HR requirements start with the national minimum for the qualification you choose. A diploma needs an NSC with achievement rating 3 (40-49%) or better in four recognised 20-credit subjects, and a bachelor’s degree needs rating 4 (50-59%) or better in four designated subjects (see the DHET minimum admission policy). A higher certificate needs an NSC. Each institution then sets its own rules, and Unisa’s published figures are given below.
In HR the qualification opens the door, but command of employment legislation and practical systems experience is what makes someone useful.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Higher certificate: an NSC. Unisa’s Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences (98237) needs an NSC with at least 30% in the language of teaching and learning.
- Diploma: an NSC with diploma entry. For the Unisa Diploma in Human Resource Management (98211): at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning, and at least 40% in Mathematics or 70% in Mathematical Literacy; or any Unisa Economic and Management Sciences Higher Certificate.
- Degree: an NSC with degree endorsement. For the Unisa BCom in Human Resource Management (98307): at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning and at least 50% in Mathematics, or an equivalent route such as a completed EMS Higher Certificate or Diploma.
- NC(V) route: for a diploma, at least 40% in three fundamental subjects including the language of learning and teaching, and at least 50% in three compulsory vocational subjects (Government Gazette 42092).
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Two routes lead to different work. Human resource management is a business qualification. Industrial and organisational psychology is a psychology qualification, and it leads to a different career path from HR management. If you want to practise as an industrial psychologist, confirm the registration requirements with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) before choosing a degree.
Professional recognition in HR runs through the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP). Its SABPP registration page lists registration levels. HR Technician requires a one-year HR or HR-related certificate plus one year of HR experience. HR Associate requires a two-year diploma, two years of experience and the Board Exam Level 1. HR Professional, Chartered and Master levels need higher qualifications, more experience and board exams, and the board also has a recognition of prior learning route. Fees and levels change, so confirm them with the SABPP.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Subject requirements differ between institutions. Unisa’s figures above show how: the diploma accepts Mathematics at 40% or Mathematical Literacy at 70%, while the BCom asks for 50% in Mathematics. Other universities and universities of technology publish their own points and subject levels, so check each programme page for your intake year.
Higher certificate in HR: Unisa’s 2026 list of higher certificates and follow-on qualifications does not include a Higher Certificate in HR by that name. Its route is the Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences (98237), which leads on to the Diploma in Human Resource Management. Other providers may offer an HR higher certificate; check its accreditation and entry rules directly.
Documents and Application Requirements
- Your South African ID, or passport and permit if you are a foreign national
- Your highest school qualification and your Grade 11 and Grade 12 results
- Proof of payment of the application fee, where one is charged
- For recognition of prior learning at Unisa: you must be at least 30 years old, have completed at least Grade 10 and have at least five years’ relevant work experience
- For SABPP registration: evidence of your qualification and HR experience for the level you apply for, as set out on the SABPP page
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Meeting the minimum puts you in the pool but does not guarantee a place, and each institution decides. Decide early between the HR management route and the industrial psychology route, because they lead to different registration bodies.
Practical exposure helps at entry level: payroll, HR information systems and a working knowledge of employment law. Check with the SETA covering your target sector whether it currently runs learnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a higher certificate in HR?
Unisa does not list one under that name. Its route is the Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences, which needs an NSC with at least 30% in the language of teaching and learning and leads to the Diploma in Human Resource Management. Other providers may differ.
What is the difference between HR management and industrial psychology?
HR management is a business qualification. Industrial psychology is a psychology qualification. If you want to register as an industrial psychologist, confirm the requirements with the HPCSA before you choose a degree.
Do I need to register with a professional body?
The SABPP registers HR practitioners at defined levels, starting with HR Technician and HR Associate. Confirm with the SABPP what each level requires and whether registration is compulsory for your role.
Do I need Mathematics?
It depends on the programme. The Unisa HR diploma accepts Mathematics at 40% or Mathematical Literacy at 70%, while the BCom asks for Mathematics at 50%.
What matters most to employers?
Accurate knowledge of employment legislation, practical experience with payroll and HR systems, and the ability to run fair processes.
See admission requirements and browse all education requirements. Confirm entry requirements with the institution, and registration rules with the SABPP or the HPCSA.