Getting a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) via distance learning is a cost-effective way to study teaching without the restrictions of campus-based learning. This is especially true for aspiring teachers who are either working, live in rural areas or have other responsibilities that would prevent them from attending class in person.
Now, you may be wondering: How can I get my PGCE online? There are several higher education institutions that allow you to complete your PGCE online. For the purpose of this article, we will be looking at the Top 5 Colleges to Study PGCE Distance Learning in South Africa.
Ready to find out where to study PGCE distance learning in South Africa? Then read on!
Table of Contents
What is a PGCE Qualification?
A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is a 1-year degree (or 2 years part-time) teacher training qualification that students can qualify for once they’ve completed their undergraduate degree.
Not to be confused with a postgraduate degree, a PGCE requires students to already have a sound knowledge of the subject they’d like to teach. That’s why it’s advisable that you select a specialisation that aligns with your undergraduate degree, as your PGCE will only train you to teach the subject and not give you information on the subject itself.
For example, if you’re looking to specialise in English First Additional Language, it would help to have an English Language undergraduate degree from a higher educational institution. Note, however, that the specialisations you choose are also dependent on the type of PGCE qualification you’re looking to study.
What Types of PGCE Programmes are Available in South Africa?
When it comes to studying a PGCE programme, there are a few options that you can choose from and they all depend on which grades you’d like to teach. For example, if you’re interested in teaching older students, you may opt for a PGCE in Further Education and Training (FET) Phase, as this covers Grades 10 to 12.
However, a PGCE in the FET Phase isn’t the only PGCE distance learning programme available. There are multiple types of PGCE degrees out there, such as:
- PGCE in Foundation Phase (FP): This is for students who would like to teach at a primary school level (Grades R to 3).
- PGCE in Intermediate Phase (IP): The Intermediate Phase (IP) covers Grades 4 to 6.
- PGCE in the Senior Phase (SP): Students who would like to teach Grades 7 to 9 would study towards this PGCE qualification.
- PGCE in Further Education and Training (FET): A PGCE in the FET Phase will qualify you to teach Grades 10 to 12 at a high school level.
Upon successful completion of a PGCE programme, graduates are qualified to teach in South African schools and can apply for registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE)—the professional council that authorises qualified teachers to practise teaching in public and private schools in South Africa.
What Are the Requirements for PGCE Distance Learning?
The primary requirement for PGCE distance learning is the same as other PGCE qualifications in that you need to have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field. Whichever qualification you hold, it’s important to remember that your majors need to be relevant to the subject you’d like to teach. For example, if you want to teach mathematics, you should have a bachelor’s degree with a major in mathematics or something similar.
In addition to holding a relevant bachelor’s degree, prospective students must also meet the minimum admission requirements of the institution they wish to attend. These requirements may vary depending on the institution, so it is important to check the admission requirements before applying.
With that said, as the PGCE courses are conducted online, we highly advise that you invest in the following technology devices and gadgets to aid your studies:
- Laptop or tablet
- Headphones
- Webcam with microphone
- Stable Internet connection
- Zoom, Google Classroom and/or YouTube
Now that you know what a PGCE is and what the requirements are, let’s take a look at where to study PGCE distance learning in South Africa.
Top 5 Colleges to Study PGCE Distance Learning in SA
When it comes to selecting a PGCE course in South Africa, there are plenty of excellent colleges to choose from! However, in this blog, we focus on the top 5 that are renowned for their PGCE distance learning programmes.
Beyond listing the top colleges to study PGCE distance learning, you’ll also find information on the PGCE programme on offer, the requirements, the application process and more!
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the list of the top 5 colleges to study PGCE distance learning in South Africa:
1. MANCOSA PGCE Programme
MANCOSA, or the Management College of Southern Africa, is a private higher education institution with main headquarters in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. MANCOSA offers a PGCE in Further Education and Training, which is designed for individuals who want to become high school educators or who would like to lecture at further education and training (FET) colleges.
The PGCE programme offered by MANCOSA is delivered via distance learning and includes the following specialisations that students can choose from:
- Accounting
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Mathematics
- English
- isiZulu
- Afrikaans
- Life Science
- Physical Science
- Geography
Requirements for PGCE at MANCOSA
In order to qualify for MANOSA’s PGCE programme, you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree with relevant disciplinary knowledge in the area that you would like to teach (this would be your specialisation).
Due to the MANCOSA PGCE programme being distance learning, we advise that you also invest in the technology devices mentioned earlier in the article.
Cost of Studying PGCE Distance Learning at MANCOSA
The total cost of MANCOSA’s PGCE in Further Education and Training (FET) distance learning programme is approximately R33 950 if you pay in full (this is at a discounted rate).
