Bachelor of Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training

Graduates of this internationally recognised programme will be qualified to teach grades 8-12.

Overview

The Bachelor of Education degree (B Ed) is a four-year, full-time degree that qualifies you to practise as a teacher within South Africa.

Upon qualification, your B Ed degree allows you to register as a professional educator with the South African Council for Educators (SACE).

Students who enrol for the B Ed specialise in one of the following programmes: • HFA00 B Ed Foundation Phase: Grades R - 3 • HFA01 B Ed Intermediate Phase: Grades 4 - 7 • HFA02 B Ed Senior and FET Phases: Grades 8 – 12.

While there are certain courses that are compulsory for all B Ed students, there are some courses that are geared specifically to prepare you to teach in one of the above specialisations. All students participate in a 6-week session of Teaching Experience during each year of study.

Each course that you pass in your B Ed earns points towards the granting of the qualification. To qualify for a B Ed degree, you need to earn a total of 480 points (SAQA credits). 

Senior and FET Phase students must become specialists in two school subjects. It is also required that they take two teaching methodology courses.

For application enquiries contact:

Student Call Centre
ask.wits@wits.ac.za
011 717 1888

Career Opportunities

  • Secondary school teacher

Curriculum

First year
  • Education IA AND B
  • Literacy for Senior Phase and FET Teachers
  • Becoming a Teacher A AND B
  • Teaching Experience IA AND IB

Select two courses from the following:

  • English I
  • Information Technology I
  • Natural Science I
  • Technology I
  • isiZulu I
  • Mathematics I
  • Sesotho I
  • Social Sciences I

Students who cannot demonstrate ICT (Information and Technology Competency) to select:

  • ICT Literacy

Students whom ICT does not apply to select from the following:

  • Fun and Choir
  • Physical Activity and Sports
  • Financial Planning and Entrepreneurship
  • Learning in and through Art
  • Learning in and through Drama

Life Orientation (LO) as a teaching major will not be included in 2025. A combination of prerequisite Matric subjects and achievement levels in these subjects will be considered for admission. Refer to listed subjects under the first year Programme Outline.

Second year
  • Education II
  • Life Skills for Teachers
  • Teaching Experience II

Select Level II courses of the major you did in first year from the following:

  • Natural Sciences II
  • English II
  • isiZulu II
  • Sesotho II
  • Mathematics II
  • Social Sciences II
  • Technology II
  • Information Technology II

Select the senior phase pedagogy courses A AND B corresponding to one of the courses above:

  • Teaching Natural Sciences (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching English (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching isiZulu (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Sesotho (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Mathematics (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Social Sciences (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Technology (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Information Technology (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Experience II

A student who does not have an Indigenous African Language on their matric must select one of the following:

  • IsiZulu (Conversational Competence)
  • Sesotho (Conversational Competence)
  • South African Sign Language (Conversational Competence)
Third year
  • Education III
  • Teaching Experience IIIA AND IIIB

Select the Level III major you did in the second year:

  • Life Sciences IIIA OR B
  • Physical Science IIIA OR B
  • Geography III
  • History III
  • English III
  • isiZulu III
  • Sesotho III
  • Mathematics III
  • Engineering Graphics AND Design III
  • Mechanical Technology III
  • Information Technology III

Select the FET pedagogy courses A AND B corresponding to one of the courses above:

  • Teaching Life Sciences
  • Teaching Physical Science
  • Teaching Geography
  • Teaching History
  • Teaching English
  • Teaching isiZulu
  • Teaching Sesotho
  • Teaching Mathematics
  • Teaching Engineering Graphics and Design
  • Teaching Mechanical Technology
  • Teaching Information Technology

Select the Senior Phase Pedagogy Courses A AND B corresponding to your second year major:

  • Teaching Natural Sciences (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Social Sciences (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching English (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching isiZulu (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Sesotho (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Mathematics (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Technology (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Information Technology (Senior Phase A AND B)
  • Teaching Experience IIIA
Fourth year
  • Education IV
  • Being a Teacher IV
  • Teaching Experience IVA AND IVB

Select at least one Level IV course from the list below that you completed at Level III:

  • Life Sciences IV
  • Physical Science IV
  • Geography IV
  • History IV
  • English IV
  • isiZulu IV
  • Sesotho IV
  • Mathematics IV
  • Engineering Graphics and Design IV
  • Mechanical Technology IV
  • Information Technology IV

AND

Select a Level IV course from the list above completed at Level III OR a Level III course OR one of the following:

Choose the FET pedagogy course corresponding to the Level III OR Level IV course above:

  • English I
  • IsiZulu I
  • isiZulu Additional Language I
  • South African Sign Language
  • Sesotho I
  • Sesotho Additional Language I

Select a FET course from the list below:

  • Teaching Life Sciences (FET)
  • Teaching Physical Science (FET)
  • Teaching Geography (FET)
  • Teaching History (FET)
  • Teaching English (FET)
  • Teaching isiZulu (FET)
  • Teaching Sesotho (FET)
  • Teaching Mathematics (FET)
  • Teaching Engineering Graphics and Design (FET)
  • Teaching Mechanical Technology (FET)
  • Teaching Information Technology (FET)

Entry Requirements

APS 37+

English Home Language OR First Additional Language Level 5

Wait-listing

Applicants with an entry requirement of at least 31-36 APS points are wait-listed, subject to place availability.

Additional Selection Criteria

Preference is given to students with higher English results. Due to limited space, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to place availability, academic results, and other entry requirements, where applicable.

University Application Process

  • The Student Enrolment Centre at Wits handles all student applications.
  • Please click here for an overview of the application process. 
  • Check the admission requirements for your degree. Check if any additional selection requirements apply. 
  • Submit your application, required documentation and application fee before the closing date.
  • Once you have applied, an admissions consultant will be assigned to your application.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • If you are an international applicant and/or have a foreign qualification, please click here.

Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place at the University. The University has a specific number of places for first year undergraduates, approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees for the first year of study. The Fees website also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal. 

The Financial aid office provides information on student funding and scholarships. University-funded Scholarships include Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, University Entrance Scholarships, Equality Scholarships, Sports Scholarships and National Olympiad winner awards. For information about NSFAS funding, please visit the NSFAS website. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.

Wits Plus applicants: terms of payment are in accordance with University regulations, and students are not eligible for University bursaries/NSFAS or residential accommodation.