Higher Certificate in Commercial Photography Course Requirements at Stellenbosch Academy
Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography
The Higher Certificate in Commercial Photography is a higher Certificate offered by Stellenbosch Academy for 2027 learners, taking 1 year 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 Higher Certificate in Commercial Photography at Stellenbosch Academy
- A matric pass (NSC, IEB or equivalent)
- Minimum APS of 21
- At least 40% for English, the language of teaching
- No specific subjects and no National Benchmark Test are required
- Grade 12 learners apply with Grade 11 final and Grade 12 mid-year results, and post-matric applicants submit a certified NSC and any further academic records
- Portfolio tasks: a 300 to 500 word written motivation, seven labelled photographs responding to set themes (light, a person, an unusual object, landscape or seascape, reflection or shadow, colour, and a self-portrait theme), and samples of other creative work
- Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA
About this course
This one-year, full-time higher certificate gives you a solid grounding in the technique, thinking and business side of professional photography. It suits school leavers who know they want to work behind the camera, and career changers who want a structured, practical year to build a portfolio.
The programme covers six subject areas:
- Technical Theory: how digital cameras work, exposure, lighting, composition and colour theory.
- Applied Photography: practical shoots across many genres, including advertising, documentary, portraiture, landscape, architecture, food, product and fashion. In the final semester you specialise in the genre that suits you. Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are taught here.
- Visual Literacy: design elements, aesthetics, and the history and theory you need to read and judge photographs.
- Professional Photography: running a photography business and understanding copyright.
- Graphic Design Introduction: making simple design material such as promotional pieces using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.
- Videography for Photographers: shooting and editing video so you can offer clients more and promote your own work.
Classes are small and hands-on, and you finish the year with a portfolio across several genres. The qualification is at NQF level 5. The SAQA ID and credits are not listed on the Academy's website. Students who want to continue can apply for a degree in visual communication, including the Academy's own BA.
Possible careers
Course intelligence for Higher Certificate in Commercial Photography
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Good sign: Fashion Designer appears on South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand, a Department of Higher Education and Training analysis of employer hiring activity. Employers have been reporting real recruitment pressure for this role, which generally works in your favour once you’ve completed Higher Certificate in Commercial Photography.
NSFAS funding
NSFAS does not usually fund students at private institutions like Stellenbosch Academy. Ask Stellenbosch Academy 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 21+, 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 Stellenbosch Academy and NSFAS.
How to apply for 2027 studies
Download the Higher Certificate in Commercial Photography application pack and apply online through stellenboschacademy.studentmanager.co.za. Include a certified ID or passport, proof of the R800 non-refundable application fee, your school results and your portfolio tasks as PDFs. The second application deadline for 2027 is 2 October 2026.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography’s own official application page.
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View all Courses at Stellenbosch Academy
- Duration
- 1 year full-time
- NQF Level
- 5
- APS / Points
- APS 21
- Fees
- 2027 local tuition R158 000; R15 000 non-refundable admin fee due within 14 days of acceptance. See the HC Photography finance form.
- Application deadline
- 2 October 2026 (second round)
- Campus
- Stellenbosch Campus (Techno Park), Stellenbosch
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
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Related courses
Source: Official website: https://www.stellenboschacademy.co.za/higher-certificate-in-commercial-photography, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography before applying.