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Gain insights into the South Africa higher education framework, academic culture, teaching methods, and grading system to prepare for your studies.
120 credits
Level 5 on South Africa's 10-level ladder of qualifications (the National Qualifications Framework, NQF).
360 credits
Some 4-year professional degrees go up to level 8.
Honours degree
A 1-year degree after a bachelor's. It comes before a master's.
Master's and doctoral degrees
Master's is the step after honours. A doctorate is the top step.
South Africa puts every qualification on a ladder of 10 levels. This ladder is called the NQF.
Each qualification has a level on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) uses the same levels when it checks a foreign degree.
NQF level 6.
NQF level 7. Some 4-year degrees add a further 120 credits at level 7 or 8.
NQF level 8. Honours is a 1-year degree after a bachelor's. A postgraduate diploma is also a study after a bachelor's.
Master's at NQF level 9. Doctorate at NQF level 10.
The academic year runs from January to December, in two semesters. Teaching starts after orientation in February.
One credit stands for 10 hours of study, including assignments and exams. A 12-credit module is about 120 hours.
The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) checks that a foreign university is approved and that the degree is genuine. It then places the degree on the NQF.
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