University in South Africa
Rivonia, Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
University profile
The International Trade Institute of Southern Africa NPC (ITRISA) is a private higher education institution devoted to a single field, international trade. It is a non-profit company based at Trade Development House, Eden Gardens, 16 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Sandton, Gauteng, and its core activities are education, short-course training and consulting for exporters, importers and the service providers around them.
Its higher education offering is delivered entirely by distance learning. The one-year Higher Certificate in International Trade (NQF Level 5, SAQA ID 96698, 120 credits) has four subjects: International Trade Relations, International Cargo Movement, Introduction to International Marketing and Purchasing, and International Trade Finance and Payments. The three-year Diploma in International Trade Management (Exports) or (Imports) (NQF Level 6, SAQA ID 24333, 360 credits) shares a common first year with the certificate and then specialises in exports or imports in the second and third years, with subjects such as International Monetary Relations, International Trade Law, Export Marketing, Export Administration, International Financial Management and Export or Import Logistics Management. Students who complete the Higher Certificate can move into the final two years of the Diploma through an exemption process.
Study material is posted or made available for collection, each subject has two assignments, and students can phone or email staff and tutors, attend private tuition sessions in Johannesburg or online, and sit examinations in Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, with arrangements made for students living elsewhere. Instruction is in English. The programmes serve small business owners entering export markets, staff of manufacturers, freight forwarders, clearing agents, banks and insurers, and government officials working on trade policy.
Short public and in-house training courses and workshops run in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Sandton, with customised training across the provinces on request. Consulting work has been done with bodies such as the dti, Wesgro, seda, the City of Cape Town and the City of Tshwane.
ITRISA is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (registration certificate 2002/HE08/001) and is accredited by the Council on Higher Education. Internationally it is an accredited provider of the International Association of Trade Training Organisations (IATTO), whose secretariat it hosts, and its Diploma is certified by IATTO towards the World Trade Professional designation. Students living outside South Africa can enrol, paying an international surcharge for courier of material.
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View scholarships for International Trade Institute of Southern Africa NPC →The basic entry requirement for the Higher Certificate in International Trade and the Diploma in International Trade Management is a Grade 12 (Senior Certificate) or equivalent for those educated outside South Africa. Business experience is an added advantage, and at least Grade 11 mathematics and a fair knowledge of geography are recommended. There is no APS or NBT requirement.
Applicants without a Grade 12 may still be admitted under the institution's RPL policy on the strength of other relevant studies and business experience. Exemption from individual subjects may be granted for equivalent formal study or work experience, and an exemption test may be required.
Courses are taught in English; a fairly high level of English proficiency is expected.
Two study cycles run each year. The start-of-year cycle runs from March to November and enrolment closes in the first full week of March; the mid-year cycle runs from August to the following June and enrolment closes in the first full week of August.
Tuition for 2027 is R8 500 per subject and covers registration, study materials for the cycle, assessment of assignments, standard telephone and email help, and examination entrance. Optional tutorials are R620 each, normally two per subject. Fees are payable in full on enrolment by electronic transfer or direct deposit, and no refunds are given once registration has been effected.
Students living outside South Africa pay an international surcharge of R4 250 per subject in 2027 to cover international courier of study material and marked work. A passport copy may replace the South African ID.
Complete the enrolment form and email it with proof of payment, a copy of your South African ID or passport and a copy of your highest formal education certificate, or register online. Incomplete forms are not processed. A confirmation letter with a student number is then emailed.
Degree-level study is by distance learning with printed or collected study material and online tutorials.
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