Don’t let the large sum scare you; MANCOSA has various payment plans for its PGCE in Further Education and Training Programme so that you don’t have to pay the large sum all at once. Payment plans for MANCOSA’s PGCE programme are:
(Plan 1- R37 350)
Payable in 2 monthly instalments on or before 31 May 2023
- R12 450 payable on registration
- R12 450 x 2 monthly instalments
(Plan 2 – R39 060)
Payable in 5 monthly instalments on or before 31 August 2023
- R6 510 payable on registration
- R6 510 x 5 monthly instalments
(Plan 3 – R42 440)
Payable in 9 monthly instalments on or before 15 December 2023
- R4 950 payable on registration
- R4 166 x 9 monthly instalments
How to Apply for PGCE Distance Learning at MANCOSA
Applications for the 2023 intake are still open at MANCOSA!
There are two ways to apply for the PGCE distance learning programme at MANCOSA: You can either fill in the online application form, or fill in your details and wait for a student advisor to contact you.
2. IIE Varsity College
IIE Varsity College is a private higher education institution with campuses in several major cities across South Africa. The college offers a PGCE in Senior and FET Phase Education, which is delivered through distance learning.
The IIE Varsity College PGCE programme is designed for individuals who want to become teachers in high schools or FET colleges. Students can complete the PGCE distance learning programme in 12 to 18 months, during which they’ll have access to online lectures, study materials and assessments.
If you’re looking to apply to IIE Varsity College’s PGCE programme, you can choose from the following specialisations in both the Senior and FET Phase:
Senior Phase (Grades 7 to 9)
- Life Orientation
- Economics and Management Sciences.
- Mathematics
- English
FET Phase
- Life Orientation
- Economics
- Mathematics
- English
- Business Studies
- Accounting
Requirements for PGCE Distance Learning at IIE Varsity College
To study PGCE distance learning at IIEVarsity College, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You need to be competent in English (as this is the language that you’ll be taught in) as well as a second African language (excluding Afrikaans).
- You must have basic ICT skills, meaning you’ll need to have basic computing skills at an NQF Level 5. If you do not have these skills, you’ll need to write an Introduction to Personal Computing (INPC) test.
Cost of Studying PGCE Distance Learning at IIE Varsity College
The cost of studying PGCE distance learning at IIE Varsity College can be broken up into the following categories:
- 1-Year Programme (Full-Time)
- 2-Year Programme (Part-Time)
There are 3 different methods that can be used to pay your study fees at IIE Varsity College: Method A, Method B and Method C. For the PGCE distance learning programme at IIE Varsity College, you can expect to pay the following fees:
IIE Varsity College PGCE Distance Learning - 1-Year Programme (Full-Time)
Method A
(to be paid in full)
- R34 650
Method B
(Payable in 6 monthly instalments via a deposit)
- R11 340 deposit
- R4 410 x 6 monthly instalments
Method C
(Payable in 10 monthly instalments)
- R3 885
IIE Varsity College PGCE Distance Learning - 2-Year Programme (Part-Time)
Method A
(to be paid in full)
- R19 800
Method B
(Payable in 6 monthly instalments via a deposit)
- R6 480 deposit
- R2 520 x 6 monthly instalments
Method C
(Payable in 10 monthly instalments)
- R2 220
How to Apply for PGCE Distance Learning at IIE Varsity College
Applications for IIE Varsity College are open but are subject to the amount of space available in the PGCE distance learning programme.
To apply for PGCE distance learning at IIE Varsity College, prospective students need to fill in the online application form with a non-refundable application form of R400.
3. Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI)
Based in Cape Town, Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI) offers students a PGCE distance learning programme that can be completed over a period of 1 or 2 years. Upon completion of TOGI’s PGCE distance learning programme, you’ll obtain an NQF Level 7 qualification that consists of 130 compulsory credits.
Two Oceans Graduate Institute’s PGCE distance learning programme offers students with specialisations in both the Senior and FET Phase, and you can choose from any one of the following specialisations:
Senior Phase:
- Economic Management Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Creative Arts (Drama, Music, Dance, Visual Arts)
- Technology
- History
- Geography
- Life Orientation
- Mathematics
- English Home Language
- English First Additional Language
- Afrikaans Home Language
- Afrikaans Additional Language
- Xhosa Home Language
FET Phase:
- Accounting
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Physical Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Life Orientation
- Religion Studies
- History
- Computer Application Technology (CAT)
- Dramatic Arts
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Dance
- Design
- English Home Language
- English First Additional Language
- Afrikaans Home Language
- Afrikaans Additional Language
- Xhosa Home Language
- Arabic
- Engineering Graphics and Design
- Civil Technology
- Consumer Studies
- Tourism
- Hospitality Studies
Requirements for PGCE at Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI)
To be eligible for the PGCE programmes available at Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI), applicants must meet the following requirements:
It’s important to note that bachelor’s degrees and diplomas presented for admission to Two Oceans Graduate Institute’s (TOGI) PGCE programme should be relevant to the Senior and FET school subjects relevant to the teaching methodologies
As mentioned earlier under the requirements for PGCE distance learning, your PGCE qualification will reflect the subjects that you completed during your undergraduate degree or diploma.
