Programme: PGDip in Business Administration 

Kindly take note of the disclaimer regarding qualifications and degree names.
Code Faculty Department
07220111 Gordon Institute of Business Science Department: Gordon Institute of Business Science
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 1 year Total credits: 120 NQF level:  08

Admission requirements

General Admission Regulations:

Refer to the UP Institutional Admissions Policy as well as the General Academic Regulations and Student Rules (Go to www.up.ac.za./yearbooks/home and click on General Rules and Regulations, then on General Academic Regulations and Student Rules)

  1.  All applications must be accompanied by the following documents: 
    1. Certified full academic transcripts from undergraduate to current level; 
    2. Certified copy of ID or passport; 
    3. A research concept note (not applicable to honours or coursework master's degrees): A description of the proposed research field indicating a research topic and the broad scope of the proposed study, not exceeding 500 words.
  2.  All applicants with international qualifications must submit the following documents, subject to provision number 9: 
    1. A SAQA evaluation of the completed qualification or a comprehensive Foreign Qualification Report
    2. *TOEFL or IELTS or Pearson Test of English or Oxford Test of English test results (if applicable) 
    3. Certified copy of passport.
  3. All postgraduate applications are subject to departmental admissions processes. 
  4. Admissions is based on the content of and performance in the prior degree, bridging arrangements (where required), academic merit and prior work experience (if applicable). 
  5. Admission to all qualifications is subject to supervisory capacity and/or research projects in the field of specialisation in a department, therefore the relevant department has the right to limit the number of students per year. 
  6. Complying with the minimum admissions requirements, does not automatically guarantee admission to the degree. 
  7. Proposed research studies for masters and doctoral applicants should align with the research focus of the relevant department. 
  8. If a qualifying candidate has expressed an interest in a field of study that the relevant department cannot  accommodate, the applicant may be considered for an alternative project. 
  9. All postgraduate applicants must be proficient in English as English is the official language of tuition, communication and correspondence at the University of Pretoria. Candidates who cannot provide evidence that previous studies were completed in English, must submit TOEFL or IELTS or Pearson Test of English or Oxford Test of English test results with their application. 
  10. All applicants must be computer literate.
  11. All students need to have access to an internet enabled device, as well as consistent email and internet access.
  12. Allowance will be made for the diversity profile of students in accordance with the University strategy. 

Minimum admissions requirements

  1. A relevant bachelor's (or equivalent) degree

Note: An admissions examination may be required

Other programme-specific information

Refer to General Academic Regulations G16-G29.

Refer to the GIBS student guidelines and regulations.

The Dean may authorise matters not provided for in the General Academic Regulations or in the GIBS regulations

Examinations and pass requirements

  1. The minimum pass mark for each prescribed module is 50%.,provided that a subminimum of 45% has been obtained in the examination or an examined component
  2. A candidate who has failed more than two modules may not continue with his/her studies for the diploma, except with the approval of the Dean.

Refer to the GIBS student guidelines and regulations.

Minimum credits: 120

Students need to select elective modules to the value of 40 credits. Students must contact the Faculty Administration to establish which electives are being offered.

Core modules

  • Module content:

    This module is designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to analyse and interpret financial information. An overview of the preparation of simple financial statements serves as the basis for understanding the uses and limitations of the financial reports that companies prepare for shareholders and other external agencies. Topics dealt with in-depth include the contents of financial reports, ratio analysis and cash flow analysis, in addition to specific techniques developed for prediction of financial failure and vulnerability to takeover. Actual financial statements are analysed, and participants are expected to be familiar with real cases in the current financial press. You will become familiar with how financial statements such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements are structured. Various methods of critically evaluating them in order to make conclusions about the company’s financial strength or weaknesses, and future possibilities such as financial failure or the probability of takeover will be discussed.

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  • Module content:

    By introducing microeconomic theory and its application in real business situations, this course will give you an understanding of how a business works in the context of the economic environment in which it operates. Topics include the theory of the firm, supply and demand analysis, consumer behaviour, how markets work and pricing strategies for different markets.

