Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Course Requirements at HCHE
Helderberg College of Higher Education · Faculty of Social Sciences & Education
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is a bachelor's Degree offered by HCHE for 2027 learners, taking 3 years full-time to complete. This page covers the Grade 12 subjects and admission score you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at HCHE
- A National Senior Certificate that allows bachelor's degree study, with seven subjects passed
- English at level 4 (50 to 59%) or higher
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at level 4 (50 to 59%) or higher
- A minimum Helderberg APS of 26
- Mature age exemption, RPL and a foundation year are available
About this course
The BA in Psychology (SAQA ID 58334, NQF Level 7) gives a broad grounding in how people think, develop and behave, and is the first step for those who want to become registered psychologists. It is taught on campus in Somerset West, with some dual-mode delivery.
Year 1 introduces psychology alongside health, communication, computing, English, mathematics and sociology. Year 2 covers developmental psychology, statistics, research methods, cognitive and neuropsychology, social psychology and human sexuality, plus 120 hours of work-integrated learning. Year 3 deals with personality theories, psychopathology, counselling skills, psychological assessment and the history of psychology.
Students choose one of two streams:
- Counselling Psychology: adds substance abuse treatment, marriage and family therapy, community psychology and counselling skills
- Industrial Psychology: adds human resource management, performance management, diversity management and group dynamics
The degree suits caring, curious learners who are prepared for further study, because registering as a psychologist with the HPCSA requires honours, a master's degree and an internship. A foundation year is available for those who need extra preparation.
Possible careers
With further study: counselling or industrial psychologist, lecturer or researcher. With the BA alone: HR practitioner, community or social services worker, or market research assistant. Next steps include honours, a BPsych equivalence programme or a master's.
Course intelligence for Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list. That’s not a red flag on its own, most jobs in South Africa aren’t on that list, it just tracks where employers reported the strongest hiring pressure. Your own results, experience and network will matter more here than national demand trends.
NSFAS funding
NSFAS does not usually fund students at private institutions like HCHE. Ask HCHE directly about its own bursaries or payment plans, and check whether a sector SETA offers funding for this field.
Admission chances
This course sits in the middle for competitiveness. At an admission score of APS 26+, you have a reasonable chance if you apply in good time, though it’s not a sure thing. Don’t leave your application to the last week.
These insights are estimates generated from South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand (DHET, November 2023 draft), NSFAS’s published funding rules, and this university’s general applicant demand. They’re planning guidance, not a guarantee. Always confirm funding and admission specifics directly with HCHE and NSFAS.
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply online on the HCHE website, attaching certified school results, a copy of your ID and character references. The Admissions Committee sends a formal acceptance letter. Intakes are in February and July.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to Helderberg College of Higher Education’s own official application page.
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View all Courses at HCHE
- Duration
- 3 years full-time
- NQF Level
- 7
- APS / Points
- APS 26 on the Helderberg scale
- Fees
- 2026 fee guide: about R70 091 for a year of study (R527 per credit), plus R1 500 registration per semester. Residence is extra.
- Application deadline
- Registration closes at the start of each semester (late January and early July)
- Campus
- Somerset West Campus, Somerset West
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
Enter your own subject marks and we'll show you real courses you're likely to qualify for, right now, plus what those courses tend to lead to: how in-demand the work is, whether NSFAS is likely to fund it, and how competitive admission is.
Related courses
FPS approx. 435 (Band A gua…Source: Official website: https://hche.ac.za/bachelor-of-arts-psychology/, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Helderberg College of Higher Education before applying.