Unisa Higher Certificate Courses

A Guide to UNISA Higher Certificate Courses:

The University of South Africa, one of the continent’s leading distance learning schools, offers a wide choice of higher certificate courses designed to equip students with applicable skills and knowledge. These courses are a great place to start, whether you want to further your education or enhance your job. UNISA’s higher certificate courses are designed to provide students with a solid foundation in specialized fields of study.

These short-term programs normally last one year full-time and two years part-time. They are intended for those who do not fulfil the admission requirements for degree programs but want to obtain relevant certificates and practical skills.

Qualifications are very high in demand, especially for students who did not qualify with a bachelor’s Degree pass in matric. A lot of students, therefore, choose to do a bridging course to enhance their marks and opportunities for an improved higher qualification. This is where the qualifications offered by UNISA with the Higher Certificate come into play.

Unisa Higher Certificate Courses Application Dates For 2026

2025 Undergraduate Qualifications Application Dates:

Applications for admission to undergraduate qualifications for the 2026 academic year are to be open from 21 August to 11 October 2026.

2026 Honours Degrees & Postgraduate Diplomas Application Dates:

Applications for admission to honors degrees and postgraduate diplomas for the 2026 academic year are to be open from 21 August to 11 October 2026.

2026 Master’s & Doctoral Qualifications Application Dates:

Applications for admission to master’s and doctoral degrees for the 2026 academic year are to be open from 2 September to 22 November 2026 (some exceptions apply).

2026 Short Learning Programs Application Dates:

Application and registration for Unisa’s Short Learning Programmes are open from 14 May to 19 July.

Categories Of Unisa Higher Certificate Courses

Unisa offers several categories of higher certificate courses as listed below:

Higher Certificate in Education
Higher Certificate in Criminal Justice
Higher Certificate in Tourism Management
Higher Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work
Higher Certificate in Archives and Records Management

Higher Certificate Courses Unisa Offers

Unisa offers a wide range of diverse courses under higher certificate qualifications that students can apply for. Unisa offers higher certificate courses under the following different subject fields:

Higher Certificate in Animal Welfare
Higher Certificate in Archives and Records Management
Higher Certificate in Banking
Higher Certificate in Criminal Justice
Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences
Higher Certificate in Education
Higher Certificate in Insurance
Higher Certificate in Law
Higher Certificate in Life and Environmental Sciences
Higher Certificate in Marketing
Higher Certificate in Mathematics and Statistics
Higher Certificate in Physical Sciences
Higher Certificate in Retailing
Higher Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work
Higher Certificate in Supervisory Management
Higher Certificate in Tourism Management

When choosing which qualification to study, always choose a course that aligns with your chosen career choice.

Unisa Higher Certificate Courses Application Requirements For 2026

All applicants starting a new qualification must upload all the required documents, which generally consist of the following:

Copy of your school qualifications (eg Senior Certificate, National Senior Certificate)
Copy of your official tertiary academic record(s) (if applicable) (internet copies will not be accepted)
Copy of your ID document (RSA students) or ID/passport (international students)
Copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable) or divorce decree (if applicable)
Sworn translations of documents if they are not in English or Afrikaans

Unisa Higher Certificate Courses Application Process For 2026

All applications for admission at UNISA must be done online on the official website of the institution. To apply online at UNISA follow the steps below:

Sign in to the official website of UNISA
On the registration portal, click on ” Apply for Admission
Click On “Apply Now.”
Complete the application form with the required information
Upload certified copies of supporting documents
Make payment of your non-refundable application fee of R140.00
Crosscheck your application to ensure that it is complete.

UNISA Contact

Please contact Unisa at the following address:

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

Higher Certificate courses are a doorway to new prospects, providing a flexible and cost-effective approach to gaining vital skills and knowledge. Whether you’re looking for a new job or want to continue your education, these programmes can help you get there. Visit the official website of UNISA for more information.

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