• A candidate must have complied with all the requirements of a bachelor’s degree (or an approved diploma of minimum 360 credits at NQF level 6) from a public or private higher education institution accredited by a recognised local or foreign accrediting body before the beginning of the academic year for which he/she has been selected. The prior bachelor’s degree (or approved national diploma) must provide a broad knowledge base adequate for teaching in the intermediate phase (IP) i.e., English, Afrikaans and two IP teaching subjects, at NQF level 6 (university degree studies at second-year level). The IP teaching subjects are mathematics, science and technology, social science and life skills
• Conversational competency in an official African language (Conversational isiXhosa is offered as a 5-credit module for those without this competency)
• Holders of multidisciplinary degrees (or approved diplomas) without a focus in a single field related to teaching could be allowed into the programme, provided that the disciplines underpin the learning requirements for the IP and the subjects to be taught are taken to at least NQF level 6 (with a minimum of 30 credit weighting over a minimum of two semesters)
• Holders of focused degrees (or approved diplomas) that lack an adequately broad knowledge base or an adequate specialisation in IP subjects may be required to enrol simultaneously in teaching subjects (minimum NQF 6) whilst enrolling for the PGCE IP.
• See below for the subjects offered at Cornerstone that can be taken to meet entrance requirements, if necessary.

Your Acceptance Letter may indicate that you must complete some of the modules below to meet the PGCE admission requirements. You can complete them simultaneously with your PGCE modules. They do not form part of the PGCE, and therefore do not count towards the required PGCE credits above.

For admission to the language modules required for the PGCE, you must have taken the language in your National Senior Certificate, either as a Home Language or First Additional Language. For example, to enrol in Afrikaans A and B, you need Afrikaans as either a Home Language or First Additional Language in your National Senior Certificate.

For admission into English Didactics, select:

• English Language Studies
• English Literary Studies: An Introduction

For admission into Afrikaans Didactics, select:

• Afrikaans A
• Afrikaans B For admission into IsiXhosa Didactics, select:
• IsiXhosa A
• IsiXhosa B

For admission to isiXhosa First Additional Language Didactics, the following is required:

• Prospective students are required to have isiXhosa at NQF level 5 and 6 (minimum of 30 credits over two semesters) in their undergraduate degree
• Prospective Students are required to have IsiXhosa Home Language or First Additional Language at an NQF 4 to qualify for isiXhosa at NQF level 5

For admission into Mathematics Didactics, students must demonstrate the required minimum subject content and knowledge in Mathematics or alternatively in Statistics:

• Statistics for Education
• Maths for Education

For admission into Life Skills Didactics, students need to have a total of at least 30 credits from both NQF 5 and NQF 6 levels in subjects Psychology and Sociology or Philosophy. They are expected to showcase a solid understanding of subject matter and expertise in a minimum of two areas, with Psychology being one of the mandatory fields. Alternatively, the following subjects in the BA over two semesters:

• Psychology
• Sociology

No subjects are offered at Cornerstone in the field of Social Science Didactics and Science and Technology Didactics.

Students who have completed this qualification should be able to:

• Demonstrate competence in reading, writing and speaking the language/s of instruction in ways that facilitate their own academic learning and learning in their classrooms 
• Demonstrate competence in interpreting and using numerical and elementary statistical knowledge to facilitate their own academic learning, and manage teaching, learning and assessment
• Demonstrate competence regarding the knowledge base underpinning the learning areas or subjects they will be teaching
• In their area/s of specialisation (intermediate phase and subject/learning area), demonstrate competence in planning, designing, and reflecting on learning programmes appropriate for their learners and learning context
• In their area of specialisation, demonstrate competence in selecting, using and adjusting teaching and learning strategies in ways that meet the needs of learners and the context
• Demonstrate competence in managing and administering learning environments and supporting learners in ways that are sensitive, stimulating, democratic and well organised
• Demonstrate competence in monitoring and assessing learner progress and achievement in their specialisation
• Demonstrate that they can function responsibly within the education system, the institution where they are working, and the community in which the institution is located
• Demonstrate a respect for and commitment to the educator profession.