According to Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI), diplomas in the following fields are appropriate for admission:
- Engineering
- Fine Arts
- Dance
- Music
- Dramatic Arts
- Business Studies
- Accounting
- Applied Sciences
- Mathematics
- Technology
Cost of Studying PGCE Distance Learning at Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI)
The cost of completing the PGCE Distance Learning programme at Two Oceans Graduate Institute is entirely dependent on the PGCE programme and the number of modules you’d like to take.
Currently, Two Oceans Graduate Institute only has the 2022 prospectus available, which contains estimated tuition fees. To give you a better idea of what the costs of completing the full PGCE programme at Two Oceans Graduate Institute may be for 2023, here’s an overview of the estimated costs for 2022.
Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI) 2022 Tuition fees: PGCE Senior and FET Phase
Application Fee:
- +-R350
Registration Fee
- +-R1 000
Annual Tuition Fees:
- +-R37 560
The Two Oceans Graduate Institute has 3 payment options available to students:
- Annually: Payment before the commencement of studies: 2% discount
- Two payments: payment is due at the start of each cluster.
- Monthly payments: payment over 12 months for the year via debit order.
To learn more about the payment options above, be sure to view the Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI)’s prospectus online.
How to Apply for PGCE Distance Learning at Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI)
Applications are open for the July 2023 intake at Two Oceans Graduate Institute!
Students who wish to apply for the PGCE Distance Learning programme at Two Oceans Graduate Institute need to follow these steps:
- Step 1: Gather your necessary documents, including certified copies of your ID, matric certificate, or post-matric certificate (if applicable) and CV (if applicable).
- Step 2: Complete the online application form on Two Oceans Graduate Institute’s website.
- Step 3: Pay an application fee of R350 (to be paid before completing the application form) and attach the proof of payment as part of your application.
Once you’ve completed all the steps outlined above, your application is complete! All that’s left to do is wait for feedback from Two Oceans Graduate Institute (TOGI) to see if your application was successful.
4. STADIO Higher Education (formerly Embury)
Formerly known as Embury Institute for Higher Education, STADIO Higher Education is a private college with over 10 campuses across South Africa.
The PGCE distance learning programme at STADIO Higher Education is a 1-year full-time or 2-year part-time programme that covers both the Senior Phase (SP) and Further Education and Training (FET).
Once you complete your PGCE qualification at STADIO, you’ll receive an NQF Level 7 qualification that will allow you to teach in both the SP and FET phases (grades 7 to 12).
At STADIO Higher Education, you’ll be required to choose 1 specialisation from the Senior Phase (SP) and 1 specialisation from the Further Education and Training (FET) Phase.
PGCE specialisations in the Senior Phase (SP) are:
- Afrikaans First Additional Language
- Afrikaans Home Language
- Creative Arts
- Economic and Management Sciences
- English First Additional Language
- English Home Language
- isiZulu First Additional Language
- isiZulu Home Language
- Life Orientation
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Sepedi Home Language
- Social Sciences
- Technology
PGCE specialisations in the Further Education and Training Phase (FET) are:
- Accounting
- Afrikaans First Additional Language
- Afrikaans Home Language
- Agricultural Science
- Business Studies
- Computer Applications Technology
- Dramatic Arts
- Engineering Graphics and Design
- English First Additional Language
- English Home Language
- Geography
- History
- Information Technology
- isiZulu First Additional Language
- isiZulu Home Language
- Life Orientation
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Maths Literacy
- Music
- Physical Science
- Sepedi Home Language
- Tourism
- Visual Arts
Requirements for PGCE at STADIO Higher Education
To qualify for the PGCE distance learning programme at STADIO Higher Education, you’ll need to ensure that you meet the following requirements:
- an appropriate 360 credit National Diploma (NQF Level 6), or
- an appropriate Bachelor’s degree (NQF Level 6/7)
As with the other colleges mentioned in this article, your diploma or degree needs to include subjects that are relevant to your specialisations. This means that you’ll need to have passed at least 1 of the desired school subjects at a second-year level (NQF Level 6) for the Senior Phase and the other desired school subject at a third-year level (or NQF Level 7) for the Further Education and Training Phase.
