13 Colleges that offer Teaching Courses in South Africa

I think we can all agree that teaching is a noble profession. There is no profession in the world more respectable than a teacher because a teacher is the one who gives you the education in order for you to grow in your respective careers and fields.

This is the reason why a teacher needs to keep himself fully up to date about the latest requirements for a high-level teacher or professor. And that is where our hunt for the best colleges that offer teaching courses starts.

However, this is not as easy as it may seem. You can not simply go out, locate a teaching institute and get yourself enrolled there without giving it a second thought. You will have to be mindful of quite a lot of things.

But don’t worry because I did all the hard work for you and summarized a list of some of the top-rated institutes that offer teaching and education programs. All you have to do is read through them and do a little bit of your own research in addition to what you read below.

1. University of South Africa (UNISA)

Speaking of the excellent teaching institutes, the University of South Africa comes to mind. It is known to have produced some of the most outstanding teachers who have excelled in their careers. This university offers hands down the best teaching courses aimed to equip its students with all the necessary skills to tackle all kinds of students. You will be able to handle the most stubborn students in their toughest academic years.

Now, let’s move on to the teaching courses they offer. You will be pleased to hear that UNISA offers all different kinds of teaching programs including diplomas and postgraduate studies. You can opt for any program that fits your requirements.

For instance, if you don’t have enough time to give to your studies and looking for short courses that will quickly equip you with all the necessary skills to get hired in a reputable teaching institute as a teacher or a professor, you may opt for diploma, advance diploma, higher certificates, or advanced certificates being offered by this university.

However, if you want to take your career to the next level and specialize in teaching, I suggest you take a step-by-step approach to your studies. Start with a bachelor’s program being offered by UNISA, followed by honors degrees. After that, you may opt to move on to diploma certificates. If you follow this step-by-step approach to your studies, you will master your field in no time.

So, yes I would definitely recommend you all to get yourselves enrolled in the University of South Africa. It provides you with a roadmap for working your way toward becoming the best and most renowned teacher in all of South Africa.

2. University of Western Cape (UWC)

The University of Western Cape is yet another fantastic alternative for all of you looking for an institute that provides exceptional teaching programs. This one does not directly provide teaching courses however, it does offer an equivalent degree of education that enables you to have a flourishing career as a renowned teacher in South Africa.

You can get yourself enrolled in the bachelor’s in education degree offered by UWC. The selection and admission criteria are quite simple. It means that you can easily get yourself enrolled in this institute without facing any problems. Besides, when you pass out, you will have ample opportunities to practice your newly acquired knowledge and skills in the practical world.

3. University of Witwatersrand – Best for a Teaching Degree

The University of Witwatersrand is yet another excellent alternative for prospective teachers. This university offers a variety of courses that help teachers gain experience and knowledge through practical demonstrations. In fact, this is one of the very few universities in all of South Africa that gives proper practical exposure to its students via incorporated practicals.

The entire syllabus of all its teaching courses is super advanced and aims to provide all the relevant education to its students. They add value to your personality on a daily basis and soon you will feel the change in yourself.

Speaking about the teaching courses provided by this university, it includes bachelors in education, postgraduate education, and various postgraduate certificates and diplomas. And the best thing is that they provide you with a complete roadmap of what you should do next in order to work towards a better version of yourself on your way to becoming an exceptional teacher.

4. University of Johannesburg (UJ)

The University of Johannesburg is another excellent alternate institute for all prospective teachers. This one has a separate faculty of education that provides various teaching courses under its head. You can also find all the details relating to this faculty in the university prospectus. Plus, you can also get all the information from their official website.

This university provides excellent bachelors in education programs. Apart from that, you may also opt for postgraduate certifications, postgraduate education degrees, and master’s and doctoral programs once you are done with your bachelor’s.

However, if you are looking for short teaching courses, you will find these here as well. In addition to that, the best thing about this university is that it offers Continuous Professional Development of Teachers Programmes which means that you can easily keep yourself up to date with the latest educational requirements demanded from teachers.

So, I would definitely recommend you all check out the teaching courses being offered by this university. If nothing else, I would suggest that you at least try out the Continuous Professional Development of Teachers Programmes because they will help you stay on top of the need for time.

5. Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

The Tshwane University of Technology also offers a handful of teaching courses. These courses include various diplomas, bachelor’s in education, postgraduate certificates, and postgraduate courses. And the best thing about this university is that it is most suitable for teacher trainees. The course curriculum is designed in such a way that it allows you to continue your studies while doing your internship.

Another great thing about this university is that it has four separate departments that cover the teaching programs. Each one is designed for specific purposes which I won’t discuss here in depth. However, if you want to find out more, I suggest that you acquire their latest prospectus as well as visit their website.

You may also read the glowing recommendations and reviews of past alumni. You will realize how this institute has helped hundreds of students get their dream jobs in respectable institutes as outstanding teachers. I would highly recommend you check out their courses and take time to benefit from at least one of them.

6. Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)

If you live in the Western Cape in South Africa and are looking for the best educational institute that offers teaching programs, then I suggest you look up the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It has a very fine educational structure and academic record. Many alumni of this university are renowned teachers all across South Africa. The entire syllabus is designed in such a way that it benefits you immensely.

It equips you with all the essential qualities that make a person an exceptional teacher. Once you pass out of this university, you will have ample opportunities to advance your career and get a befitting job in a respectable institute.

Apart from that, the course curriculum is designed in such a way that it allows you to learn new things without feeling pressured to do something. They will make you fall in love with studying all over again. Furthermore, it offers various programs to help you out in whatever stage of qualification you are at.

