Diploma: Marketing

 It is part of the Sub-Department of Marketing’s mission to instil marketing and sales skills in our graduates to support their academic talents.

Therefore, ongoing entrepreneurial exposure will be presented via successful local business people and other entrepreneurial experts.

Business principles will permeate throughout the programme on an informal basis.

The Sub-Department of Marketing also encourages students and staff to become members of the various professional and institutional bodies.

While studying towards the diploma qualification, students are encouraged to join various institutions and professional bodies.

More information is available from the Head of Department.

Students are encouraged to visit the Marketing and Sales websites for more information.

Career Opportunities

In the world of employment, marketing diplomats and graduates can work in many fields in the business environment either in private and public sectors as:

  • Key Accounts Manager
  • Marketing Executive
  • Brand Manager
  • Product Development Manager
  • Digital Marketing Manager
  • Retail and Wholesale Marketing Manager
  • Communication Manager
  • Customer Relationship Manager
  • Marketing Communication Manager
  • Research and Development Manager
  • Stakeholders Relationship Manager.

Possible Careers

In general, diplomats and graduates can work in the following branches of marketing in the business world:

Product Design and Development, Consumer Affairs, Corporate Communication and the field of marketing in the positions in:

  • Branding
  • Marketing Communication
  • Product Planning and Execution
  • Strategic Marketing Planning
  • International Business Relations
  • Global Marketing
  • Customer Relationship
  • Advertising
  • Sales Personnel
  • Sales Management.

Possible Employers

Private sector (manufacturing, service and agriculture), public sector (government departments), parastatals and non-government organisations.

Purpose of the Qualification

The purpose of the Diploma: Marketing is to enable a qualifying learner to develop and apply marketing-related plans, concepts, policies and strategies in the private and public sector and national and globally independently or under supervision in a range of marketing positions

Exit Level Outcomes of the Programme

The programme’s exit level outcomes are aimed at providing graduates with the following attributes, skills, and competencies. The qualifying student should be able to:

  • Apply the principles and techniques of marketing in different marketing contexts.
  • Apply the principles and techniques of marketing communications/promotion in different marketing contexts.
  • Apply fundamental marketing and sales related plans, concepts, principles, policies and strategies across the range of small, medium and micro-enterprises.
  • Apply legal and numeracy skills in marketing-related business scenarios.
  • Communicate marketing information effectively using different media techniques.

The graduate achieving this qualification should be able to:

  • Develop operational strategies for each of the elements of the marketing mix.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between economic principles and marketing.

 Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

This qualification promotes, in particular, the following critical cross-field outcomes:

  • Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.
  • Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation and community.
  • Organise and manage oneself and one’s activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Collect analyse, organise and critically evaluating information.

Minimum Requirements

National Senior Certificate (NSC)

APS: 30

  • NSC achievement rating of at least 3 (40-49%) for English as a Home Language or First Additional Language level
  • NSC achievement rating of at least 3 (40-49%) for Mathematics (not Mathematics Literacy)
  • NSC achievement rating of at least 3 (40-49%) for Physical Sciences
  • Accounting, Economics & Business Economics
  • Minimum statutory NSC requirements for diploma entry must be met.
  • Applicants are required to participate in National Benchmarking and SATAPS Tests

Grade 12/Matric

Senior Certificate Requirement: A D and E-symbol for English (2nd language) on the Higher Grade. In addition, an E-symbol on the Higher Grade or an E-symbol on the Standard Grade for Mathematics, Mathematics Literacy, Accounting and Business Economics 

TVET Colleges

National Certificate Requirement

An N3 certificate with C-symbols for at least four subjects including Mathematics and Marketing or a D-symbol at N4 level as well as the language requirements as specified for the Senior Certificate.

National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4

Requirements as defined in Government Gazette 32743 dated 26 November 2009 with specific requirements as set out below:

  • Must meet NC(V) Level 4 statutory requirements
  • Must obtain 50% in the three fundamental subjects which in the case of this programme are required to be:
    • English, as it is the university’s language of learning and teaching (LOTL)
    • Mathematics (not Mathematics Literacy)
    • Life Orientation
    • 50% in Accounting
    • 60% for three of the following compulsory vocational modules (in any combination): English, Accounting and Business.
  • All NC(V) 4 applicants are required to participate and perform satisfactorily in the Placement Tests (SATAPS/NBTs) as conducted by the Department

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL may be used to demonstrate competence for admission to this programme.

 This qualification may be achieved in part through recognition of prior learning processes. Credits achieved by RPL must not exceed 50% of the total credits and must not include credits at the exit level.

The provision that the qualification may be obtained through the Recognition of Prior Learning facilitates access to education, training and a career path in marketing and accelerates the redress of past unfair discrimination in education, training and employment opportunities.

Evidence of prior learning must be assessed through formal RPL processes through recognised methods. Any other evidence of prior learning should be assessed through formal RPL processes to recognise achievement thereof.

Learners submitting themselves for RPL should be thoroughly briefed prior to the assessment and will be required to submit a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) in the prescribed format to be assessed for formal recognition.

While this is primarily a workplace-based qualification, evidence from other areas of learning may be introduced if pertinent to any of the Exit Level Outcomes (ELOs).

The structure of this non-unit standard based qualification makes RPL possible if the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this first stage marketing qualification.

Learners who already work in the marketing industry who believe they possess competencies to enable them to meet some or all of the ELOs listed in the qualification will be able to present themselves for assessment against those of their choice.

International Students

Applications from international students are considered in terms of:

  • Universities South Africa (Usaf)/Institutional Guidelines
  • Institutional equivalence reference document
  • Where required, submission of international qualification to SAQA for benchmarking in terms of HEQF.

Mature Age Endorsement

Refer to requirements as per WSU’s General Rules & Regulations – Section 1.6.

Curriculum and Other Details

For these and other details, download a copy of the 2021 Buffalo City Faculty of Business Sciences prospectus.