Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Human Resource Management
Course Details
next intake
Term 1
Applications Open
15 July 2026Applications Close
28 February 2027
duration
18 months, part-time (Online)
accreditation
NQF 8, CHE accredited and Aligned with the SABPP competencies in design
Campus
Why take this course
A degree that develops critical skills to help you lead the way in contemporary and impactful human resource management.
This progressive qualification develops robust knowledge, skills and understanding of human resource theories, practices, methodologies and competencies, equipping you with the necessary toolkit to function effectively and meaningfully in a human resource role.
We’ve specifically designed this course with SACAP’s unique focus on academic and practical skills in human resource management competencies, ethical practice, research rigour and critical and analytical insight for impactful application into workplace contexts.
The Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Human Resource Management brings ‘humanness’ back to human resource management, where you learn about people development while simultaneously developing into a holistic and dynamic human resource practitioner.
This degree also opens up avenues of potential employment in an extensive range of public and private sector enterprises in various HR Business Partner and Human Resource Generalist roles such as HR Manager, HR Assistant, HR Advisor and HR Consultant.
What you can expect
This forward-thinking qualification builds on the knowledge gained in your undergraduate degree and will develop intellectual autonomy leading to meaningful application of HR practices. You will:
- Gain a competitive advantage by understanding people management and human capital in organisations within a broader social science context.
- Ensure that organisations are following best practice in their HR management processes.
- Embed a dynamic strategic approach to human resource management.
- Evaluate and apply ‘best-fit’ research design, methodology and analysis.
- Promote effective diverse workforces in an African and global context
- Provide progressive and sound support on employee relation matters.
- Apply a range of leading organisation development competencies.
- Understand the effective use of assessment and development centres.
You will also develop:
- The skills to work critically, analytically, collaboratively, ethically and systematically with a firm grasp of complex intrapersonal, interpersonal, psychosocial, economic and political dynamics.
- Practically apply a range of HRM principles, theories and competencies to organisational contexts.
- Participate in research design, analysis, implementation, monitoring and evaluation with a focus on engaging the human element of the organisation and building the human resource capacity.
Course Highlights
Builds on the skills gained in your undergraduate degree.
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Develops your skills to become a leading human resource practitioner.
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A blend of academic integrity and impactful application into workplace contexts.
Who is this course for?
This postgraduate degree is aimed at candidates who have completed a three-year undergraduate degree with Human Resource Management as a major and wish to deepen their academic rigour and embed progressive practical approaches within their HRM practice. It’s a good choice if you want to:
- Take your human resource management knowledge and practice to the next level.
- Meaningfully engage in South African organisational realities with current and relevant human resources management theories, methods and applications through reasoned formulation of solutions.
- Learn in a supportive, student-centred and community-orientated learning environment that intentionally promotes intrapersonal and interpersonal growth.
- Be prepared to tackle a range of human resource management issues in the ever-changing and increasingly digitised landscape of work.
- Gain the tools to become a change agent in contemporary, impactful human resource management.
Career Opportunities
This postgraduate degree opens up avenues of potential employment in an extensive range of public and private sector enterprises in various HR Business Partner and Human Resource Generalist roles such as HR Manager, HR Assistant, HR Advisor and HR Consultant.
Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Human Resource Management modules
Core modules
- Research Methodology (NQF 8, 20 credits)
- Strategic Human Resource Management (NQF 8, 15 credits)
- Research Thesis (NQF 8, 36 credits)
- Advanced Organisation Development and Design (NQF 8, 15 credits)
- Business Ethics for the HR Practitioner (NQF 8, 12 credits)
- Advanced Employee Relations (NQF 8, 12 credits)
Module Descriptors View
Elective Modules
- Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace (NQF 8, 10 credits)
- Utilising Assessments for Recruitment and Development (NQF 8, 10 credits)
Module Descriptors Download
Additional information
British Accreditation Council (BAC)
SACAP is fully accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) as an Independent Higher Education Institution
The BAC accreditation is a globally recognised hallmark of quality assurance, and achieving this accreditation demonstrates that we have met the high standards set by the BAC. This accreditation is validation of our commitment to excellence and our mission to provide our students with a world-class education that prepares them for success in their future careers.
Our students can be assured that their education provider has met a gold standard. To maintain BAC accreditation SACAP needs to continue to meet BAC’s standards. BAC ensure that colleges, universities and training providers provide high quality education and a great learning experience for students.
Admission requirements
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
All applicants for this programme are required to undergo a screening and selection process.
- A minimum of an undergraduate degree with a human resource management, industrial psychology, or organisational psychology major (NQF 7), having achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 65% and/or above in all human resource management-related 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).
See SACAP’s full Admissions Policy here
How can I apply?
You will need these docs
- A completed SACAP application form
- A certified copy of your ID
- A certified copy of your academic transcript
- Proof of Application fee of R300.00
Please note: For applicants applying for acceptance into the programme via RPL, an interview will be conducted once the portfolio of evidence has been submitted for review by the selection panel, with the aforementioned documents, to further assess prior learning based on and eligibility for acceptance
Please note: For applicants applying for acceptance into the programme via RPL, an interview will be conducted once the portfolio of evidence has been submitted for review by the selection panel, with the aforementioned documents, to further assess prior learning based on and eligibility for acceptance
Course details
- Duration: 18 months part-time Online
- Modules: 7
- Accreditation: CHE accredited at NQF Level 8. Aligned with the SABPP competencies in design
- Faculty: Management and Leadership
- SAQA ID 115523
Intake / Selection Process
- There is one intake per year for the fulltime and part-time programmes respectively.
- Acceptance is subject to a rigorous selection process that includes: applicants meeting the minimum entrance requirements, assessment of academic and non-academic aptitudes and behavioural competencies.
- The standard selection process for this honours programme is an individual paper-based screening and selection.
- Please note that based on CHE regulations, it is not possible for candidates applying via RPL to be credited for any modules or exempted from completing any of the modules (including the research thesis) in this honours programme.
- Students must complete all the modules in this programme in order to graduate.
