Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management at Nelson Mandela University

Programme overview

The PGD is intended to develop an innovative, competent and reflective instructional leader who, within the field of Educational Leadership and Management has the capacity and agency to effect significant change in the South African education system, [and that], the following instructional leadership characteristics will be addressed in this programme: • Apply leadership knowledge and practices that promote quality teaching and learning; • Make decisions and take actions that are framed within the South African legal framework; • Be aware of current educational debates and translate those into practice • Manage school resources; • Act as change agents and have the ability to address context-specific challenges in the school system.

Faculty: Education | Duration: 1 years | Study mode: part-time | Location: Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa

What you will study

The published curriculum is an NQF Level 8 qualification of 120 credits.

Career pathways

Career fields listed on the page: Educator (Foundation Phase), Educator (Intermediate Phase), Educator (Secondary Phase), Teacher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Unless Senate decides otherwise, candidates qualify for admission if they are in possession of a full qualification on, or equivalent to, NQF Level 7, as stipulated below: Four Year BEd Degree OR Three-year appropriate Bachelor’s degree (e.g. BSc) plus a recognised professional teaching qualification (for example, PGCE), OR A former postgraduate professional teaching qualification (for example, PGCE). In addition the candidate should have passed in their undergraduate programmes or PGCE with an aggregate of 60%. In addition a minimum of 2 years of teaching experience will be required of teachers wanting to pursue a PGD qualification. In order to be admitted, candidates will in addition have to be selected in terms of a procedure decided upon by the faculty.

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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