Higher Certificate in Business Studies at Nelson Mandela University

Programme overview

The purpose of this qualification is to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills related to the business environment to make them more employable and to also widen access to selected diploma qualification(s). Please note: Students who successfully complete this Higher Certificate qualification and comply with the set admission requirements may proceed to one of the following diplomas in the field of: Economics, Marketing, Logistics, Management or Tourism management.

Faculty: Business and Economic Sciences | Duration: 1 years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa

What you will study

· The purpose of this qualification is to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills related to the business environment to make them more employable and to also widen access to selected diploma qualification(s). The published curriculum is an NQF Level 5 qualification of 120 credits.

Career pathways

Career fields listed on the page: Business Manager, Inventory Manager, Logistics Manager, Manager, Marketer, Marketing Manager.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Minimum APS: 290. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS • Minimum NSC statutory requirements for higher certificate entry must be met. • An applicant with NSC Grade 12 Mathematics or Technical Mathematics requires a minimum Applicant Score of 290. • An applicant with NSC Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy requires a minimum Applicant Score of 305. • NSC achievement rating of at least 30% for Mathematics or Technical Mathematics or 50% for Mathematical Literacy.

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Applications for the 2027 academic year opened on 13 April 2026. Applications for MBChB, Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing Extended, BPharm and Bachelor of Radiography (Diagnostic) close on 30 June 2026.

Early applications for 2027 (excluding MBChB, Nursing, BPharm and BRad) close on 03 August 2026; late applications close on 30 September 2026.

International student applications for 2027 (excluding MBChB, BPharm and BRad) close on 30 September 2026. The application fee for international students is R500 per year; online applications by South African applicants carry no application fee.

Student accommodation applications for 2027 close on 30 September 2026.

2026 down-payments before registration: R10 600 full-time (R6 200 part-time) for degrees, postgraduate diplomas, advanced diplomas, Masters and Doctorates; R7 500 full-time (R5 200 part-time) for diplomas and certificates; enrolment fee R1 770. International students pay 100% upfront.

Apply through the official page: https://applyonline.mandela.ac.za

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