Study Online in 2026

If AI’ taught us anything, it’s that the future is unpredictable. But that’s ok, because wherever there are people, there’s a need for skilled Applied Psychology practitioners. Which is another way of saying the world needs therapists, Human Resource Managers, Business Managers, Coaches, Social Workers, and more.

So study an accredited qualification online with the leaders in Applied Psychology and benefit from small class sizes, varied and engaging learning formats and the ability to work at your own pace while meeting weekly milestones.

Apply for 2026 now and set yourself up to graduate with critical thinking skills and an entrepreneurial mindset that empowers you to apply your knowledge to a range of industries.

 

What you can study

Higher Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills

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.

 

Higher Certificate in Business Management

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:

  • Want a broad overview of the business management discipline.
  • Want to take the first step into the world of Business Management.
  • Are an aspiring entrepreneur.
  • Want to formalise your existing knowledge with an entry-level qualification.
  • Want a skills-based vocational qualification.

 

What this path gives you:

  • Fundamental business, digital and academic literacy skills.
  • An understanding of the use of Artificial Intelligence in business.
  • The ability to promote human productivity and achieve organisational goals.
  • 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.

 

Higher Certificate in Human Resource Management

Course Details

Study options: Online
Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Accreditation: NQF 5, Endorsed by the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP) and aligned with the SABPP HR competency framework in design
SAQA ID: 118460

 

A good fit if you are:

  • An aspiring HR professional wanting to grasp HR best practices.
  • An employee seeking insight into labour rights.
  • A trade union representative wanting foundational knowledge in Industrial Relations and HR-related topics.
  • Want to formalise your existing knowledge with an entry-level qualification.
  • Want a skills-based vocational qualification.

 

What this path gives you:

  • An excellent introduction to a dynamic and growing field.
  • Knowledge and skills in Human Resource functions and principles, Occupational Health and Safety Management and Project Management.
  • 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.
  • Register as an HR technician through the South African Board of People Practices (SABPP).

 

Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills

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.

 

Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Majoring in Psychology and Counselling)

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

 

Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Majoring in Psychology and Human Resource Management)

Course Details

Study options: Online
Duration: 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time Online
Accreditation: NQF 7, CHE accredited

SAQA ID:90844

Work Integrated Learning: 3 months full-time, including mentoring

A good fit for you if you:

  • Want to specialise in human resource management.
  • Want to gain practical experience to boost your expertise and confidence in HRM.
  • Want a qualification endorsed by the SABPP.

 

What this path gives you:

  • Essential practical HRM skills, including strategies, policies and procedures.
  • An understanding of psychology and individual and group behaviour.
  • Insight into macro and micro business environments, business ethics and processes.
  • Interpersonal and group communication skills.
  • Basic financial literacy and accounting principles in an HRM context.

 

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]
  • SACAP’s Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Human Resource Management

OR

  • Apply to a cognate Bachelor’s Honours degree or other  postgraduate studies in psychology, the social sciences or related fields – both nationally and internationally.
  • Apply for entry-level positions in human resources within an organisation.

 

Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Majoring in Psychology and Criminology)

Course Details

Study options: Online
Duration: 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time Online
Accreditation: NQF 7

SAQA ID:90844

 

It’s an excellent choice 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.

 

Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Majoring in Psychology and Business Management)

Course Details

Study options: Online
Duration: 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time Online
Accreditation: NQF 7, CHE accredited

SAQA ID: 90844

Work Integrated Learning: 200 hours, including mentoring

 

A good fit for you if you:

  • Want to learn about business management.
  • Aim to move into a managerial role in the future
  • Want to formalise your existing knowledge.
  • Launch your entrepreneurial enterprise to market.

 

What this path gives you:

  • Foundational knowledge of management functions.
  • The ability to conduct various business functions in the workplace.
  • Insights into diversity and effective communication in a dynamic, multicultural South African context.

 

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]
  • SACAP’s Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Business Management

OR

  • Pursue related postgraduate studies in psychology, the social sciences or related fields – both nationally and internationally.

 

Bachelor of Social Work

Course Details

Study options: Online
Duration: Full-time, 4 year professional degree
Accreditation: (NQF8) – SAQA, CHE & SACSSP accredited
Endorsed by the Association of Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI)

Aligned with the Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) global standards for social work.

Qualify and become a Registered Social Worker with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).

 

What will I learn

  • A broad understanding of social, economic, cultural, political, environmental, religious, and global contexts.
  • How to intervene and advocate on behalf of individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities
    How to challenge discrimination and oppression, and promote social justice.
  • The ability to apply and uphold the basic values and principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the S.A. Constitution in relation to social work service delivery.
  • Comprehensive and holistic practices to work with diverse and at-risk/vulnerable populations.
  • Theories and practice models that are relevant to social work, developmental social welfare, psychology and other related social sciences.
  • Global and national declarations, policies and legislation relevant to social welfare and social work.