IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Course Requirements at Varsity College
Varsity College · Faculty of Education
The IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education is a postgraduate Diploma offered by Varsity College for 2027 postgraduate applicants, taking 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 Diploma in Higher Education at Varsity College
- A bachelor's degree at HEQSF Level 7, an advanced diploma or an equivalent NQF Level 7 qualification
- Teaching experience, or a role that includes responsibility for developing teaching and learning in an education setting
About this course
The IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education is an online programme for lecturers and others who teach or support learning in colleges and universities. It carries 120 credits at NQF Level 8 (SAQA ID 90646) in the Faculty of Education and is studied part-time over two years, with a February intake.
The modules are:
- Approaches to Education
- Teaching and Learning in the Contemporary Higher Education Context (two modules)
- Curriculum Studies
- Educational Management and Leadership
- a year-long Higher Education Teaching Project
You reflect on your own teaching, learn how to design curricula and assessments, and explore how to lead and manage in a higher education setting.
The diploma suits lecturers, tutors, academic developers and training staff who hold a degree but have no formal teaching qualification for higher education. You need teaching experience, or a role that involves developing teaching and learning, to apply. Graduates of the IIE PGCE can also progress here.
Possible careers
Course intelligence for IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education
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 Diploma in Higher Education doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list as a Curriculum Developer. 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.
Apply NowYou will leave studies.mycourses.co.za and apply directly with Varsity College.
View all Courses at Varsity College
- Duration
- 2 years part-time online
- NQF Level
- 8
- Fees
- 2027 online tuition R31 080 a year (2-year programme, full settlement); check the postgraduate fee schedule
- Application deadline
- February intake; check the programme page
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/online/postgraduate-diploma-in-higher-education, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Varsity College before applying.