Requirements

Harare Polytechnic Courses And Requirements

Harare Polytechnic Courses And Requirements (2025 Guide)

Harare Polytechnic is one of Zimbabwe’s largest public technical and vocational education institutions, offering National Certificate (NC), National Diploma (ND), and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes across engineering, commerce, information technology, applied sciences, and art & design.

Below is a factual, source‑based overview of Harare Polytechnic courses and requirements, compiled from official and reputable online information.

Overview of Harare Polytechnic

Harare Polytechnic is a government technical college in Harare offering diplomas and certificates under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. The college’s own information–including general prospects and downloadable prospectus–is published through its official website and documents hosted on it.

A general downloadable Harare Polytechnic Prospectus and other information are accessible via the institution’s official domain, such as the 2023–2024 prospectus hosted on their website in PDF format, which outlines departments, entry requirements and application procedures for various programmes (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

Main Faculties and Course Areas

According to the official Harare Polytechnic Prospectus 2023–2024 (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF), as well as programme descriptions published on the same domain, Harare Polytechnic offers courses under several main divisions, including:

Each division offers National Certificate (NC), National Diploma (ND) and, in some cases, Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, with specific subject and grade requirements.

General Entry Requirements

The general entry requirements for most National Certificate and National Diploma courses at Harare Polytechnic are outlined in the 2023–2024 Prospectus (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF):

  • Ordinary Level (O‑Level):
    • Typically at least five (5) O‑Level passes including English Language and where relevant Mathematics and Science, obtained in no more than two sittings.
    • Passes must be at grades that meet the minimum entry standard specified for each department (usually equivalent to grade C or better in the Zimbabwean system).
  • For National Diploma (ND):
    • Successful completion of an appropriate National Certificate (NC) in a related field from a recognised institution, or equivalent qualifications, plus the O‑Level requirements above, as detailed per department in the prospectus (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).
  • For Higher National Diploma (HND):
    • A relevant National Diploma (ND) with appropriate grades and, in some departments, relevant industrial experience, again as set out for each specific programme in the prospectus.

Exact subject combinations and any additional criteria (such as portfolio for arts or industrial attachment for some HNDs) are listed per programme in the official prospectus document.

Engineering Courses and Requirements

Harare Polytechnic has a large Engineering division. While the full set of programmes and detailed requirements are listed in the official prospectus, the general pattern described there is:

  • Typical Engineering Entry Requirements
    • O‑Level: At least five passes including English Language, Mathematics, and a Science subject (e.g. Physical Science, Physics, or Combined Science), meeting the grade requirements set by the department (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).
    • NC in Engineering programmes normally require these passes as a minimum.
  • National Diploma (Engineering)
    • Completion of the relevant National Certificate (NC) in the same or closely related engineering field from Harare Polytechnic or another recognised institution, plus the O‑Level requirements mentioned above, as specified in the departmental sections of the prospectus (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

Specific programmes (such as Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and related trades) are listed in departmental prospectus sections with their detailed subject requirements.

Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Courses

Harare Polytechnic offers ICT‑related programmes under its ICT or computing division, as described in the Harare Polytechnic Prospectus 2023–2024 (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

The general pattern for Harare Polytechnic ICT courses and requirements is:

  • National Certificate in ICT / Computing
    • A minimum of five O‑Level passes including English Language and Mathematics.
    • Some programmes may also prefer or require a pass in a Science subject or Computer Studies, depending on the specific course as listed in the prospectus.
  • National Diploma in ICT
    • Successful completion of a relevant National Certificate (NC) in ICT or Computer Studies from a recognised institution, plus the O‑Level profile above, as described in the departmental programme tables in the prospectus.

