The Unisa Postgraduate Certificate in Education, qualification code 90148, requires an appropriate accredited bachelor’s degree of 360 or 480 credits, with one school teaching subject completed to third-year level and a second school teaching subject completed to second-year level, in a combination Unisa offers.
The PGCE is a one-year professional qualification that converts an existing degree into a teaching qualification. It is not an entry-level route into teaching: you must already hold the degree before you can apply.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Unisa assesses PGCE applications against the following.
- An appropriate accredited bachelor’s degree of 360 or 480 credits
- A first school teaching subject completed to third-year level
- A second school teaching subject completed to second-year level
- That your subject combination matches one of the streams Unisa offers
- That your prior qualification is acceptable: from 2026 the National N Diploma is not accepted for PGCE admission
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The PGCE is offered in numerous streams, each identified by a suffix on the 90148 code, such as ENG for English, LAN for Languages, BIO for Life Sciences and HOS for Hospitality Studies. Each stream carries its own subject requirements.
The decisive question is not whether you hold a degree but whether your degree contains the right school subjects at the right levels. A degree with no subject taken to third-year level that maps to a school subject will not qualify you, however strong it is.
From 2026 Unisa does not accept the National N Diploma for admission to a PGCE. If your qualification is an N Diploma, you would need an appropriate bachelor’s degree first.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
The subject rule is the part applicants most often get wrong. You need a major, meaning a subject taken to third-year level, that corresponds to a school subject, plus a second school subject taken to second-year level, and the two must form a combination Unisa actually offers as a stream.
For the English stream, for example, Unisa requires English to third-year level plus Linguistics, African Literature, an African language or Afrikaans to second-year level. For the Languages stream it requires one of the official South African languages, Applied Language or Arabic to third-year level, plus another language or South African Sign Language or English to second-year level.
Because the combinations are specific and differ by stream, check the exact requirement for the stream you want against your own academic record before applying. The APS calculation does not apply here, since entry is based on your degree rather than on matric results.
Documents and Application Requirements
For a PGCE application you will normally need the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Certified copies of your degree certificate and full academic record
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you qualified outside South Africa
- Proof that your subjects were completed to the required levels
- Access to a computer and the internet, since Unisa teaches by distance and online learning
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Unisa states that meeting the general and specific admission requirements does not guarantee a place, because some qualifications have limited spaces. Admission is by offer of placement, which you must accept online before you can register.
Applications open in Unisa’s published application window for the academic year, which is separate from the registration period. You may only register once you have received and accepted an offer of placement.
If your degree does not contain the required subject combination, the practical options are to complete the missing modules at an appropriate level first, or to consider a Bachelor of Education instead, which is a four-year initial teaching qualification rather than a one-year conversion.
You should also be aware that teaching in a public school requires registration with the South African Council for Educators after you qualify. That is a separate process from your Unisa qualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to apply for the Unisa PGCE?
An appropriate accredited bachelor’s degree of 360 or 480 credits, with one school subject to third-year level and a second to second-year level, in a combination Unisa offers.
Can I do a PGCE with an N Diploma?
No. From 2026 Unisa does not accept the National N Diploma for admission to a PGCE.
How long does the PGCE take?
It is a one-year professional qualification, though Unisa’s distance model means many students take longer depending on their module load.
Do I need to register with SACE?
Yes, to teach in a public school you must register with the South African Council for Educators after qualifying. That is separate from your Unisa qualification.
Source: University of South Africa official qualification and admission pages, checked August 2026. Unisa revises qualifications and requirements between academic years, so confirm on the Unisa website before applying. Confirm the stream requirements against your own academic record with Unisa before applying, and confirm registration requirements with the South African Council for Educators. For the wider picture see admission requirements and browse all education requirements.