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
- 15 – 30 notional hours / week
Lecture-led online distance learning
Higher Certificate in Business Management
MODE:
NQF LEVEL:
5
SAQA ID:
87026
CREDITS:
120
DURATION:
Pay as little as R603* / monthly
Flexible payment options available
Programme syllabus
The programme’s integrated, up-to-date curriculum and wide range of modules enable students to gain a solid understanding of general management principles and practices while discovering the fundamentals of related business areas such as human resources, leadership, financial management, marketing management, and project management
- Module 1: Academic Literacy | Credits: 10
Module 2: Business Management | Credits: 20
- Module 3: Human Resource Management | Credits: 20
- Module 4: Principles of Leadership | Credits: 14
Module 5: Marketing Management | Credits: 20
Module 6: Finance for Managers | Credits: 16
Module 7: Project Management | Credits: 20
- Total Credits: 120 | NQF Level: 5
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More about this qualification
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 are unable to gain access to a diploma or degree programme. This would include:
- Grade 12 school leavers
- Junior-level employees who aim to progress into managerial roles through additional knowledge and a qualification.
- Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or better position their existing business for growth.
Upon successful completion of this programme you should be able to:
- 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 transition to leading others;
- Explain, interpret and apply aspects of project management.
- During this programme you will complete various types of assessments, namely Formative and Summative.
- There are 2 formative assessments which contribute 30% toward the final mark and 1 Summative assessment which contributes 70% towards the final mark. The course pass mark is 50%.
- Assessment dates will be available in iCan, via the programme calendar. These dates will also be published by the lecturer during orientation week.
A module lecturer is assigned to each module in this programme. As the mode of delivery is distance education, all instruction will take place via iCan, our online learning platform. Your module lecturer will provide a teaching and learning plan for the duration of the module as well as lesson plans for each week.
Students are required to adhere to these schedules. Lecturers will also host regular online classes. The content covered in each class will be in line with the module schedule and weekly lesson plan. Sticking to the schedules provided will ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities to learn and ask questions.
In between classes you can engage with your lecturer directly on iCan or you can discuss the learning content with other students in the discussion forums, which are set up per module for your convenience.
The following learning activities form part of your overall learning path:
- Orientation week (included in the course duration)
- Self-directed reading and activity completion
- Multimedia activities such as video clips and podcasts
- Completion of quizzes and continuous assessment opportunities on iCan
- Online announcements of activities and assignment submission
- Participation in discussion forums
- Self-reflection
- Case studies
- Online/Live lectures using Microsoft Teams/Zoom
- Assessment activities and compulsory submission of formative and summative assessments per module
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 all of our programmes are offered via distance education. Depending on the course you choose you’ll either be studying fully online or with textbooks and online support.
- Online-only courses: All course material is available online and can be downloaded, there are no textbooks.
- Internet-supported courses with textbooks: You will receive textbooks via courier and the course is supported by compulsory online learning activities. Your course material will also be available online.
Teaching and learning will take place online whichever study method you choose. That means that you will need to partake in online learning activities and classes. For more information on each study method, enquire now.
- A PC, Tablet or Smartphone
- Access to a reliable internet connection
- Web browser (Chrome or Firefox)
- An active email account
Recommended data:
- At least 1GB of data per month for online-only programmes
- +/- 500MB of data for internet-supported programmes
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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).
All of our qualifications are lecture-led. The mode of delivery for our qualifications is distance education and all instruction takes place via iCan, our online student portal. Your lecturer will provide teaching and learning plans for the duration of the programme as well as lesson plans for each week.
Students are required to adhere to these schedules. Lecturers will also host regular online classes. The content covered in each class will be in line with the module schedule and weekly lesson plan. Sticking to the schedules provided will ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities to learn and ask questions.
In between classes you can engage with your lecturer directly on iCan or you can discuss the learning content with other students in the discussion forums, which are set up per module for your convenience.
The following learning activities form part of your overall learning path:
- Orientation week (included in the course duration)
- Self-directed reading and activity completion
- Multimedia activities such as video clips and podcasts
- Completion of quizzes and continuous assessment opportunities on iCan
- Online announcements of activities and assignment submission
- Participation in discussion forums
- Self-reflection
- Case studies
- Live online lectures
- Assessment activities and compulsory submission of formative and summative assessments per module
