IIE Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching Course Requirements at Varsity College
Varsity College · Faculty of Education
The IIE Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching is a postgraduate Diploma offered by Varsity College for 2027 postgraduate applicants, taking 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time online to complete. This page covers the minimum admission requirements you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Minimum Admission Requirements to study IIE Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching at Varsity College
- An approved bachelor's degree that meets the Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEQ), with enough subject content for your chosen specialisations
- 360-credit diplomas in scarce fields may be considered
- English proficiency
- Conversational competence in an African language or SA Sign Language, or completion of a short course alongside the PGCE
- Computer literacy at NQF Level 5 within the last three years, or a competency test
- SACE provisional registration and police clearance before teaching practice
About this course
The IIE Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Senior Phase and FET Teaching turns a degree into a teaching qualification for Grades 7 to 12. It is a 120-credit IIE qualification at NQF Level 7 (SAQA ID 101984) in the Faculty of Education, studied online over one year full-time or two years part-time, with a February intake.
You choose one Senior Phase specialisation (Economic and Management Sciences, Life Orientation, Mathematics or English) and one FET specialisation (Life Orientation, Mathematics, English, Economics, Business Studies or Accounting), which must match subjects in your degree.
Core modules include Senior Phase and FET Teaching and Learning, Foundations of Education, Inclusive Education and Professional Ethics, plus computer literacy and an African language conversation course if you need them. You also complete at least nine weeks of Teaching Experience in schools near an Emeris campus.
The PGCE suits graduates who have decided to teach after finishing a BA, BCom or similar degree. You must register provisionally with SACE and have police clearance before placements. Graduates can progress to the IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education.
Possible careers
Graduates teach Grades 7 to 12 in public and independent schools, tutor, and with experience move into school leadership or education consulting. Further study includes the IIE PGDip in Higher Education.
Course intelligence for IIE Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
IIE Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching 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 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 through the Emeris postgraduate portal (portal.emeris.ac.za/application/postgrad-contact/ for contact study, or the online portal for distance study). Upload a copy of your ID or passport, a certified academic transcript and a certified copy of your undergraduate qualification. Selection is based on your marks and the programme's specific entry rules, and places are limited, so apply well before the intake.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to Varsity College’s own official application page.
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- Duration
- 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time online
- NQF Level
- 7
- Fees
- 2027 online tuition R44 940 for the 1-year route, or R25 680 a year on the 2-year route (full settlement)
- Application deadline
- February intake; check the programme page
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
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Related courses
Source: Official website: https://www.emeris.ac.za/qualifications/online/postgraduate-certificate-in-education-in-senior-phase-and-further-education-and-training-teaching, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Varsity College before applying.