Cost of Studying PGCE Distance Learning at STADIO Higher Education
In order to study PGCE distance learning at STADIO Higher Education, you’ll need to pay a non-refundable registration fee of R2 510 as well as an academic review fee of R300.
In terms of tuition fees, STADIO Higher Education has a few payment options available to students:
- Upfront price: R37 400 (to be paid in full)
- Monthly price: R39 360 (to be paid over 10 months)
How to Apply for PGCE Distance Learning at STADIO Higher Education
Applications for STADIO Higher Education are still open for 2023, with limited spaces available.
Applying for the PGCE distance learning programme at STADIO Higher Education is fairly simple. All you need to do is:
Once you’ve filled in the application form, STADIO will be in contact with further details and steps.
5. Cornerstone Institute
Cornerstone Institute is a private higher education institution in Cape Town that offers a PGCE distance learning programme in the Foundation Phase (FP) and Intermediate Phase (IP).
Cornerstone Institute’s PGCE distance learning programmes are designed for individuals who want to become educators in primary school education, meaning upon completion of the NQF Level 7 qualification, you’ll be able to teach Grades R to 3 and Grades 4 to 6.
The PGCE distance learning programmes at Cornerstone Institute are offered on a full-time and part-time basis, and students can study for a maximum of up to 4 years part-time. This allows students to study at their own pace and maintain other commitments such as work and family.
Requirements for PGCE at Cornerstone Institute
In order to study toward a PGCE degree at Cornerstone Institute, you’ll need to ensure that you match the following general requirements:
- bachelor’s degree (or an approved diploma of minimum 360 credits at NQF Level 6
- a broad knowledge base adequate for teaching in the Intermediate Phase (IP) or Foundation Phase (FP)
- Conversational competency in an official African language (Conversational isiXhosa is offered as a 5-credit module for those without this competency)
The great thing about the Cornerstone Institute is that, if you do not meet the above requirements for the Foundation Phase (FP) or Intermediate Phase (IP), you’ll have the opportunity to study additional subjects that will allow you to meet the entry requirements. These subjects include:
- English (FP and IP)
- Afrikaans (FP and IP)
- Mathematics (FP and IP)
- Life Skills (FP and IP)
- Psychology (IP)
- Sociology (IP)
Cost of Studying PGCE Distance Learning at Cornerstone Institute
The cost of studying PGCE Distance Learning at Cornerstone Institute in 2023 includes a non-refundable initial payment of R5 000 upon registration.
In terms of the fees structure, the Cornerstone Institute charges students a certain amount per credit. Tuition fees for both the PGCE Foundation Phase and PGCE Intermediate Phase distance learning programmes can be seen in the outline below:
PGCE Foundation Phase (FP):
- R440 per 136 credits (which equates to a total of +-R59 840 per year)
PGCE Intermediate Phase (IP):
- R440 per 135 credits (which equates to a total of +-R59 400 per year)
How to Apply for PGCE Distance Learning at Cornerstone Institute
Applications for the Cornerstone Institute’s second-semester intake for 2023 open on 14 March 2023.
Before you can apply for the PGCE distance learning programmes at Cornerstone Institute, you’ll need to acquire the following documentation:
- Certified copy of National Senior Certificate or Equivalent
- Certified copies of tertiary qualifications including academic record(s)
- Certified copy of RSA ID /OR Certified copy of Passport for non-South African citizens
- If you have a foreign qualification, it must have the appropriate SAQA Verification Certificate
- Proof of payment (for your registration)
Once you’ve gathered all the right documents, you can then apply for the PGCE distance learning programmes at Cornerstone Institute by following these steps:
- Submit your basic information and select your programme of choice by completing the form on the Cornerstone Institute website.
- Select your PGCE programme of choice as well as the year and semester of choice
- Create a unique password
- Once logged in, complete all of the required information and upload the supporting documents
- Once all of the fields have been completed, the Cornerstone team will review your application
- Pay your application fee and attach a proof of payment to the application within the portal
After you’ve submitted your application, the Cornerstone team will be in touch regarding your application. If you have any questions, you can contact the Cornerstone Institute directly via email: helpdesk@cornerstone.ac.za.
Fund Your PGCE Qualification with Fundi
Now that you know which colleges offer PGCE distance learning in South Africa, it’s time to look into funding.
Fundi covers a multitude of educational fees, including everything from tuition costs to accommodation. Take a look at the Fundi Loan Calculator to see if you qualify today!
