VerifiedUnisa does not offer one-year diplomas. Its diplomas carry 240 or 360 credits at NQF Level 6, and students may register for at most 120 credits a year, so a 240-credit diploma takes at least two years and a 360-credit diploma at least three. What you can finish in one year of full-time study at Unisa is a 120-credit qualification, such as a higher certificate.
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Unisa qualifications by size
| Qualification | Credits | NQF level | Minimum time at 120 credits a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher certificate | 120 | 5 | One year |
| Advanced certificate | 120 | 6 | One year |
| Diploma | 240 or 360 | 6 | Two or three years |
| Advanced diploma | 120 | 7 | One year (needs a diploma first) |
| Bachelor’s degree | 360 or 480 | 7 or 8 | Three or four years |
| Postgraduate diploma or honours | 120 or more | 8 | One year or longer |
Most Unisa students study part time and take longer than the minimum. Unisa’s rules also set a maximum: four years for a 120-credit qualification, six for 240 credits and eight for 360 credits.
One-year options if you want to start working sooner
- A higher certificate. For example, the Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences. See Unisa higher certificates and their requirements.
- An advanced diploma, if you already hold a relevant diploma.
- A short learning programme. These do not lead to a certificate, diploma or degree, but some take less than a year. See registering for short learning programmes.
Load rules that decide how fast you finish
- A normal maximum of 60 credits a semester or 120 credits a year.
- Final-year students with an average of at least 55% may apply for 24 extra credits.
- Most undergraduate modules are 12 credits, so 120 credits is about ten modules a year.
Check the exact structure of any diploma on Unisa’s website, and estimate costs with Unisa’s fee quotation tool. Related: how long a higher certificate takes and how many credits a diploma has.
Frequently asked questions
Can I finish a diploma at Unisa in one year?
No. Unisa diplomas carry 240 or 360 credits, and the normal maximum load is 120 credits a year.
What can I complete in one year at Unisa?
A 120-credit qualification such as a higher certificate, if you register for a full load every semester and pass everything.
How many modules is 120 credits?
Usually about ten, because most undergraduate modules are 12 credits.