Becoming a qualified teacher through the University of South Africa (UNISA) follows a defined path with specific academic and administrative requirements. This article sets out exactly what UNISA expects from applicants who want to study towards a teaching qualification, whether they are school leavers, career changers, or teaching assistants looking to formalise their status.
Which Qualifications Lead to a Teaching Career at UNISA
UNISA offers several routes into the teaching profession, and the requirements differ depending on which route a student chooses. The main qualifications are:
- Bachelor of Education (BEd) — a four-year undergraduate degree for school leavers or anyone without a prior degree who wants to enter teaching directly.
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) — a one-year (sometimes completed over more than one year) qualification for people who already hold a relevant bachelor’s degree but do not have a teaching qualification.
- Higher Certificate in Education — a shorter, foundational qualification for applicants who do not meet the direct entry requirements for the BEd, and who need a stepping stone into degree-level study.
- Advanced Diploma in Education / Postgraduate Diploma routes — used mainly by people upgrading an existing qualification or specialising further.
Each of these has its own admission requirements, and UNISA evaluates every application against the specific qualification code the student applies for, not against a generic “teaching” category.
General Admission Requirements for the BEd Degree
For school leavers applying directly to the Bachelor of Education, UNISA requires a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with matric endorsement (formerly called a matriculation exemption), or an equivalent qualification recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for degree study. Without this endorsement, a student cannot register for a bachelor’s degree, including the BEd, and would need to consider the Higher Certificate in Education instead as a way to work toward eventual admission.
Beyond the NSC endorsement, UNISA calculates an Admission Point Score (APS), sometimes shown as AS on qualification pages, based on a student’s best six subjects from matric, including Home Language. Each subject symbol converts into points, and the total determines whether an applicant meets the threshold for a particular BEd specialisation. Because UNISA is a distance and open learning institution with limited spaces in some programmes, meeting the minimum APS does not guarantee a place — applications are still assessed individually, and the university can decline an applicant who technically qualifies on paper if space is limited.
The specific subject requirements vary depending on which BEd specialisation a student chooses:
| BEd Specialisation | Typical Subject Focus Needed at Matric | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Phase Teaching | Strong Home Language and an additional official language | Prepares teachers for Grade R to Grade 3 |
| Intermediate Phase Teaching (various subject combinations, e.g. Mathematics and Natural Sciences) | Relevant subject combination passed at matric (e.g. Mathematics, Natural Sciences) | Prepares teachers for Grade 4 to Grade 6 |
| Senior Phase and FET Teaching (subject-specific, e.g. Information Technology, Tourism, Physical Sciences) | Matric pass in the specific teaching subject or a closely related subject | Prepares teachers for Grade 7 to Grade 12, tied to the chosen subject stream |
Because UNISA structures the Senior Phase and FET BEd around specific subject combinations, an applicant who wants to teach a subject such as Computer Applications Technology, Physical Sciences, or Tourism and Management needs a matric background that supports that specific subject choice, not just a general pass.
Admission Requirements for the PGCE
The PGCE is designed for people who already hold an appropriate bachelor’s degree, typically one that contains content relevant to the school subjects they intend to teach, along with sufficient credits at the right NQF level in those subjects. UNISA does not accept PGCE applicants who are already professionally qualified teachers, since the qualification exists specifically to convert non-teaching graduates into qualified educators.
Admission requirements for the PGCE include:
- A recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent NQF Level 7 qualification.
- Sufficient credits in the school subjects the applicant wants to teach, usually a set minimum number of credits at first- and second-year level in each relevant subject.
- Meeting the qualification’s specific Admission Point Score, which varies by subject stream — some streams require an APS around 42, while others sit closer to 50, depending on demand and the subject combination.
- No prior professional teaching qualification, since holders of an existing teaching qualification are directed toward upgrading routes instead.
Applicants who do not meet the full requirements for a specific PGCE stream are generally advised to consider the BEd degree instead, since the BEd does not require an existing degree and builds subject knowledge from the ground up.
