To study foundation phase teaching at Unisa you apply for the Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching (qualification code 90102). Unisa asks for a National Senior Certificate with degree endorsement (a bachelor pass), at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning, at least 40% in Mathematics or 50% in Mathematical Literacy, and an Admission Point Score (APS) of 23.
The foundation phase is Grade R to Grade 3, the years in which children learn to read, write and work with numbers. Unlike most teaching courses in South Africa that are taught on campus, Unisa’s degree is delivered through online and distance learning, so you study from home and complete your classroom practice at a school you arrange.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Qualification: Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching (90102), NQF level 7, 480 credits, SAQA ID 105109
- School-leaving certificate: NSC with degree endorsement, or an older Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption
- Language of teaching and learning: at least 50% (NSC)
- Mathematics: at least 40%, or Mathematical Literacy at least 50% (NSC)
- APS: 23
- Alternative routes: the Higher Certificate in Education (Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase), or recognition of prior learning (RPL)
- Study mode: online and distance learning, with compulsory teaching practice in a school every year
- Maximum study period: 10 years
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Unisa’s published admission requirements for the 90102 degree are in the table on the qualification page. If you wrote the older Senior Certificate, you need a matriculation exemption with at least a D symbol on the higher grade or a C on the standard grade in the language of teaching and learning, and at least an F on the higher grade or an E on the standard grade in Mathematics. A Matriculation Board exemption with the same symbols is also accepted.
If you do not meet degree entry, Unisa’s access route is the Higher Certificate in Education (Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase), code 90093. It needs an NSC with at least 40% in the language of teaching and learning and an APS of 18. It is a one-year, 120-credit qualification at NQF level 5. Unisa states that it is not a professional teaching qualification, so it does not qualify you to teach; it gives you a way into the BEd. Unisa also says that only this higher certificate articulates into the foundation phase degree.
Unisa also offers entry through recognition of prior learning. You must be at least 23 years old, have completed at least Grade 10, and have at least five years of relevant teaching experience. This is most relevant to people already working in Grade R or early childhood classrooms without a matric that meets degree entry.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Unisa calculates your APS from the NSC 1 to 7 achievement scale across six recognised 20-credit subjects. Life Orientation is a 10-credit subject and is left out, so the highest possible APS is 42. A 7 is 80% to 100%, a 6 is 70% to 79%, a 5 is 60% to 69%, a 4 is 50% to 59% and a 3 is 40% to 49%. Unisa’s general admission requirements set out the full scale.
Your matric home language matters beyond admission. Unisa’s College of Education asks you to choose your home language module based on your matric home language, and your first additional language must be different. In the first year you take an English module at home language or first additional language level according to your Grade 12 English, plus two modules in another official language such as isiZulu, Sepedi, Setswana, isiXhosa or Afrikaans.
The degree is organised in four year levels. The published curriculum includes modules such as Emergent Literacy, Emergent Mathematics, Child Development (Birth to 9), Children’s Literature, Home Language Teaching, Inclusive Education and Foundation Phase Mathematics, with a Teaching Practice module at every level. You may register for no more than 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications are online only, through unisa.ac.za/apply. For study in 2027 the undergraduate application period runs from 17 August to 9 October 2026, and first-time applicants pay a non-refundable R160 application fee before the application is processed. Grade 12 learners can apply in this window before their final results are out. You can apply for up to three qualifications but accept only one offer.
Unisa’s application page lists the supporting documents to upload:
- A copy of your school qualification, such as your National Senior Certificate or Senior Certificate
- Official academic records from any previous tertiary study (internet copies are not accepted)
- A copy of your ID document, or ID or passport for international students
- A marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applicable
- Sworn translations of any document not in English or Afrikaans
After the closing date, track your application on Unisa’s application status page. Unisa can ask for original documents at any time, and submitting false documents is a disciplinary offence.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Meeting the minimums does not guarantee a place. Unisa states that some of its qualifications have limited spaces. Offers are usually made four to six weeks after the application period closes, and you have 10 working days to accept an offer or you lose the place.
Completing the higher certificate does not guarantee entry into the BEd either. The College of Education says that because of demand, students with an average of 65% or more in the higher certificate receive offers first.
Distance study changes how teaching practice works. Unisa requires five weeks of teaching practice every year, of which three weeks must be consecutive. You do not get placed by the university: once registered for a Teaching Practice module you nominate a school of your choice, relevant to the foundation phase, and dates that meet the required period. The work-integrated learning components mean time away from home and other commitments, so plan around them before you enrol. Unisa’s College of Education FAQs say you may complete teaching practice in your own country.
Unisa also asks BEd students to register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) from their first year of registration. For the wider picture of how to qualify for foundation phase teaching, including other universities and SACE registration after graduation, see our guide to foundation phase teaching requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is foundation phase?
It is the first phase of schooling, covering Grade R to Grade 3. Foundation phase teachers teach home language, first additional language, mathematics and life skills, with a strong focus on early reading, writing and number work.
What APS do I need for foundation phase teaching at Unisa?
Unisa lists an APS of 23 for the Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching (90102), together with the language and mathematics minimums. The access route, the Higher Certificate in Education (90093), lists an APS of 18.
Can I study foundation phase teaching at Unisa with Mathematical Literacy?
Yes. Unisa accepts at least 50% in Mathematical Literacy instead of at least 40% in Mathematics for the NSC route.
Is the Unisa Higher Certificate in Education a teaching qualification?
No. Unisa states that it is not a professional teaching qualification. It is an access route that can lead into the Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching.
How long does the Unisa BEd Foundation Phase take?
It is a 480-credit degree set out in four year levels. The credit cap of 120 per academic year means four years is the fastest route, and Unisa allows a maximum of 10 years to complete it.
Can I do foundation phase teaching at Unisa without matric?
Only through recognition of prior learning: you must be at least 23, have completed Grade 10 and have at least five years of relevant teaching experience. Otherwise you need an NSC or an equivalent school-leaving certificate.
Does Unisa find a school for my teaching practice?
No. You nominate a school that is relevant to the foundation phase, along with dates that meet the required five weeks a year, on the online learning platform once you are registered for the Teaching Practice module.
Source: University of South Africa official admission pages, checked September 2026. Confirm current requirements, dates and fees with Unisa and registration requirements with the South African Council for Educators. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.