University of Johannesburg Courses

What is a degree?
Degrees are traditionally offered at Universities and consist of subjects from various fields, enabling you to tailor your studies to your own interests and career plans. Usually this type of qualification has to be followed by additional postgraduate studies in order to prepare you for a career in a specific field. A general curriculum may be followed in order to obtain a Bachelor of Arts (BA), or Bachelor of Science (BSc), or Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree. A degree has a more theoretical and a less practical basis.

What is a BTech degree?

The BTech degree is generally practice or career oriented, as opposed to academically oriented. The degree is obtained after four years of study, and is usually offered as a one year programme, following completion of a relevant three-year National Diploma.

What is a National Diploma?

A National Diploma is career-focused and directly linked to a specific career field. So, for example, if you study a National Diploma in Hospitality Management you will have the option of becoming a Hotel Manager, Food and Beverage Manager or Executive Chef depending on what you specialise in. With a National Diploma you are required, before you graduate, to do a period of in-service training at an accredited company where you will get hands-on experience to add to your theoretical knowledge.

What is a Certificate?

An academic institution will issue students with a certificate as proof of the successful completion of a certificate course. The hierarchy is first school, then a certificate, then diploma and then a degree as the top qualification. Certificates are therefore just below a diploma qualification, but above a high school education. The entry qualifications for a certificate course may vary between institutions. While some course providers may ask for a Grade 12 certificate, others will let students in with Grade 10 as their highest qualification. Certificate courses are usually shorter courses, in comparison to diplomas and degrees. Certificates are full qualifications, as seen in comparison to short courses. (Source of information: www.certificates.co.za)