Requirements

UNISA PGCE Requirements

For the PGCE at Unisa you need an accredited bachelor’s degree of 360 or 480 credits that contains the two subjects behind the stream you choose, one completed to third-year level and the other to second-year level. A number of streams also accept an equivalent 360-credit diploma in a matching field. Unisa sets the subject pair separately for each of its 36 PGCE streams, so the stream decides whether your degree qualifies.

The qualification is the Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching, code 90148, followed by a three-letter stream code such as MAT for Mathematics or ICT for Information Computer Technology. Applications for the 2027 academic year run from 17 August to 9 October 2026, online only. For how PGCE entry works across all South African universities, see our general PGCE requirements guide.

Entry Requirements at a Glance

Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements

Unisa’s wording is “an appropriate accredited Bachelor’s degree”. In practice, “appropriate” means your academic record shows the subject pair the stream lists. A strong degree in an unrelated field will not get you in, and a general pass in a subject is not enough if it stopped at first year when the stream needs it at third year.

A diploma is an alternative route only in some streams. According to Unisa’s stream pages, the ones that accept an equivalent National Diploma or 360-credit Diploma are:

The language, English, History, Geography, Business Studies, Economics, Consumer Studies and Religious Studies streams list a bachelor’s degree only. In every case, the diploma must still contain the same subject pair at the same levels as the degree route.

Unisa’s advice on each stream page is direct: if you do not meet all the requirements, apply for a Bachelor of Education degree instead.

Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements

Unisa’s PGCE admission rules are written in terms of the modules on your degree or diploma transcript, not your matric subjects. This is where most applications succeed or fail. Here are the subject pairs for the most-searched streams, as Unisa publishes them:

So if you want to teach information technology, your PGCE requirements at Unisa depend on your major. A Computer Science or Information Systems graduate with both subjects on the transcript fits ICT. Someone who took only one of them, alongside a science, fits ICA.

Three further patterns cover many of the other streams:

The full list of 90148 streams and their exact wording is on Unisa’s qualifications page. Check your transcript against it module by module before you apply.

Documents and Application Requirements

Unisa asks every applicant starting a new qualification to upload their documents during the online application. For a PGCE, that generally means:

Scan each document as a separate black-and-white file of no more than 2MB, in PDF, DOC or TIF format. Documents must be uploaded by the application closing date. Unisa will not accept documents after that.

  1. Pick your stream and check your transcript against its subject pair.
  2. Apply through Unisa’s online application page between 17 August and 9 October 2026. You can list up to three qualifications in order of preference, so a graduate who fits two streams can apply for both.
  3. Once you receive your student number, pay the R160 fee using your student number and the fee reference Unisa gives you. An application without the fee paid by the closing date is not processed.
  4. Upload your documents. An incomplete application means reapplying in the next cycle.
  5. Track progress on Unisa’s application status page.

Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations

Spaces in each stream are limited. Applicants who qualify may be told that their application is “subject to enrolment management”. This means Unisa will only make final offers once it has processed every application received by the closing date.

If you get an offer, there are a few steps before you can register:

Existing Unisa students must also apply, because the PGCE counts as a new qualification.

Studying at a distance changes what you need in practice. Unisa expects you to have your own computer and internet access. It communicates through myUnisa and your myLife student email. The PGCE also includes work-integrated learning, which means spending time in a school away from your home and job, with assessed tasks. Plan leave from work before you register, not after.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements for PGCE specialisation in mathematics at Unisa?

Mathematics appears in several Unisa streams. MAT needs Mathematics or Applied Mathematics to third-year level plus Engineering to second-year level. MAS needs Mathematics with Algebra and Calculus to third-year level plus a natural science to second-year level. MTL (Mathematical Literacy) accepts a commerce or engineering subject as the second subject. PSM and BIM pair Mathematics at second-year level with Physical Sciences or Life Sciences. If your record is borderline, ask Unisa’s College of Education before applying.

Can I use a diploma instead of a degree for the Unisa PGCE?

Only in certain streams, and only if it is an equivalent National Diploma or 360-credit Diploma in a related field that contains the stream’s subject pair. The National N Diploma is not accepted from 2026.

Can I apply for more than one PGCE stream?

Yes. Unisa lets you apply for up to three qualifications, ranked in order of preference. You can accept only one offer.

Does the Unisa PGCE cover the Foundation Phase?

No. The PGCE streams on Unisa’s current list are all Senior Phase and FET. For teaching younger learners, see Unisa requirements for teaching Foundation Phase.

Is the R160 application fee refundable?

No. Unisa keeps it even if you do not qualify, do not get a place, or decide not to study.

Can I teach once I finish the PGCE?

To be employed as an educator you also need to register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE). This is a separate step from graduating at Unisa.

Unisa revises stream requirements, dates and fees every application cycle. Confirm the details on the page for your stream on unisa.ac.za, or with Unisa’s College of Education, before you apply. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.

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