Start your studies Online in June 2026

Course Details

• Study options: Online
• Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
• Accreditation: NQF 5
• SAQA ID: 118460

A good fit if you:

• Have an interest in communicating and working with people.
• Want to develop basic counselling and communication skills you can use in various personal and work-related settings.
• Want to formalise your existing knowledge with an entry-level qualification.
• Want a skills-based vocational qualification.

What this path gives you:

• Fundamental counselling and communication skills.
• Basic academic literacy skills.
• The ability to understand and work with diverse populations.
• An excellent entry point into higher education.

Next steps:

Continue your studies by progressing into either:

• SACAP’s Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills
• SACAP’s Bachelor of Applied Social Science degrees, with the potential for credit transfer into selected modules.
• SACAP’s Bachelor of Psychology or Bachelor of Social Work – both professional four-year degrees

OR

• Apply your foundational skills in real-world work settings.

Course Details

• Study options: Online
• Duration: 2 years full-time, 3 years part-time
• Accreditation: NQF 6, CHE accredited, professionally endorsed by the SAQA recognised ASCHP (Registered Professional Body
• SAQA ID: 984)

A good fit if you are:

• Finished with your Higher Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills from SACAP, and want to build on your learnings.
• Wanting practical experience to increase your confidence for a career in counselling.
• Seeking a comprehensive vocational qualification.

What this path gives you:

• Strong counselling and communication skills.
• Deeper knowledge in specific areas of your choice, such as: addiction counselling, counselling in loss, working with children and adolescents and/or gender, sexuality and HIV counselling.

Next steps:

Continue your studies by progressing into either:

• SACAP’s Bachelor of Applied Social Science degrees, with the potential for credit transfer into selected modules.
• SACAP’s Bachelor of Psychology or Bachelor of Social Work – both professional four-year degrees

OR

• Register as Holistic Counsellors with the SAQA-recognised ASCHP.

Course Details

• Study options: Online
• Duration: 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time
• Accreditation: NQF 7, CHE accredited
• SAQA ID: 90844
• Work Integrated Learning: 200 hours, including mentoring

A good fit for you if you:

• Have an interest in psychology, mental health and understanding human behaviour.
• Want to develop support skills you can use when working with individuals, groups and communities.
• Want an excellent foundation that allows you to articulate into many different qualifications or career pathways.
• Want to take the first step in a long-term journey to becoming a Registered Psychologist.

What this path gives you:

• Strong academic grounding in psychology and counselling.
• Insight into individual and group behaviour.
• Insight into diversity and cross-cultural dynamics in the South African context.
• Practical experience to build real-world counselling and communication skills.

Next steps:

Continue your studies by progressing into either:

• SACAP’s Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology or Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology [BPsych Equivalent Programme]

OR

• Pursue related postgraduate studies in psychology, the social sciences or related fields – both nationally and internationally.
• Option to register with ASCHP as a Wellness Counsellor

Course Details

• Duration:  Online
• Accreditation: NQF 7, CHE accredited
• SAQA ID: 90844

Work Integrated Learning:

The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) module in the BAppSocSci Criminology stream is a project-based, two-term module at NQF Level 7 that integrates criminological and psychological theory with community practice.

Students engage in structured projects with Victim Empowerment Programmes (VEPs), Community Policing Forums (CPFs), and related organisations, contributing to crime-prevention, advocacy, and victim support initiatives.

Through supervised projects, they design and deliver psycho-educational activities, support referral pathways, and perform administrative tasks. The module emphasises ethical conduct, teamwork, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication in multidisciplinary contexts. Students critically reflect on how grassroots interventions address systemic justice issues while developing applied professional skills.

A good fit for you if:

• You want to understand human behaviour and why people commit crimes.
• You’re curious about psychology, criminology, and social justice.
• You feel motivated to support victims, advocate for communities, or work towards safer societies.
• You’re interested in restorative justice, trauma-informed care, or offender rehabilitation.
• You enjoy research, evidence-based practice, and critical thinking.
• You’re already working in social development, criminal justice, or mental health and want to deepen or formalise your skills.