For instance, this university offers initial teaching courses for freshers and a four-year bachelor’s program that sets the foundation for your teaching career. Once you are done with that, you may move on to specializing in this field by enrolling yourself in the master’s and doctoral programs.

So, I would definitely suggest you try out this institute, especially the advanced programs including the doctoral and pasters. Not many universities offer these in South Africa. You’d better avail this opportunity.

7. University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town is best known for its certifications and PGDip program. It offers the best and most highly advanced certifications that have helped millions of South African teachers in acquiring the skills most valued in today’s times. Apart from that, it also offers bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate programs that help establish the foundations of the initial days of your professional studies.

Speaking about the course curriculum, it is top-notch. You will love studying at this university as much as I did. The staff is highly trained and they go out of their way to facilitate their students. This healthy environment instills in you the same passion to help others bloom as well when you do become a teacher yourself.

Apart from that, this institute also offers remote educational services as well. So, if you live far away from this university, you can still benefit from the outstanding courses of this university. And I would highly recommend you all to try it out. I am sure you will love it as much as I did.

8. Stellenbosch University (SU)

Stellenbosch University is one of those universities that I have personally tried out. It is the perfect institute for enthusiastic curious minds that are willing to dive head start into their educational life and make a shining career out of it. You will find your kind of activities in this institute no matter how selective you might be in that department.

Another great thing about this university is that it offers teaching programs for students from various levels of their education. For instance, it offers various teaching certifications in education in addition to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. It means that you can start off your education by teaching from where you left off.

And that is not just the extent of it. You may pursue higher studies and excel in your teaching career through this institute. You can easily get admission to one of the most fantastic masters and doctoral degrees for specialization.

One of my students has studied at this institute and the reviews were fantastic. I even interviewed various other students and alumni from this institute and they were all highly satisfied with the teaching procedures and the course curriculum. So, I would definitely recommend you all try it out as well.

9. Rhodes University

Rhodes University is another one of the best universities that I can personally vouch for if you want to acquire teaching education and skills. This university has the best BEd postgraduate diploma that you will ever come across. In fact, it is one of the few universities that offer this program at all.

Apart from that, you will also come across many other postgraduate programs that will help you excel in your career. You may join the postgraduate diploma in higher education, PDCE, or Bachelor in education amongst many other programs.

What I love about this institute is that it equips its students with all kinds of challenges that they may face in practical life. It helps you flourish and stay ahead of other teachers. Moreover, it will add so much value to your personal self that people will look at you with admiration and awe.

10. Central University of Technology

The Central University Of Technology has a department of Professional Studies. Under that department is a faculty named the Faculty Of Humanities. It offers hands down the best teaching programs all across South Africa. You can get yourself admitted to any course you feel like doing. It will not only add value to yourself but also establish a strong foundation in your teaching career. I would definitely recommend you all try out some of their trial classes just to get a taste of it.

Amongst many other courses available, this institute also offers Educational management courses for teachers. You can get insane value out of this course. In fact, you won’t find this course in many universities. So, if you are done with other regular courses and diplomas, then I suggest you get yourself enrolled in this course.

11. Vaal University Of Technology

The Vaal University Of Technology is another excellent college for you if you are an aspiring teacher looking for good long courses and programs. This one is a highly respectable institute known to have produced some of the best and most highly qualified teachers in all of South Africa. It offers a number of programs including Bachelor of Education and various postgraduate programs.

This institute goes out of its way to provide the best training to its students. The teachers here are the embodiment of what a perfect teacher should be like. This real-time experience instills in the students what books can not. You will see your own teachers tackle difficult situations and troublesome students on a daily basis. Hence, giving you ample opportunity to learn even when you are outside the classroom.

Your entire experience at this institute will be filled with knowledge and expertise. So, I would definitely recommend you to at least try out one of the courses being offered by this great institute.

12. University of Venda

Some of you may already be familiar with this outstanding university. It is a perfect place to start off your teaching career. It provides a very detailed and comprehensive course curriculum that covers all the important items on the to-do list of a prospective/ aspiring teacher.

If you are at the beginning of your education and want to enroll yourself in a good teaching program that will instill in you all the basics and the foundation of teaching naturally, then the University of Venda must be your first priority. The professors here teach the course from scratch. You will need no prior knowledge in order to fit into the course. The entire process will be super smooth and soon you will find yourself mastering the basics.

13. University of Zulu Land

The University of Zulu Land is the final suggestion for you. If you are slow in your learning process and need a lot of support and guidance from your teachers in order to be able to understand new things, then the University of Zulu Land is the best alternative for you. The teacher support in this institute is truly commendable.

In fact, I got in touch with and interviewed some of the students currently studying here and they were all extremely satisfied with the overall environment and the behavior of their teachers on and off campus. So, if you are really looking for a place that will make knowledge flow through you naturally then you should definitely check out the prospectus of this institute. You may as well look up their official website.

So, this was all from my side. I hope you all could benefit from this article and enjoyed reading through it as much as I did writing it. In any case, I tried my best to offer you a comprehensive list of some of the best universities that you should definitely try out if you are looking for the best teaching programs.

However, I would not recommend you a single institute to stick with throughout your educational years. Rather, I would suggest that you do your proper research and find out which universities offer the best programs by name.

Once you are sure which university you want to join, your next step should be to make sure that you are eligible for that course as per that institute’s regulations. If you are deemed to be eligible, you should check out the other requirements that you will have to fulfill as a full-time or part-time student. These requirements include tuition fees and other charges. Once everything is planned out, take the step and get yourself enrolled!