Higher Certificate
Type specifications
NQF Exit Level 5
Minimum total credits: 120
Minimum credits at Level 5: 120
Designators
Not applicable
Qualifiers
Specific, maximum two
Example: Higher Certificate in Tourism in Eco-Tourism
Abbreviations
HCert (Tourism), HCert (Tourism) (Eco-tourism)
Purpose and characteristics
This is an entry-level higher education qualification. The qualification is primarily vocational, with a strong industry-oriented focus. The qualification also serves to provide students with the basic introductory knowledge, cognitive and conceptual tools and practical techniques for higher education studies in their chosen field of study. It emphasises selected general principles together with more specific procedures and their application. This qualification signifies that the student has attained a basic level of higher education knowledge and competence in a particular field or occupation and is capable of applying such knowledge and competence in an occupation or role in the workplace. The Higher Certificate typically includes a simulated work experience or work-integrated learning (WIL) component.
Minimum admission requirements
The minimum entry requirement is the National Senior Certificate or the National Certificate Vocational with appropriate subject combinations and levels of achievement as defined in the Minister's policies: Minimum Admission Requirements for Higher Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor's Degree Programmes Requiring a National Senior Certificate, Government Gazette, Vol 751, No 32131 of 11 July 2008 and Minimum Admission Requirements for Higher Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor's Degree Programmes requiring a National Certificate (Vocational), published in the Government Gazette, Vol. 533, No. 32743, November 2009.
Progression
Completion of the Higher Certificate meets the minimum entry requirement for admission to an appropriate Advanced Certificate. Accumulated credits may also be presented for admission into a cognate Diploma. A Higher Certificate may also allow access to an appropriate Bachelor's degree. A qualification may not be awarded for early exit from a Higher Certificate programme.
