Healthcare management courses are mostly for people who already hold a health-related qualification. At CUT, the Advanced Diploma in Health Management (NQF 7) needs an appropriate NQF 6 diploma or an NQF 7 bachelor’s degree, with at least 360 credits from a relevant health-related profession.
Most healthcare management study is open only to people who already hold a health-related qualification, so this guide covers two published routes and tells you what to ask before you apply. Browse more in our education requirements.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- CUT Advanced Diploma in Health Management (AD_HMN): NQF 7, 120 credits, 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, offered at the Bloemfontein and Welkom campuses
- Minimum prior qualification: an appropriate NQF 6 diploma or an NQF 7 bachelor’s degree
- Credits: at least 360 credits from a relevant health-related profession, including health sciences, nursing and allied health
- UKZN Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management: aimed at nurses, with two years’ post-basic experience
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
CUT. The Central University of Technology (CUT) Advanced Diploma in Health Management requires an appropriate Diploma at NQF Level 6, or a Bachelor’s Degree at NQF Level 7. The programme page also states at least 360 credits from a relevant health-related profession, including health sciences, nursing and allied health.
UKZN. The UKZN Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management lists a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, a Bachelor of Nursing Honours Degree, an Advanced Diploma at NQF Level 7 or an equivalent qualification. It also requires two years’ post-basic experience, excluding the community service year, in a relevant health services setting. The page does not state an intake year, so confirm the current intake with UKZN.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Both verified programmes are admitted on a prior qualification, not on a Grade 12 subject list, so no APS applies. If you are still in school or hold only an NSC, you will first need a health-related diploma or degree, then look at these programmes.
If you find an undergraduate healthcare management programme elsewhere, ask the institution for its published NSC subject and APS requirements for the intake year you want, and for its accreditation details.
Documents and Application Requirements
The programme pages cited here do not publish a document checklist. Ask the institution for its list. Both routes rest on a prior qualification, and the UKZN route also on two years of experience, so ask each institution how it wants these evidenced.
CUT states that the programme is online blended learning, so you will need a computer and reliable data.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
CUT states that employment in a health management environment would be highly beneficial. For UKZN, two years’ post-basic experience in a relevant health services setting is a stated requirement.
Healthcare management also sits inside a wider legal framework. The National Health Act 61 of 2003 provides a framework for a structured uniform health system across national, provincial and local government.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for a healthcare management course?
At CUT, you need an appropriate NQF 6 diploma or NQF 7 degree with at least 360 health-related credits. At UKZN, the postgraduate diploma needs a nursing bachelor’s or honours degree, or an NQF 7 advanced diploma or equivalent, plus two years’ post-basic experience.
Do I need a clinical background?
For the two programmes verified here, yes: both require a health-related qualification, and the UKZN diploma is aimed at nurses.
How long does a healthcare management course take?
The CUT Advanced Diploma takes 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. UKZN does not state a duration on the page we used, so check with the university.
Can I study healthcare management with only matric?
Not on the programmes above, because they need a prior diploma or degree. Ask each institution whether it offers an entry-level programme and what its published requirements are.
Is healthcare management study online?
CUT describes its Advanced Diploma as online blended learning. Confirm delivery for other programmes with the institution.
Confirm current requirements and intake dates with the institution offering the programme. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.