The skills you will gain:

• A strong foundation in both psychology and criminology.
• The ability to analyse crime, victimisation, and justice from individual and systemic perspectives.
• Practical skills through Work Integrated Learning placements.
• Competence in applying theories of crime and behaviour to real-world contexts.
• Critical skills to evaluate justice systems and recommend improvements.
• Communication and collaboration skills for working in diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• A pathway to further study in psychology, criminology, or related fields, and eligibility for entry-level roles in community, justice, research and private sectors.

Next steps:

Continue your studies by progressing into either:

• SACAP’s Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology or Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology [BPsych Equivalent Programme]

OR

• Further your studies in psychology, criminology, or related fields, and eligibility for entry-level roles in community, justice, research and private sectors.

Course Details

• Duration: 1 year full-time, 4 academic terms (Online only)
• Modules: 7
• Accreditation: NQF 8, CHE
• SAQA ID 96448

A good fit for you if:

• You want to pursue a master’s in psychology (clinical, counselling, educational, or research) and if your end goal is to become a psychologist.
• Register as a psychologist post your master’s specialisation.
• You’re interested in academic research, policy, or applied psychology careers.
• You want to keep your options broad and explore areas like HR, organisational development, education, NGOs, or research.
• Want an academic qualification

What this path gives you:

• Strong academic grounding in psychology.
• Eligibility for professional or non-professional master’s programmes locally and internationally.
• Career flexibility across a wide range of psychology-related and social science fields.

• A National Senior Certificate with a minimum of 45% in English as certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi). OR
• A national Certificate (Vocational) Level 4 with a minimum of 45% in English issued by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi). OR
• A Senior Certificate (pre-2008) with a minimum overall D-aggregate (50%) with a minimum of 45% in English, or an equivalent school leaving certificate. OR
• Applicants who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training, work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

• A National Senior Certificate with a minimum of 45% in English as certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi), coupled with an achievement rating of 3 (Moderate Achievement, 40-49%) or better in four recognised NSC 20-credit subjects. OR
• A National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4 as certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi), with an achievement of at least 50% in three fundamental subjects including English, and an achievement of at least 60% in the three compulsory vocational subjects. OR
• A Senior Certificate (pre-2008) with a minimum overall D-aggregate (50%) with English passed at Standard Grade or better, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate. OR
• A Higher Certificate (NQF level 5), a SAQA verified equivalent qualification, or Advanced Certificate in a cognate field. OR
• Applicants who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training, work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

• A National Senior Certificate with a minimum of 45% in English as certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi), coupled with an achievement rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement 50-59%) or better in four recognised 20-credit NSC subjects. OR
• A National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4 as certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi), with an achievement of at least 60% in three fundamental subjects including English, and an achievement of at least 70% in four vocational subjects chosen from the NC (V) Level 4 subject list. OR
• A Senior Certificate (pre-2008) with Endorsement with English passed at Standard Grade or better, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate. OR
• A Higher Certificate (NQF level 5), SAQA verified equivalent qualification, Advanced Certificate, or Diploma in a cognate field. OR
• Applicants who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training, work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

A National Senior Certificate with a minimum of 45% in English as certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi), coupled with an achievement rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement 50-59%) or better in four recognised 20-credit NSC subjects.

OR 

A National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4 as certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi) with an achievement of at least 60% in three fundamental subjects including English, and an achievement of at least 70% in four vocational subjects chosen from the NC(V) Level 4 subject list.

OR 

A Senior Certificate (pre-2008) with Endorsement with English passed at Standard Grade or better, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate.

OR 

A Higher Certificate (NQF Level 5), or SAQA verified equivalent qualification, Advanced Certificate, or Diploma in a cognate field.  

All applicants for this programme are required to undergo a screening and selection process.

• A minimum of an appropriate Bachelor’s Degree (NQF level 7) or appropriate Advanced Diploma with a psychology major, having achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 65% and/or above in all psychology subjects undertaken in the final year (exit level) of study. OR
• Applicants who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training, work experience, and/or learning in a cognate field of study equivalent to an NQF level 7 qualification to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Brochures

• Higher Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills 
• Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills
• Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Majoring in Psychology and Criminology)
•  Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Majoring in Psychology and Counselling)
• Bachelor of Social Science Honours Psychology

2026 SACAP Fee Structure

• Online Fees