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  • Module content:

    This course in Organisational behaviour explores the interaction between individuals, groups and organisations in the context of a rapidly changing global system. The core themes explored include corporate culture, leadership, trust, team and group dynamics, power, organisation design, managing change and interpersonal communication. To motivate people today, managers require insight into individual behaviour and attitudes that affect organisational performance.

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  • Module content:

    Human resource strategy focuses on the strategic management of the organisation’s human resources (HR) to deliver a competitive advantage, as well as the role of HR in achieving strategic corporate objectives. We explore the management of HR infrastructure, performance management, HIV/AIDS and employee contributions, as well as the integration of HR and business strategies.

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  • Module content:

    This course outlines marketing strategies in the context of overall corporate objectives and introduces a systematic approach to marketing decision-making, including market and customer analysis, the analysis of marketing opportunities and implementation and evaluation of marketing plans. We also explore e-business and strategies of marketing through the Internet.

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  • Module content:

    Focusing on the macroeconomic and socio-political environment in which businesses operate, this course includes a study of the multi-faceted ways in which global economic trends and domestic socio-political strategies affect organisations. You will gain insight into how the South African economy operates, as well as an understanding of economic indicators, like business cycles, inflation and unemployment.

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Elective modules

  • Module content:

    This module introduces fundamental programming concepts including data structures, networked application program interfaces, and databases. Students will design and create applications for data retrieval, processing, and visualization.

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  • Module content:

    This course examines fundamental principles and techniques for data science and advanced analytics. Students will learn how to interact competently on topics of data science for business analytics and understand the fundamental principles of data science processes. They will be able to interact effectively with data experts, approaching business problems data-analytically to make data-informed decisions for management.

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  • Module content:

    This module exposes students to machine and statistical learning algorithms that can be used to manipulate big data, identify trends from the data, modelling trends for prediction purposes as well as modelling for the detection of hidden knowledge. Student will learn to Identify settings in which models can be used effectively and apply modelling concepts in practical situations, including visualisation – the encoding of information, such as patterns, into visual objects.

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  • Module content:

    Changing dynamics caused by the conversion of products and services into digital goods, new customer demands and changing regulation continue to drive the digital transformation of finance. This course will examine concepts including digital strategy, open banking innovation, financial technology, crowdfunding, and peer-to-peer lending, robo-advising and block chain. The objective is that students will be able to make informed decisions about deploying financial technologies in business.

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  • Module content:

    Corporate finance techniques encompass financial skills that every general manager requires. The module includes financial calculations; the use of financial statements; equity versus debt financing; distribution mechanisms; capital allocation (investment evaluation and rates of return).

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  • Module content:

    Dramatic advances in technology have revolutionized the way that people interact with computers. This course focuses on the design and evaluation of user interfaces including user research; prototyping and design methods; and robust evaluation techniques such as heuristic evaluation and user studies.

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  • Module content:

    This module addresses moral ethical issues pertaining to information and ICT, including information and computer ethics; information security; privacy and the right to information; digital identity management; cyber law.

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  • Module content:

    Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative process Involving five phases—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test—used to tackle problems that are ill-defined or unknown (wicked problems). Design thinking is useful in the ill-defined problem space because it uses a human-centric approach to reframe the problem to focus on what is most important for users. This course introduces the principles and application of design thinking.

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  • Module content:

    This module is designed to enable students to communicate effectively and appropriately in a variety of business and academic settings. Through instruction and individual feedback, students will learn skills to improve their academic writing, and consider how to improve the quality of their writing in various organisational contexts. This module focuses on both verbal, nonverbal and written communication as well as the contexts of one-on-one, group and technology-based communication.  Students will also learn to provide and receive feedback successfully, which is a critical skill for personal and organisational success. The module considers the development of these skills in both a face-to-face and virtual environment. Through various activities, the core cognitive skills that are targeted for development in this module are analysing, evaluating and synthesising.

