Postgraduate Diploma in Disability Studies

Qualification code:	90167
NQF level:	8
Total credits:	120
SAQA ID:	105738
APS/AS:	60

Maximum time to complete this qualification:

3 years

Purpose statement:
The purpose of this qualification is to strengthen and deepen knowledge, skills and values (attitude) of different professionals (educators, doctors, nurses, auxiliary, etc.,) and para-professionals in order to deal with issues pertaining to disability in various contexts/ environments. Qualified learners will be able to relate to and embrace disability as a concept in their daily interactions with people with disabilities. They will also be able to interrogate current local and global research policies and thinking around disability issues in order to contribute towards knowledge expansion in the field.

Admission and re-admission requirements

Qualification admission requirements

Please note:

• Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the specific admission requirements for your chosen qualification.
• Unisa reserves the right to withdraw any offer for admission to the 2026 academic year should it be found that you do not meet the statutory, college and/or minimum admission requirements for the qualification to which you have been admitted. In such a case, the university will refund any registration fees paid towards the said qualification.

An appropriate and recognised four-year Bachelor of Education degree,
Or
a three-year general Bachelor's degree and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (or a former equivalent),
or
(a) four-year professional teaching qualification(s) as well as a 120 credits Level 7 Advanced Diploma in a cognate specialisation.
Applicants who would like to apply for admission through recognition of prior learning (RPL) must be at least 23 years old; have completed Diploma at an NQF level 6; and have at least five years of relevant teaching/ work based experience in Disability Studies or related subject fields, as well as evidence of basic research skills. For more information on RPL criteria visit: http://www.unisa.ac.za/rpl

Student fees and funding your studies

Apply for admission

Apply for admission to honours degrees or postgraduate diplomas for the 2026 academic year between 18 August and 10 October 2025. 

Please note:

• You must apply for each new qualification even if you already have a formal Unisa student number. This includes first-time Unisa applicants, Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or changing the specialisation of their current qualification, and applicants completing an undergraduate qualification who wish to continue with postgraduate studies.
  * Student numbers issued for short learning programmes and the Graduate School of Business Leadership are not formal Unisa student numbers.
• You may apply for a maximum of two qualifications, ranked in order of preference (although you may only register for one should all of your applications be successful). No changes may be made after the closing date for applications.
• You must accept or decline Unisa's offer within the prescribed period of time.
• You may only accept one offer. If you accept an offer, the other application for admission/offer will automatically fall away.
• If you accept Unisa's offer for the 2026 academic year, you may only register for the qualification and specialisation for which you received an offer. You may also only register for the 2026 academic year. Should you decide not to register for the 2026 academic year for any reason, you will need to apply for admission during the next application period.

Registration

Successful applicants should visit the registration website in January 2026 for updated registration information (eg qualification rules, curriculum/transitional arrangements, pre-requisites and co-requisites): www.unisa.ac.za/register

Curriculum / modules