If you want to continue your studies, you may be considering an Honours degree, Postgraduate Diploma, or Master’s degree. While all three can help you build your knowledge and advance your career, they serve different purposes.
The right choice will depend on your current qualifications, work experience, and future career goals. You may want to specialise in a certain area or prepare for a management role.
Below, we compare these postgraduate business qualifications to help you decide what to study after a business degree.
Key Takeaways
- While similar, Honours and Postgraduate Diplomas serve different purposes. Honours often focuses on deeper academic knowledge, while a Postgraduate Diploma can offer more specialised professional learning.
- A Master’s degree is an NQF Level 9 qualification and offers a more advanced level of study. You will usually need a suitable NQF Level 8 qualification before applying.
- The best postgraduate qualification depends on your goals. Consider your current qualifications, work experience, and career plans.
What’s the difference between an Honours, Postgraduate Diploma, and Master’s degree?
The main differences between an Honours degree, Postgraduate Diploma, and Master’s degree are their NQF levels and purpose.
In South Africa, both an Honours degree and a Postgraduate Diploma are generally at NQF Level 8. A Master’s degree is one step higher at NQF Level 9.
However, the NQF level isn’t the only thing to consider. Each qualification can prepare you for a different next step in your studies or career.
Let’s look at them more closely.
Honours degree
An Honours degree in South Africa is often the next step after completing a relevant Bachelor’s degree. It allows you to build on what you’ve already learned and develop deeper knowledge in your chosen field.
The modules you complete will depend on your chosen programme. Business Honours programmes may cover more advanced areas of management, strategy, finance, research, or other specific fields.
For example, REGENT Business School offers a Bachelor of Commerce Honours as well as a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Human Resource Management. These programmes have different specialisations and modules, yet they both also cover business topics.
An Honours degree also tends to place more focus on independent thinking and research than a standard undergraduate degree. This can make it a useful option if you want to continue with a Master’s degree later.
You’ll usually need an appropriate Bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma to apply. However, each education institution and programme can set its own entry requirements.
Overall, an Honours degree may suit you if you want to deepen your knowledge in a field you have already studied.
Postgraduate Diploma
Many graduates wonder, is a Postgraduate Diploma equivalent to Honours in South Africa?
In terms of NQF level, the answer is yes. However, they’re not the same qualification.
When comparing Honours vs Postgraduate Diploma, one of the main differences is their purpose:
- An Honours degree often builds on an academic subject you have already studied.
- A Postgraduate Diploma can help you develop advanced knowledge in a particular area (that you may not have studied yet).
Your modules will depend on your chosen area of study. For example, postgraduate business studies may focus on management, accounting, project management, finance, or another specialised field.
REGENT offers Postgraduate Diplomas in areas such as Management, Project Management, Accounting, and Islamic Finance and Banking.
This makes a Postgraduate Diploma worth considering if you want to develop skills that are relevant to a particular career path or area of business.
You’ll generally need a suitable Bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma to apply. Exact requirements will depend on the programme and education institution you choose.
A Postgraduate Diploma may therefore be a good option for working professionals who want to expand their knowledge or specialise in a particular field.
Master’s degree
A Master’s degree in South Africa is a more advanced postgraduate qualification. It sits at NQF Level 9, which is one level above an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma.
Master’s programmes involve advanced study and usually include a research component. The exact structure will depend on the type of Master’s degree you choose.
For business professionals, one well-known option is the Master of Business Administration (MBA). This type of qualification focuses on areas such as business administration, management, leadership, strategy, and decision-making.
You generally need an appropriate NQF Level 8 qualification before you can apply for a Master’s programme. This could include an Honours degree, Postgraduate Diploma, or another suitable Level 8 qualification.
Some programmes also require relevant work experience. REGENT’s MBA, for example, requires applicants to have an appropriate NQF Level 8 qualification, be at least 25 years old, and have at least three years of work experience.
Can I convert my PG Diploma to a Master’s?
You can’t simply convert a Postgraduate Diploma into a Master’s degree. However, completing a relevant Postgraduate Diploma can provide a pathway into a Master’s programme.
This means you may be able to complete your Postgraduate Diploma and then apply for a relevant Master’s programme.
That said, you’ll still need to meet the specific admission requirements of the Master’s degree you choose. It’s therefore important to check these requirements with the education institution before applying.
Is an Honours Degree harder than a Bachelor’s Degree?
An Honours degree is generally more advanced than a standard three-year Bachelor’s degree.
You can expect the work to go into greater depth and require more independent thinking, research, and analysis.
That doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will find an Honours degree extremely difficult. Your experience will depend on the subject, your academic background, and the amount of time you can dedicate to studying.
If you enjoyed your undergraduate studies and want to develop deeper knowledge in the same field, an Honours degree can be a natural next step.
FAQ
What NQF level is an Honours degree in South Africa?
An Honours degree in South Africa is at NQF Level 8 and normally carries at least 120 credits. It usually follows an appropriate Bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma and can also provide a pathway into a relevant Master’s programme.
What NQF level is a Postgraduate Diploma?
A Postgraduate Diploma is at NQF Level 8 and normally has at least 120 credits. This means that a Postgraduate Diploma and Honours degree sit at the same NQF level. However, they are different qualifications and may have different purposes, modules, and entry requirements.
How long does postgraduate business study usually take?
The length of your studies will depend on the qualification and whether you study full-time or part-time.
Some postgraduate qualifications can be completed in around one year, while others take longer. A Master’s degree may also require more time because of its advanced coursework and research requirements.
Can I complete postgraduate studies while working full-time?
Yes. Many postgraduate business studies are designed with working professionals in mind.
Flexible study options can make it easier to continue working while completing your qualification. However, you should still make sure you have enough time for classes, reading, assignments, research, and exams.
Choosing a flexible programme can help you balance your education with your existing career and personal responsibilities.
Which REGENT Business School postgraduate qualification should I choose?
The best choice depends on your current qualification and what you want to achieve next.
An Honours degree may be suitable if you want to deepen your knowledge in a field you have already studied. A Postgraduate Diploma may be a better fit if you want to develop specialised professional knowledge.
If you already have an appropriate NQF Level 8 qualification and meet the other admission requirements, you could consider progressing to a Master’s programme such as an MBA.
Take time to compare the different REGENT Business School postgraduate programmes, including their entry requirements and areas of study, before deciding.
Pursue postgraduate studies with REGENT
REGENT offers a range of postgraduate business qualifications for graduates and working professionals in South Africa.
Explore REGENT Business School’s postgraduate programmes to find a qualification that fits your experience, interests, and future career goals.
