“The Higher Certificate can be an access programme for students who do not have degree or diploma endorsement on their school-leaving certificate, or who may not meet the institution’s admission criteria for the programme of their choice,” she says. “It is also a complete programme that allows graduates to transition into the world of work and seek employment immediately.”
Who qualifies?
Prof Singh says school leavers who have ‘HC’ endorsement on their school-leaving certificates qualify for a higher certificate.
“This is important to understand as there is a misconception that one can only enter higher education if one has a degree/diploma endorsement,” she says.
The HC is also a higher education qualification, which can provide an excellent foundation for students wishing to continue the higher education journey. Completion of the HC grants access to both diploma and degree studies and, in many instances, students will receive credits from their completed higher certificate towards their first year of the next qualification.
The HC is also for those already in the world of work who wish to enter or re-enter the higher education space. “It is focussed on applied learning and eases mature/adult learners into the higher education experience,” says Prof Singh.
What is the difference between a HC, bridging course and a short course?
The HC is a formal qualification that is accredited and registered by the national regulators (the Council on Higher Education, and South African Qualifications Authority).
“There’s a misconception that the HC is not part of the higher education qualification structure, but it is the first level (NQF Level 5) in the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. A bridging course and short course, on the other hand, are not formally accredited programmes, and completion does not result in a qualification being attained,” explains Prof Singh.
What are the benefits of an HC?
“Firstly, it provides school-leavers who have not obtained diploma/degree endorsement with the opportunity to enter higher education,” says Prof Singh.
It’s also a one-year programme that provides learning that enables graduates to get a job. Furthermore, it provides students with a sound foundation to progress on their student journey into degree and postgraduate studies.
STADIO offers a wide range of HC qualifications across its schools, including an HC in Management (with elective focus areas in project management, or logistics and fleet management, or human resources management); Paralegal Studies; Preschool Education; Fashion; Fashion Styling; Graphic Web Design; and Architectural Practice.
“These qualifications offer direct access to the world of work,” says Prof Singh.
For example, with an HC in Paralegal Studies, one’s job prospects include becoming a clerk in a law firm or a debt collection agency or working as a company secretary or legal secretary.
