Rosebank College requirements depend on the level you apply for. A higher certificate needs a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a Higher Certificate pass, a diploma needs a Diploma pass, and a degree needs a Bachelor’s pass. Each level also sets a minimum English mark, and some degrees add Mathematics and higher English marks.
Rosebank College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), a private higher education institution registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) under registration number 2007/HE07/002. Qualifications are IIE qualifications, so the admission rules below come from The IIE’s published admission requirement documents for each programme.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Higher certificates: NSC with a Higher Certificate pass and at least 30% in English (the language of learning and teaching).
- Diplomas: NSC with a Diploma pass and at least 30% in English, or a cognate higher certificate or advanced certificate.
- Degrees: NSC with a Bachelor’s pass and at least 30% in English, with higher programme-specific minimums for some degrees (the IIE Bachelor of Commerce, for example, asks for 50% in English).
- Older applicants: mature-age routes from 23 and from 45, plus Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
- International applicants: a SAQA evaluation of your school qualification (and, for degrees, a USAf exemption certificate) plus a valid study visa.
- To apply: an online application, a copy of your ID and matric results, and a non-refundable application fee.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The IIE publishes a minimum requirement for each school-leaving certificate. For the standard higher certificate, diploma and general degree documents, the English minimums are:
- NSC: the relevant pass (Higher Certificate, Diploma or Bachelor’s) with at least 30% in English.
- National Certificate (Vocational), NC(V): the relevant pass with at least 40% in English for higher certificates and diplomas, and 50% for degrees.
- Senior Certificate (pre-2008): 33.3% in English; degree study needs an endorsement.
- Senior Certificate (amended): the relevant pass with at least 30% in English.
If you already hold a qualification, it can stand in for the school certificate. A cognate higher certificate or advanced certificate can satisfy diploma entry. A cognate higher certificate, a cognate 240-credit diploma, an advanced certificate, or a 360-credit diploma or degree can satisfy degree entry. If the earlier qualification is in an unrelated field, at least 20% of its credits must be academic literacy or numeracy related.
Transfer students who have passed at least 120 credits in the first year of a cognate diploma or degree may also be admitted.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
The IIE’s admission requirement documents for Rosebank College do not use an APS score. Admission is based on the type of NSC pass plus minimum marks in named subjects, set per programme. Most higher certificates and diplomas only specify English. Degrees are stricter where the content needs it:
- IIE Bachelor of Commerce: a Bachelor’s pass with 50% in English, plus either 30% in Mathematics or 50% in Mathematical Literacy or Technical Mathematics. An applicant with 40 to 49% in English may still be considered if they achieved at least 50% in English in their final Grade 11 results.
- IIE Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase: a Bachelor’s pass with 50% in English and at least 40% in the language you intend to study as your First Additional Language. You can also qualify for that language by passing a language proficiency test.
Rosebank College offers qualifications in six faculties: Commerce, Finance and Accounting, Law, Education, Humanities and Social Science, and Information and Communications Technology. Higher certificates include Business Management, Digital Marketing, Office Administration and Mobile Application and Web Development. Diplomas include Business Accounting, Tourism Management and Information Technology in Software Development. Always download the admission requirements document for the exact programme you want, because subject minimums differ between programmes.
Documents and Application Requirements
According to the college’s admissions FAQ, you need:
- A certified copy of your ID document
- A certified copy of the ID of the account payer (the person responsible for fees)
- A certified copy of your matric results (or latest results if you are still in Grade 12)
- Proof of payment of the application fee
- For international applicants: a SAQA evaluation of your foreign qualification and a valid study visa
The FAQ lists the application fee as R300 for South African applicants, halved to R150 if you apply and pay before 31 December ahead of the academic year, and R3,500 for international applicants. Application fees are non-refundable. Confirm the current amount when you apply.
The process runs in two phases:
- Apply online through the Rosebank College application page, choosing contact (in-classroom), online (distance) or blended learning.
- Upload your documents and pay the application fee.
- Once you receive and accept an offer, use the login details in your admission letter to register on the student portal.
- Select your modules, update payer details, choose a payment plan and pay the deposit. The FAQ states that a 10% deposit is payable after admission approval and is non-refundable under the cancellation policy.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Meeting the minimum requirements makes you eligible, but a place is confirmed only once you register and pay the deposit. The FAQ states that registration closes at the end of February of each academic year, so apply early rather than waiting for final results.
If you don’t meet the formal requirements, The IIE’s Senate may consider you through a discretionary route:
- Mature age, 23 and older (higher certificates and diplomas): you must have attempted the Senior Certificate or equivalent, turn 23 before or during your first year of registration, and have three years’ work experience relevant to the programme and adequate communication skills.
- Mature age, 45 and older: you must turn 45 before or during your first year of registration. For degrees, a USAf exemption certificate is also required.
- Recognition of Prior Learning: considered under The IIE’s Qualification Completion, Credit Accumulation and Transfer, Articulation and RPL Policy (IIE010). You submit certificates for formal and informal learning plus a CV showing relevant work experience.
Rosebank College is a private institution, so funding works differently from a public university. It does not accept NSFAS and offers no bursaries of its own. It does accept external bursaries and third-party study loans, and it offers monthly payment plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rosebank College accredited?
Yes. Rosebank College is a brand of The Independent Institute of Education, which is registered with DHET as a private higher education institution (registration number 2007/HE07/002). Its programmes are accredited by the Council on Higher Education. You can check any qualification on the SAQA register before enrolling.
Does Rosebank College accept NSFAS?
No. NSFAS funds only public universities and TVET colleges. You can use an external bursary, a study loan or one of the college’s payment plans.
Can I study at Rosebank College with a Higher Certificate pass?
Yes. A Higher Certificate pass with at least 30% in English meets the minimum for the college’s higher certificates. Completing a cognate higher certificate can later satisfy entry to a diploma or degree.
Does Rosebank College accept Mathematical Literacy?
For most higher certificates and diplomas, only English is specified. The IIE Bachelor of Commerce accepts Mathematical Literacy at 50% or more, as an alternative to 30% in Mathematics. Check the requirements document for your programme.
Can I study at Rosebank College online?
Yes. You can apply for contact, online (distance) or blended learning. Contact classes are offered at campuses across the country, including Braamfontein, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Polokwane.
When does Rosebank College registration close?
The college’s FAQ gives the end of February of each academic year as the registration deadline.
Admission requirements, fees and closing dates change each intake, so confirm them with Rosebank College and in The IIE’s admission requirements document for your programme before you apply. For other institutions, see admission requirements and all education requirements.