificate with a Diploma endorsement (or an accepted equivalent), and is billed per module through Unisa’s standard undergraduate fee calculator rather than as one flat short-course fee.
The short learning programmes described above do not lead to a formal Unisa diploma or degree. They result in a certificate of completion for that specific programme. However, credits earned through some of these short courses can, in certain cases, be recognised toward further study, so students planning a longer-term move into safety management sometimes use the Programme in Safety Management as a stepping stone before applying to the full diploma.
How to Apply and Register
Applications for all three short learning programmes are submitted online through Unisa’s dedicated short learning programme application link rather than through the general undergraduate application system used for degrees and diplomas. A Centre for Business Management or Centre for Lifelong Learning registration form must be completed and submitted, and for the two safety management programmes, full payment is required before registration is finalised — partial payment or a promise to pay later is not accepted as sufficient for registration to proceed.
Given that the Programme in Safety Management and Programme in Advanced Safety Management both register between 1 December and the end of March, students who want to start studying early in the year should aim to apply and pay as close to the December opening as possible, since spaces and administrative processing can affect how quickly a registration is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Unisa occupational health and safety short course cost?
It depends on which programme is meant. The Programme in Safety Management costs R7,200, the Programme in Advanced Safety Management costs R8,000, and the Short Course in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 is priced through an individual fee quotation rather than a flat published amount.
Do these fees include study material and exams?
Yes, for the Programme in Safety Management and the Programme in Advanced Safety Management, the quoted fee includes all prescribed study material and standard examination fees. No further charges apply unless a student needs to re-register after failing.
Is a matric certificate required for these short courses?
A Senior Certificate or an equivalent NQF level 4 qualification is generally required. The Programme in Safety Management and the OHS Act short course also accept applicants without a full matric where relevant work experience in the field applies.
Can I go straight into the Advanced Safety Management programme?
Only if a student already holds three years of relevant occupational health, safety, and environmental experience together with a National Senior Certificate. Otherwise, the Programme in Safety Management must be completed first.
Are these short courses the same as the Diploma in Safety Management?
No. The short learning programmes result in a certificate for that specific course and are billed as one flat fee. The Diploma in Safety Management is a separate, multi-year NQF level 6 qualification billed per module through the standard Unisa fee structure.