Definition of Terms
Assessment is the process of gathering a range of evidence and forming a judgement as to whether a
learner has achieved a specified level of competence in clearly identified learning outcomes or
standards in a module of study.
Academic Credit Accumulation refers to the process of achieving credits over time in relation to a
programme of study.
Credit refers to the measure of the volume of learning required for a qualification and not academic
years of study; quantified as the number of notional hours required for achieving the learning
outcomes for the qualification. 10 notional study hours is equivalent to one credit.
Rules of Progression identifies the parameters governing progression through a programme of study.
Articulation refers to the parameters governing the progression from one programme of study to
another programme of study.
Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) is the process whereby credits obtained at one institution
may be recognised by another, or the same, as meeting part of the requirements for a qualification.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process that gives due recognition to the life-long learning
of an individual gained through formal and/or informal training, work experience, general life
experience, or through any combination of the above.
Qualification is the formal recognition and certification of learning achievement awarded by an
accredited institution.
Programme is a purposeful and structured set of learning experiences that leads to a qualification.
Transcript is a document issued by an institution to provide a descriptive record of the learning a
student has achieved at that institution, whether or not a qualification has been awarded.
Academic Programme Rules
Unless otherwise permitted, students will be required to successfully complete a programme in the
specified minimum and maximum periods for a particular programme as indicated in the table below:
Programme Minimum
Period
Maximum
Period
Higher Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills (Contact and
Distance) 1 year 3 years
Advanced Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills (Contact only) 1 year 3 years
Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills (Contact and Distance) 2 years 5 years
Bachelor of Applied Social Science (BAppSocSci) (Contact and Distance) 3 years 7 years
Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior and Further Education and
Training Teaching 1 year 3 years
Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) (Contact only) 4 years 5 years
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) (Contact only) 4 years 5 years
Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching (Contact only) 18 months 3 years
Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology (Contact and Distance) 1 year 3 years
Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Human Resource Management
(Contact and Distance) 1 year 3 years
Master of Social Science in Community Mental Health Promotion (Contact
only) 2 years 4 years
Admission
The admissions process for all qualifications starts with an applicant meeting the entry requirements
for the qualification concerned.
The minimum entry requirements for each of SACAP qualifications have been set in accordance with
the HEQSF (CHE, 2013), the Higher Education Act for Minimum Entrance Requirements (Government
Gazette No. 32743, 2009), and the Amendment to the Higher Education Act for Minimum Entrance
Requirements (Government Gazette No. 42068, 2018), and are as follows:
Higher Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills / Human Resource Management /
Business Management (NQF 5)
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A National Senior Certificate or National Certificate (Vocational) with a minimum of 45% in
English, or equivalent school-leaving qualification.
Or
• A Senior Certificate (pre-2008) with a minimum overall D-aggregate (50%) with a minimum of
45% in English, or an equivalent school leaving certificate.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to
support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Advanced Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills (NQF 6)
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A Higher Certificate or equivalent NQF level 5 qualification in an appropriate field of study.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning equivalent to an NQF level 5 qualification to support
admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills (NQF 6)
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A National Senior Certificate or National Certificate (Vocational) with a minimum of 45% in
English coupled with an achievement rating of 3 (Moderate Achievement, 40-49%) or better
in four designated subjects (including Life Orientation), or equivalent school-leaving
qualification.
Or
• A Senior Certificate (pre-2008) with a minimum overall D-aggregate (50%) with English passed
at Standard Grade or better, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate.
Or
• A Higher Certificate (NQF level 5), a SAQA verified equivalent qualification, or Advanced
Certificate in a cognate field.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to
support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Bachelor of Applied Social Science (BAppSocSci) (NQF 7)
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A National Senior Certificate or National Certificate (Vocational) with an achievement rating of
4 (Adequate Achievement 50-59%) or better in four designated subjects (including Life
Orientation).
Or
• A Senior Certificate (pre-2008) with Endorsement with English passed at Standard Grade or
better, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate.