Students should refer directly to the ICT section of the 2023–2024 prospectus for each named course (e.g. NC in Information Technology, ND in Information Technology, ND in Computer Studies, etc.) and their specific detailed entry requirements (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

Commerce / Business Studies Courses and Requirements

Commerce‑related qualifications (business, accounting, marketing and related fields) are offered under the Commerce division as described in the official prospectus (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

Typical Harare Polytechnic Commerce courses and requirements include:

  • National Certificate in Business / Commerce programmes
    • At least five O‑Level passes, including English Language.
    • Some programmes may also require Mathematics, particularly those with strong quantitative content (e.g. Accounting), as indicated in the individual course requirements.
  • National Diploma in Commerce fields
    • A relevant National Certificate (NC) (e.g. NC in Business Studies, NC in Accountancy) plus the O‑Level requirements above.

For precise details—such as the exact O‑Level subjects required for each business programme—prospective students should consult the Commerce section of the Harare Polytechnic Prospectus 2023–2024 (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

Applied Sciences and Other Technical Courses

Harare Polytechnic also offers programmes in Applied Sciences and other technical fields such as laboratory sciences and related disciplines, as listed in the prospectus (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

General requirements typically include:

  • National Certificate (Applied Sciences)
    • Five O‑Level passes including English Language, Mathematics, and a Science subject (e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Combined Science), with the exact subject mix defined per programme.
  • National Diploma (Applied Sciences)
    • A relevant National Certificate (NC) in an appropriate science or technical field plus the above O‑Level profile, as detailed in the Applied Sciences section of the official prospectus.

Again, because subjects and grade thresholds are specified individually, applicants should consult the departmental tables in the 2023–2024 prospectus (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF) for current, course‑specific requirements.

Art & Design and Creative Courses

Art & Design programmes at Harare Polytechnic (such as graphic design and related creative fields) are outlined in the prospectus (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

Typical Art & Design entry requirements include:

  • O‑Level:
    • At least five passes, including English Language.
    • Art‑related subjects or demonstrable creative ability may be advantageous; in some creative programmes, applicants may be asked to present a portfolio or attend a selection process, as indicated in the specific programme description in the prospectus.

For more detailed and programme‑specific rules (such as any portfolio or interview requirements), the Art & Design section of the official prospectus should be consulted directly (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

Library and Information Science & Other Specialised Courses

Harare Polytechnic also lists Library and Information Science and several other specialised technical and vocational programmes in its official prospectus (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).

The general pattern is:

  • National Certificate:
    • At least five O‑Level passes including English Language, with any additional subject requirements indicated per programme.
  • National Diploma:
    • Completion of an appropriate National Certificate in Library and Information Science or another specified field, plus the O‑Level requirements, as outlined for that course in the prospectus.

How to Apply for Harare Polytechnic Courses

The Harare Polytechnic Prospectus 2023–2024 provides the official guidance on the application process, including:

  • Check that you meet the specific subject and grade requirements for your chosen course in the relevant faculty section (Harare Polytechnic Prospectus PDF).
  • Obtain and complete the application form during official application periods. The prospectus notes that applications are generally submitted to the institution with certified copies of academic certificates and other required documents.
  • Pay any applicable application or registration fees as stipulated in the fee schedules provided in the prospectus or the latest notices on the official site.

Because application deadlines, fees and available intakes can change, applicants are advised to monitor announcements and new downloads from the official Harare Polytechnic website (Harare Polytechnic official downloads) for the most current information.

Contact and Official Information

For the most accurate and up‑to‑date details about Harare Polytechnic courses and requirements, the primary source is the institution’s own published documents and notices. The 2023–2024 Prospectus, hosted on the official website, is the key reference for:

  • A full list of departments and programmes
  • Detailed entry requirements per course
  • Application procedures and important dates
  • Fee structures and regulations

You can access it directly here:
– Harare Polytechnic Prospectus 2023–2024 (PDF)

Additional official documents and updates are available on:
– Harare Polytechnic Downloads and Notices

Because entry requirements and available programmes may be revised from year to year, prospective students researching “Harare Polytechnic Courses And Requirements” should always confirm against the latest prospectus and official announcements from the Harare Polytechnic website before applying.

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