South African College of Applied Psychology (Pty) Ltd

University profile

About South African College of Applied Psychology (Pty) Ltd

The South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) is an independent private higher education provider founded in 1997 in Cape Town, with applied psychology at the core of every programme. Its qualifications run from Higher Certificates and a Diploma to undergraduate degrees, honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas and a master's degree, and cover psychology, counselling and communication, business management, human resource management, social work, community development and coaching. It has a student cohort of about 3000 with deliberately small classes and mentor support.

Study is available on campuses in Cape Town (Claremont and Tyger Valley), Durban (Morningside), Johannesburg (Sandton) and Pretoria (Lynnwood Ridge), and through an Online Campus where educators release material each Monday and students work through it over seven days at their own pace. SACAP Global offers short micro-credentials. Programmes are grouped in three faculties: Applied Psychology, Management and Leadership, and Social Work and Community Development.

Applied Psychology: Higher Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills; Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Psychology and Counselling, or Psychology and Criminology); Bachelor of Psychology; Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology, including a BPsych Equivalent route; Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling.
Management and Leadership: Higher Certificates in Business Management and Human Resource Management; Bachelor of Social Science in Industrial and Organisational Psychology; Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Psychology and Business Management, or Human Resource Management); Honours in Human Resource Management and Business Management; Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching and the Advanced Coach Practitioner Programme, aligned with ICF and COMENSA.
Social Work and Community Development: Bachelor of Social Work (four years, 1100 supervised hours, leading to registration as a social worker with the SACSSP) and the Master of Social Science in Community Mental Health Promotion.

Work Integrated Learning is built into many qualifications, with between 200 and 720 hours of applied learning depending on the programme, with over 250 placement sites. The SACAP Foundation runs the Counselling Hub, offering low-cost counselling, and the Youth Hub in partnership with the Groote Schuur Hospital Adolescent Centre of Excellence.

SACAP is registered as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (registration certificate 2005/HE07/001). Its qualifications are accredited by the Council on Higher Education and registered on the NQF by SAQA, and the college is accredited by the British Accreditation Council as an independent higher education institution. The four-year BPsych and the BPsych Equivalent Programme are endorsed by the HPCSA.

University information

Funding options

SACAP does not offer its own bursaries and does not offer NSFAS funding. It accepts private bursaries from employers and corporate funders. It offers three routes to spread the cost of study:

SACAP Extender: lets eligible applicants repay each year's tuition over up to double the time (for example 24 months instead of 12, or up to six years for a three-year qualification). Available to South African citizens aged 18 or older who earn a regular income, or whose payer, an eligible person, applies and takes responsibility for repayments. Subject to approval, interest and initiation and service fees.
Student Hero: a free platform to compare and apply for study finance from major South African providers.
Capitec Education Finance: term loans of up to R500 000 at a fixed interest rate over up to 84 months, paid directly to the institution.
Nedbank Education Loan: loans from R2 000 up to R400 000 over 6 to 72 months, paid directly to the institution.

More: Financial Support and Fees.

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Higher Certificates (Counselling and Communication Skills, Human Resource Management, Business Management; NQF 5)

A National Senior Certificate with at least 45% in English, certified by Umalusi; or an NCV Level 4 with at least 45% in English; or a pre-2008 Senior Certificate with a minimum overall D-aggregate (50%) and 45% in English, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate. Applicants who do not qualify may submit a portfolio of evidence equivalent to NQF level 4 for admission through Recognition of Prior Learning.

Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills (NQF 6)

An NSC with at least 45% in English and a rating of 3 (40-49%) or better in four recognised 20-credit subjects; or an NCV Level 4 with at least 50% in three fundamental subjects including English and at least 60% in the three compulsory vocational subjects; or a pre-2008 Senior Certificate with a D-aggregate and English passed at Standard Grade or better; or a Higher Certificate or SAQA-verified equivalent, or an Advanced Certificate in a cognate field.

Bachelor of Applied Social Science and Bachelor of Social Science in Industrial and Organisational Psychology (NQF 7)

An NSC with at least 45% in English and a rating of 4 (50-59%) or better in at least four recognised 20-credit subjects; or an NCV Level 4 with at least 60% in three fundamental subjects including English and at least 70% in four vocational subjects; or a pre-2008 Senior Certificate with endorsement and English passed at Standard Grade or better; or a Higher Certificate, Advanced Certificate or Diploma in a cognate field. School leavers entering bachelor study must obtain a matriculation exemption through the USAF/Matriculation Board where their certificate does not carry bachelor admission.

