IIE Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice Course Requirements at Varsity College
Varsity College · Faculty of Commerce
The IIE Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice is a higher Certificate offered by Varsity College for 2027 learners, taking 1 year full-time (contact); 1 year, 18 months or 2 years online 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 IIE Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice at Varsity College
- A National Senior Certificate with a higher certificate pass and at least 30% for English
- An NC(V) higher certificate pass needs 40% for English, and a Senior Certificate needs 33.3% for English
- International applicants need a SAQA evaluation certificate showing NSC Level 4 equivalence and at least 30% for English
About this course
The IIE Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice is a one-year introduction to the working world of business and administration. It is a 120-credit IIE qualification at NQF Level 5 (SAQA ID 71637), offered full-time on nine campuses with a February intake, and online where you can take one year, 18 months or two years.
Modules include:
- Introduction to Quantitative Thinking and Techniques
- Introduction to Accounting
- Business Management and Administration
- Digital and Academic Literacies
- Project Management and Administration
- Accounting Software
- Work Integrated Learning
The certificate gives you practical office, accounting and project skills, and helps you adjust to higher education study.
It suits school leavers who passed matric with a higher certificate or diploma pass and cannot yet enter a degree, and anyone who wants a quick, job-focused qualification. After completing it you can go straight into admin and office roles, or articulate into IIE degrees such as the BCom, BBA, BCom in Law, BCom in Entrepreneurship and Bachelor of Hospitality Management, often with credit for modules passed.
Possible careers
Course intelligence for IIE Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice
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: Accounts Clerk 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 IIE Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice.
NSFAS funding
NSFAS does not usually fund students at private institutions like Varsity College. Ask Varsity College directly about its own bursaries or payment plans, and check whether a sector SETA offers funding for this field.
Admission chances
Varsity College’s intake and this course’s requirements with its published admission requirements generally leave more room than the most sought-after courses, so you likely have a reasonable window to apply without rushing, though applying early is always the safer bet.
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 Varsity College and NSFAS.
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply online through the Emeris undergraduate contact portal (portal.emeris.ac.za/application/undergrad-contact/) and pay the R500 non-refundable application fee. Upload a copy of your ID (or a certified passport copy if you are an international student) and your most recent school report or final Grade 12 results. When you receive an offer, accept it on the portal and pay the R3 000 pre-registration fee, which is later deducted from your tuition. Applications for the 2027 intake close on 30 October 2026; late applications are still considered but carry an extra R2 000 fee.
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View all Courses at Varsity College
- Duration
- 1 year full-time (contact); 1 year, 18 months or 2 years online
- NQF Level
- 5
- Fees
- 2027 tuition R57 360 (Pretoria, Ruimsig, Durban, Cape Town), R66 120 Sandton, R54 840 Waterfall, R57 120 PMB and NMB; online R49 680 over 1 year
- Application deadline
- 30 October 2026 for the 2027 intake (late applications carry a R2 000 fee)
- Campus
- Sandton Campus, Sandton
- Pretoria Lynnwood Campus, Pretoria
- Ruimsig Campus, Roodepoort
- Waterfall Campus, Midrand
- Durban North Campus, Durban
- Durban Westville Campus, Durban
- Pietermaritzburg Campus, Pietermaritzburg
- Nelson Mandela Bay Campus, Gqeberha
- Cape Town Newlands Campus, Cape Town
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
Source: Official website: https://www.emeris.ac.za/qualifications/higher-certificate-in-business-principles-and-practices, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Varsity College before applying.