Requirements for the Higher Certificate in Education
Students who do not have matric endorsement, or who fall short of the subject or APS requirements for the BEd, can apply for the Higher Certificate in Education as an entry point. This qualification has more accessible admission criteria and, once completed successfully, can articulate into the BEd Foundation Phase or Intermediate Phase programmes — but only if the specific Higher Certificate stream matches the BEd programme a student later wants to enter. A Higher Certificate in the Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase stream, for example, only articulates into the corresponding BEd programmes in those phases, not into every BEd specialisation UNISA offers.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
UNISA also allows applicants who lack formal matric endorsement, or who have relevant work or life experience, to apply through Recognition of Prior Learning. RPL applications are assessed case by case and are not a guaranteed alternative route — an applicant still needs to demonstrate competencies equivalent to the standard entry requirements. Full details and the RPL application process are handled separately from the standard online application, and applicants pursuing this route should expect additional documentation and assessment steps.
Application Process and Practical Requirements
Once a student identifies the correct qualification and confirms they meet the admission requirements, the general UNISA application steps are:
- Apply online during the official application window for the academic year (UNISA typically opens applications for undergraduate qualifications in the second half of the preceding year, closing before the new year begins).
- Receive a student number once the application is submitted and processed.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee, using the student number together with the application fee reference. This fee applies whether or not the applicant is ultimately accepted, and whether or not they choose to continue with UNISA.
- Wait for an outcome, since meeting minimum requirements does not automatically secure a place — UNISA processes applications against available capacity in each qualification.
- Accept the offer of placement online if admitted. Applicants must formally accept before they are permitted to register; skipping this step means the university will not process registration.
- Register for modules once the offer is accepted, respecting any co-requisite or prerequisite rules for specific modules (for example, some teaching methodology modules must be registered in the same year as the related teaching practice module).
Work-Integrated Learning and Teaching Practice Requirements
A distinctive feature of UNISA’s education qualifications, especially the Senior Phase and FET BEd streams, is the inclusion of a compulsory school-based practical component. Students are generally required to complete between 20 and 32 weeks of supervised and assessed teaching practice across their qualification. This is not optional coursework — it is a formal requirement tied to specific modules, and it typically requires students to be away from their usual work or home responsibilities for placement periods at a school. Anyone studying while employed full-time needs to plan around these practical blocks in advance, since they are non-negotiable for graduation.
Time Limits and Completion Rules
UNISA places maximum time limits on how long a student can take to complete certain qualifications. The PGCE, for example, must be completed within a maximum of three years from first registration. The BEd, as a longer four-year programme, similarly has defined minimum and maximum completion periods set by university policy, and students who exceed the maximum period without completing risk being unable to continue in that qualification.
Common Reasons Applications Are Declined
Even when an applicant appears to meet the basic requirements, UNISA can still decline an application for reasons including:
- Limited available space in a high-demand qualification or subject stream.
- Missing or incomplete supporting documents, such as certified academic records.
- Subject combinations at matric or degree level that do not align with the specific teaching specialisation applied for.
- Holding an existing professional teaching qualification while applying for a PGCE, which is restricted to non-teachers.
- Applying outside the official application window, since late applications are generally not processed for that intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need matric to study a BEd at UNISA?
Yes. A National Senior Certificate with matric endorsement, or a recognised equivalent, is required for direct entry into the BEd. Without it, the Higher Certificate in Education is the usual alternative route.
Can I do a PGCE at UNISA if I am already a qualified teacher?
No. The PGCE is intended for graduates who are not yet professionally qualified to teach. Existing teachers looking to add qualifications should look at upgrading routes instead.
Does meeting the APS score guarantee admission?
No. The APS is a minimum threshold, not a guarantee. UNISA still assesses applications individually and can turn away applicants who meet the APS if the programme has limited space.
How long does the teaching practice component take?
Most BEd Senior Phase and FET streams require between 20 and 32 weeks of supervised, assessed school-based practice across the qualification, in addition to standard coursework.
What happens if I don’t meet the requirements for the qualification I want?
UNISA generally recommends applicants consider a related qualification with lower entry requirements, such as the Higher Certificate in Education, rather than reapplying for the same programme without meeting the criteria.