About this qualification
The Higher Certificate in Business Management, at NQF level 5, is an entry level qualification that provides students with the required competencies to pursue various entry-level managerial roles.
This programme has been designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills that are imperative for career and/or academic advancement in business management. The curriculum design equips individuals with a diverse set of skills across multiple disciplines, giving a competitive edge for career advancement.
7 credit-bearing modules
Part-time or full-time study options
10 – 20 hours/week
Lecture-supported online learning
Higher Certificate in Business Management
MODE:
Fully Online
NQF LEVEL:
5
SAQA ID:
87026
CREDITS:
120
DURATION:
Flexible payment options available
Programme syllabus
This programmes’s integrated, up-to-date curriculum and wide range of modules enable students to understand how to run a business as an Entrepreneur, Manager or Supervisor. The programme combines management principles and practices with core HR legislation, leadership theories, marketing approaches, financial management best practices and project management methodologies to provide value to every student’s learning experience.
Kickstart your studies with an introduction to higher education, covering topics such as the essential elements for student success, study methods to best suit your learning style and practical approaches to academic reading and writing methodologies.
Explore the business environment, the management function, and the managerial tasks of planning, organising, leading, motivating and controlling, whilst building an understanding of entrepreneurship and the value chain.
Grow your knowledge of people management through the focused presentation of HR activities surrounding the employee life cycle and the related legislation governing the South African employment environment.
Following learnings in the Business Management module, gain practical skills in understanding self, others, and the difference between leadership and management.
Learn how to position a business and its products in various markets whilst gaining skills related to applying the 4 P’s of marketing – product, price, place and promotion.
Combine learnings from across this programme as you prepare to manage a project. Integrate management, leadership, people, marketing and finance-related skills to successfully execute a project, whilst establishing the feasibility, execution and close-out processes of project management.
- Total Credits: 120 | NQF Level: 5
Quick links:
More about this qualification
Upon successful completion of this course the learner should be able to:
- Demonstrate an ability to exercise critical thinking and literacy skills in an academic context;
- Explain, interpret, and evaluate business management;
- Explain, compare, and apply aspects of human resource management;
- Demonstrate, explain, and apply marketing management principles;
- Analyse and present aspects of finance for managers;
- Analyse and evaluate the principles of leadership;
- Explain, interpret, and apply aspects of project management.
- During this programme you will complete various types of assessments, namely formative and summative assessments.
- Each module contains a minimum of two formative assessments which combine to contribute 30% towards your final mark, and one summative assessment which contributes 70% towards your final mark.
- Assessments within this programme are aimed towards the practical demonstration of skills acquired during the course of the semester.
A lecturer is assigned to each module in this programme. As the mode of delivery is distance education, all instruction will take place via our Virtual Campus online learning platform. Your module lecturer will provide a teaching and learning plan for the duration of the module. Students are required to adhere to this schedule to ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities to learn.
All learning content will be made available on the Virtual Campus learning platform. Lecturers will also host regular online live classes to discuss module content and prepare for assessments. The content covered in each class will be in line with the module schedule and weekly activities.
Between classes you can engage with lecturers should you require additional support.
The following learning activities form part of your overall learning path:
- Self-directed reading and activity completion
- Multimedia activities such as lecture video clips and podcasts
- Completion of quizzes and continuous assessment opportunities on the Virtual Campus
- Self-reflections
- Case studies
- Online/Live classes using Microsoft Teams
- Assessment activities and compulsory submission of formative and summative assessments per module
Is this qualification right for me?
This programme will suit a range of individuals pursuing careers in business management or those wishing to proceed to higher levels of study in this field but do not qualify for a diploma or degree programme, such as:
- Grade 12 school leavers
- Junior-level employees who aim to progress into managerial roles through additional knowledge and qualification.
- Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or better position their existing business for growth.
This programme is grounded in sound curriculum design and teaching and learning principles, which place the student at the forefront of the teaching and learning experience, to ensure maximum value.
Graduates of this programme will be able to understand and apply sound business practices in any industry or position related to managing people, processes and financial and marketing outputs.
After an extensive industry review, the programme content and assessment strategy allow for constant practice and preparation and are aligned to the job role competencies required of a Manager or Entrepreneur.
Upon successful completion of this qualification, students can pursue exciting career paths such as:
- Project officer
- Business Administrator
- Supervisor
- Team Leader
- Junior Manager
- Office Manager
- Entrepreneur
Programme Semester Dates
Programme Admissions
Academic requirements:
- National Senior Certificate (NSC), or Senior Certificate (NC), or National Certificate Vocational (NCV level 4)
- At least 30% in the language of teaching and learning
- Matric exemption certificate optional
- Candidates of a mature age may also be considered for entry, based on their experience in a managerial/supervisory capacity.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Candidates may apply for admission through the process of RPL.
Institutional requirements:
- At least 18 years of age
- Ability to read and write in English, which is the language of instruction
- Students should also possess a basic level of digital literacy skills
- If candidates do not meet the minimum requirement, they may still enrol based on relevant work experience or mature age exemption
South African citizens:
- Certified copy of Grade 12 certificate [NSC, NC, NCV (NQF Level 4)]
- Certified copy of Identity Document/Card
- Students without Grade 12 are required to prove 12 months of relevant appointment
Non-South African citizens:
- Copy of highest school qualification
- Copy of passport
- Copy of study permit and copy of SAQA evaluation
At iQ Academy, we offer all our programmes exclusively through online learning. Students must have regular access to a device and a stable internet connection, whether via a mobile device or any other means.
Don’t worry about course materials, as they are all available online and can be downloaded to your smartphone, PC or tablet for offline use. We do not provide printed textbooks. If you prefer printed materials, you can easily download and print them yourself.
Our teaching and learning activities occur 100% online so you can participate in online classes and learning activities. If you require more information, please feel free to enquire now.
- A PC, Tablet or Smartphone
- Access to a reliable internet connection
- An active email account
- At least 1GB of data per month
Simple pricing, big value
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Expert support
Dedicated programme lecturer and specialised academic support.
Structured learning
Weekly lesson plans, regular live classes and special webinars.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all qualifications are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). You can find the SAQA ID listed on our website for each of the qualifications we offer. You can also search for a qualification on SAQA at: https://pcqs.saqa.org.za/search.php?cat=qual
iQ Academy is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a Private Higher Education Institution (PHEI) under the Higher Education Act, 1997. Learn more about our accreditations.
An iQ Academy Higher Certificate Programme is an industry-ready qualification that is offered through the convenience of online distance learning. All Higher Certificate courses are on NQF level 5 and are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) and Council on Higher Education (CHE).
Our qualifications are lecture-supported. The mode of delivery for our qualifications is distance learning, and all instruction takes place via the Virtual Campus, our online student platform. Your lecturer will provide a teaching and learning plan for the duration of the module, at the start of the semester.
Students are required to adhere to these schedules. Lecturers will also host regular live online classes. The content covered in each class will be in line with the module schedule and weekly activities.
Between classes you can engage with your lecturer directly should you need additional assistance.
The following learning activities form part of your overall learning path:
- Self-directed reading and activity completion
- Multimedia activities such as lecture video clips and podcasts
- Completion of quizzes and continuous assessment opportunities on the Virtual Campus
- Self-reflections
- Case studies
- Online/Live classes using Microsoft Teams
- Assessment activities and compulsory submission of formative and summative assessments per module