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  • Module content:

    This module examines statistical tools used in business decision-making. Statistical methods will be introduced in a non-technical manner and developed in business contexts. Topics will include understanding differences, predictions and associations when using statistical analysis for business decision-making. These techniques will underpin the use of univariate and multivariate techniques. Statistical computer packages play a major supporting role in statistical applications, and frequently-encountered spreadsheet and software packages will be utilised during the module. Students will learn how to interpret the information contained in management data, and to define and analyse management problems quantitatively. Students will develop an intuitive understanding of statistical techniques through explanations of methods and interpretation of real business problems. Ultimately, if students need to consult experts in this area, they will be better able to select, evaluate and use their services.

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  • Module content:


    This module serves as an introductory module to business analysis and research methods. The module provides the foundations for understanding what research is, what is researched, the importance of research for both business and academia, and how research influences evidence-based decision-making.

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  • Module content:

    This course is designed to help students improve their thinking and analytical skills in order to manage their organisations more effectively.

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  • Module content:

    This module examines statistical tools used in business decision-making. Statistical methods will be introduced in a non-technical manner and developed in business contexts. Topics will include understanding differences, predictions and associations when using statistical analysis for business decision-making. These techniques will underpin the use of univariate and multivariate techniques. Statistical computer packages play a major supporting role in statistical applications, and frequently-encountered spreadsheet and software packages will be utilised during the course of the module. You will learn how to interpret the information contained in management data, and to define and analyse management problems quantitatively. You will develop an intuitive understanding of statistical techniques through explanations of methods and interpretation of real business problems. Ultimately, if you need to consult experts in this area, you will be better able to select, evaluate and use their services.

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  • Module content:

    An organisation’s competitive advantage increasingly depends on knowledge management – what the organisation knows and how it uses what it knows. This course focuses on the knowledge economy and how technological advances in information technology impact on the structure of industries and organisations, the management of people, and how business is conducted.

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  • Module content:

    During this course, students take an integrative view of business and management. Students will be introduced to the concepts of strategy formulation and implementation and study the links between technology, operations, processes and structures. Using the knowledge and skills learned throughout the programme, you will develop a holistic view of business and the organisation.

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  • Module content:

    The Applied business project is designed to enable students to develop their decision-making skills via tackling a societal issue from a business perspective. Syndicates will be expected to select a topic, identify a potential issue or opportunity, conduct research to understand the issue or opportunity, generate and review possible solutions, present a clear, compelling case for their chosen solution, and communicate this effectively.

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  • Module content:

    During this course, we take an integrative view of business and management. We introduce the concepts of strategy formulation and implementation and study the links between operations, processes and structures. Using the knowledge and skills learned throughout the programme, you will develop a holistic view of business and the organisation. The skill-building session will be a business simulation, with individual coaching on your decision-making.position. Improving cross-functional organisational performance across the value chain, as well as the design of service delivery systems, is an important focus.

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  • Module content:

    The purpose of this half-module is to create an appropriate level of awareness of the importance of ethical and sustainable behaviour in the business environment. Important ethical and sustainability issues in the South African context will be debated and discussed to ensure delegates appreciate some of the hurdles facing business leaders in South Africa. Students will develop an understanding of the underlying principles behind responsible leadership and be provided with tools to make sound business decisions where there is an ethical dimension present. It will also provide students with tools to assist them when faced with ethical dilemmas.

     

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  • Module content:

    This module will introduce the students to the world of entrepreneurship and its embedded process. It will contribute to the role entrepreneurs play in the socio-economic environment and likewise address certain applications of the field. The intention of this module is to explore the phenomenon broadly referred to as entrepreneurship; to make it easily understood as a business concept, readily accessible as a career option and practically applicable as a style of management within the realm of the entrepreneurial mind-set.

     

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General Academic Regulations and Student Rules
The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations. The G Regulations are updated annually and may be amended after the publication of this information.

Regulations, degree requirements and information
The faculty regulations, information on and requirements for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

University of Pretoria Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) verification project
The higher education sector has undergone an extensive alignment to the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQSF) across all institutions in South Africa. In order to comply with the HEQSF, all institutions are legally required to participate in a national initiative led by regulatory bodies such as the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The University of Pretoria is presently engaged in an ongoing effort to align its qualifications and programmes with the HEQSF criteria. Current and prospective students should take note that changes to UP qualification and programme names, may occur as a result of the HEQSF initiative. Students are advised to contact their faculties if they have any questions.

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