Bachelor of Psychology (NQF 8, professional)

An NSC with a rating of 4 (50-59%) or better in six recognised subjects including Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy and English, or a cognate Higher Certificate, Advanced Certificate or Diploma. A selection interview applies and acceptance is limited to a maximum of 20 students per approved campus per year. Preference is given to South African citizens.

Bachelor of Social Work (NQF 8, professional)

An NSC with at least 50% in English and a rating of 4 (50-59%) or better in five recognised 20-credit subjects, excluding Life Orientation, or a cognate Higher Certificate, Advanced Certificate or Diploma. Screening and an interview apply, and preference is given to South African citizens.

Postgraduate entry

Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling and Honours in Psychology: a Bachelor's degree or Advanced Diploma with a Psychology major and a GPA of 65% or above in final-year psychology subjects, plus screening and selection. The BPsych Equivalent route admits 25 students per cohort in Cape Town and Johannesburg and 15 in Pretoria.
Honours in Human Resource Management: an NQF 7 Bachelor's degree with a human resource, industrial or organisational psychology major and a GPA of 65% or above in final-year subjects.
Honours in Business Management: an NQF 7 degree or Advanced Diploma majoring in Business Management with a 65% final-year GPA.
Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching: an appropriate Bachelor's degree or Advanced Diploma; screening and interview apply.
PGCE in Senior Phase and FET Teaching: a relevant Diploma or Bachelor's degree with Psychology at second-year level (or first-year level plus an approved second-year subject) and English at second-year level.
Master of Social Science in Community Mental Health Promotion: a relevant Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma with a GPA of 65% or above; up to 20 students per campus per year.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applicants who fall short of the minimum requirements for certain programmes may submit a portfolio of evidence of formal and informal training, work experience and life-long learning. RPL admissions are limited to 10% of applications per programme.

International applicants

Foreign qualifications must be converted through SAQA before a decision is made, and applicants may be asked to complete an English Literacy Skills Assessment. At least 50% for English in the final school examination is expected. Non-citizens living in South Africa need a valid study visa for the full study period, and they have 90 days after provisional acceptance to supply the SAQA certificate and visa. Online Campus students studying from their home country do not need a study visa but must supply the SAQA equivalency certificate. Professional programmes (Psychology, Social Work) give preference to South African citizens, and registration with the HPCSA or SACSSP may require a work visa.

How to apply

Speak to an admissions officer, complete the online application with a certified copy of the ID (or passport) and highest qualification and proof of payment of the non-refundable application fee (the amount depends on the course), receive an outcome and acceptance letter, pay the registration fee and finalise a payment plan, then receive a student number and orientation invitation. Fees are published per campus for 2026, and 2027 fees are published when available.

Cape Town, Claremont: 1st Floor, Sunclare Building, 21 Dreyer Street, Claremont, 7708. SACAP's first campus, in Claremont since 2011. Library, study and pause areas, free Wi-Fi and tea/coffee, security-controlled access, near rail and bus links. Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling, undergraduate applied social science degrees, Social Work and Community Development and coaching programmes.
Cape Town, Tyger Valley: 2nd Floor, Tyger Valley Office Park Building 1, 41 Old Oak Road, Bellville Park, 7550. A newer campus about 25 minutes from the Cape Town CBD.
Durban, Morningside: 5th floor, 199 Peter Mokaba Road, Morningside, Berea, 4001. Library and resource centre, canteen, pause and study areas, free Wi-Fi and tea/coffee. Counselling and applied social science programmes, Honours in Psychology and Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling.
Johannesburg, Sandton: 22 Westbrooke Drive, Strathavon, Sandton. Custom-designed campus opened in December 2019, with canteen, garden, parking and an easy walk from the Sandton Gautrain station.
Pretoria, Lynnwood Ridge: 34 Ingersol Road, Lynnwood Ridge, 0181, opposite Menlyn Park Shopping Centre. Counselling, applied social science, Honours in Psychology and Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling.
Online Campus: Higher Certificates, Diplomas, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees delivered online, with weekly released materials, small online classes and online library resources; Work Integrated Learning is done at a placement near the student.

Campus office hours are Monday to Thursday, 09:00 to 17:00.

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South African College of Applied Psychology (Pty) Ltd