Or
• A Higher Certificate (NQF level 5), SAQA verified equivalent qualification, Advanced Certificate,
or Diploma in a cognate field.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to
support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior and Further Education and Training Teaching (NQF 7)
Acceptance into this qualification is subject to a selection process that includes meeting the minimum
entrance requirements, completion of the relevant application forms, and assessment of academic
and non-academic aptitudes and competencies.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification with a psychology major at NQF
Level 7. Applicants must have achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 60% and/or above in
all psychology subjects undertaken in the final year (NQF 7/exit level) of study.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning in a cognate field of study equivalent to an NQF level 7
qualification to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior
Learning (RPL).
Please Note:
Students who do not have conversational competence in at least one of South Africa’s official
languages over and above English and Afrikaans, will be required to complete a conversational
language competency certificate in isiXhosa (Cape Town Campus) or isiZulu (Johannesburg Campus)
before completing this qualification.
Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) (NQF 8)
This is a four-year professional programme that is registered with the Health Professions Council of
South Africa (HPCSA), and as such all applicants are required to undergo a screening and selection
process which includes a selection interview in addition to meeting the minimum entrance
requirements. Acceptance into this programme is limited to maximum 20 students per approved
campus per academic year.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A National Senior Certificate or National Certificate (Vocational) with an achievement rating of
4 (Adequate Achievement 50-59%) or better in 6 designated subjects including
Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy and English.
OR
• Senior Certificate (Pre-2008) with Endorsement, with English and Mathematics/Maths Literacy
passed at Standard Grade or better, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate.
OR
• A Higher Certificate (NQF level 5), a SAQA verified equivalent qualification, Advanced
Certificate, or Diploma in a cognate field.
OR
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to
support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Please Note:
As this is a South African registered professional programme, preference will be given to South African
citizens wishing to apply for this programme.
Foreign nationals wishing to apply for this programme will need a valid and specific study visa for the
full duration of the programme, and will be required to liaise with the HPCSA in order to learn of any
particular requirements, including obtaining a valid working visa, in order to register and practice as a
Registered Counsellor in South Africa.
Bachelor of Social Work
This is a four-year professional programme that is registered with the South African Council for Social
Service Professions (SACSSP), and as such all applicants are required to undergo a screening and
selection process which includes a selection interview in addition to meeting the minimum entrance
requirements. Acceptance into this programme is limited to maximum 20 students per campus per
academic year.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A National Senior Certificate, or the National Certificate (Vocational) or equivalent with
appropriate subject combinations and levels of achievement as follows: an achievement rating
of Level 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50 – 59%) or better in six designated subjects, as well as
English with an achievement rating of Level 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50 – 59%).
OR
• A Senior Certificate (Pre-2008) with Endorsement, with English and Mathematics/Maths
Literacy passed at Standard Grade or better, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate.
OR
• A Higher Certificate (NQF level 5), a SAQA verified equivalent qualification, Advanced
Certificate, or Diploma in a cognate field.
OR
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to
support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Please Note:
As this is a South African registered professional programme, preference will be given to South African
citizens wishing to apply for this programme.
Foreign nationals wishing to apply for this programme will need a valid and specific study visa for the
full duration of the programme, and will be required to liaise with the SACSSP in order to learn of any
particular requirements, including obtaining a valid working visa, in order to register and practice as a
registered Social Worker in South Africa.
Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching (PGDC) (NQF 8)
All applicants are required to undergo a screening and selection process which includes a selection
interview in addition to meeting the minimum entrance requirements. Acceptance into this
programme is, therefore, not automatic.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• An appropriate Bachelor’s degree (NQF level 7) or appropriate Advanced Diploma, or SAQA
verified equivalent qualification. 5 years of post-qualification life and/or work experience is an
advantage.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning in a cognate field of study equivalent to an NQF level 7
qualification to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior
Learning (RPL).
Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology (NQF 8)
All applicants for this programme are required to undergo a screening and selection process.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A minimum of an appropriate Bachelor’s Degree (NQF level 7) or appropriate Advanced
Diploma with a psychology major, having achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 65% and/or
above in all psychology subjects undertaken in the final year (exit level) of study.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning in a cognate field of study equivalent to an NQF level 7
qualification to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior
Learning (RPL).
Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology [BPsych Equivalent Programme]: The same
minimum entrance requirements apply to applicants for this programme, however, as per the Health
Professions Council of South Africa’s requirements, the maximum number of applicants accepted into
this programme is limited to 15 students per approved campus, i.e. Cape Town, Johannesburg, and
Pretoria campuses.
As this is a South African registered professional programme, preference will be given to South African
citizens wishing to apply for this programme.
Foreign nationals wishing to apply for this programme will need a valid and specific study visa for the
full duration of the programme, and will be required to liaise with the HPCSA in order to learn of any
particular requirements, including obtaining a valid working visa, in order to register and practice as a
Registered Counsellor in South Africa.
Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Human Resource Management (NQF 8)
All applicants for this programme are required to undergo a screening and selection process.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A minimum of an undergraduate degree with a human resource management, industrial
psychology, or organisational psychology major (NQF 7), having achieved a grade point
average (GPA) of 65% and/or above in all human resource management-related subjects
undertaken in the final year (exit level) of study.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training,
work experience, and/or learning in a cognate field of study equivalent to an NQF level 7
qualification to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior
Learning (RPL).
Master of Social Science Honours in Community Mental Health Promotion (NQF 9)
All applicants for this programme are required to undergo a screening and selection process.
Acceptance into this programme is limited to a maximum of 20 students per campus per academic
year.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
• A relevant Bachelor Honours Degree (NQF level 8), relevant Postgraduate Diploma, or SAQA
verified equivalent qualification in a recognised cognate field with a grade point average (GPA)
of 65% or above.
Or
• Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide
a portfolio of evidence demonstrating either by examination, research experience,
publication, considerable relevant work experience in the field, or a record of appropriate
training and/or development, that they have reached a level in the subject or a cognate
subject, that is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours Bachelor’s degree/NQF 8
qualification. RPL applications for this programme are only considered for admission into the
programme and not for advanced standing or module exemption.
Foreign Student and Foreign Qualification Admission Requirements
In accordance with South African law, non-South African citizens must have a valid study permit in
order to be admitted into any qualification.
The study permit/visa must be valid in terms of both the time-period for the full duration of study, as
well as the name of the learning institution.
Furthermore, foreign applicants must have their highest qualification assessed, verified and certified
by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for minimum entrance requirement comparison
before they can be considered for admission into a SACAP qualification.
Registration with South African Professional Bodies:
South African registered Professional Bodies may impose restrictions on foreign nationals wishing to
practice within a registered profession in South Africa. As such, after completing their professional
studies at SACAP, graduates will need to liaise with the relevant professional body regarding any
specific requirements needed in order to register and practice professionally in a particular profession
in South Africa. This could include, but is not limited to, obtaining a valid and specific work permit.
Rules of Progression
In order to progress through a programme students are required to complete the prescribed modules
including all pre-requirements and co-requirements, assessments, and attendance requirements
within the prescribed maximum period of study and students are required to have met any conditions
associated with their initial registration.
Credit transfer or RPL for advanced standing or exemption for some modules in a qualification can only
be achieved in terms of the prescribed rules for credit accumulation and transfer and/or recognition
of prior learning, as outlined in SACAP’s CAT and RPL Policy, in accordance with the HEQSF (CHE, 2013)
and the CHE’s RPL, CAT and Assessment Policy (2016).
A pass mark for a module is achieved by a weighted average of 50% being achieved, with the exception
of a few experientially-based modules where the minimum pass mark specified is 60%, i.e. Work
Integrated Learning (WIL).