Higher Certificate Entrepreneurship (Contact)

Course Code

SAQA 125247

Faculty

Business and Innovation

Accreditation

Hcert.Ent

Study options

1 Year 

Starting July 2026

Tuition from R42000

APPLY NOW

Course overview

The Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship is a one-year qualification that introduces students to the fundamentals of starting and managing a small business within South Africa’s dynamic economic landscape. The programme combines entrepreneurial thinking, design thinking, and practical business skills to help students identify opportunities, develop business ideas, and understand how ventures operate in real-world contexts. Students gain foundational knowledge in marketing, finance, communication, and business strategy while building practical skills through projects, industry engagement, and applied entrepreneurial practice.

Subjects

Readiness Before you can build something, you need to know how to show up. This subject gets you study-ready and professionally grounded, covering digital navigation, communication, design thinking, critical thinking, and personal development. It’s the foundation on which everything else builds.

Work-Integrated Learning You don’t just study entrepreneurship, you live it. Through industry exposure, a professional portfolio, and 240 hours of practical engagement, you step into the world of work ready to contribute from day one.

Entrepreneurship Foundations This is where the entrepreneurial thinking begins. You’ll explore what entrepreneurship actually means, develop your mindset, understand the business environment, and start seeing opportunities where others see problems.

Entrepreneurship Practice Theory meets action. You’ll prototype ideas, develop marketing and sales strategies, create basic financial plans, build your business plan, and bring your business idea to life.

Entrepreneurship Tools Knowing what to do is one thing; knowing which tools to use is another. This subject introduces the digital and business tools that support real entrepreneurial work, from communication platforms to project management software and AI for business.

Entrepreneurship Industry South Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape is unique, complex, and full of opportunity. This subject helps you read that landscape, understanding start-up ecosystems, funding pathways, emerging trends, and the ethical responsibilities that come with building something in the real world.

Objectives

The Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship aims to:

  • Develop foundational entrepreneurial thinking, including opportunity recognition, problem-solving, and innovation.
  • Equip students with practical business skills in areas such as marketing, financial literacy, and basic business management.
  • Introduce design thinking and human-centred approaches to identifying and solving business challenges.
  • Prepare students to develop and present viable small business ideas through business plans, feasibility studies, and marketing strategies.
  • Build communication, collaboration, and digital skills required to operate effectively in entrepreneurial and professional environments.
  • Develop ethical, responsible, and sustainable entrepreneurial practices, including awareness of the circular economy and social impact.
  • Prepare graduates to start their own ventures or contribute meaningfully to small businesses, start-ups, and creative industries.

Course details

The Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship introduces students to the fundamentals of starting and running a small business through creativity, design thinking, and innovation. Students develop practical skills in opportunity identification, marketing, financial literacy, and business planning while engaging with real-world entrepreneurial challenges. The qualification prepares graduates to launch their own ventures or contribute to start-ups and small businesses within South Africa’s evolving economic landscape.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

South African applicants

  • A National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent NQF Level 4 qualification.

Mature Age Exemption

  • We offer mature age exemption for Degrees, Diplomas, and Higher Certificates programmes as per USAf requirements.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

  • Applications from students seeking access through RPL will be considered. The RPL process is described in the Inscape Admissions Policy and Inscape RPL Application form.

International applicants

  • A foreign qualification equivalent to a South African NSC (NQF Level 4) verified by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

  • English proficiency equivalent to NQF Level 4.

  • A valid study permit in the name of Inscape Education Group for the duration of the programme for students attending contact classes.

FEES

Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship

Fees Cost
TuitionR37 500
Study PackR4 500
Pre-verificationR950*

*Pre-Verification Fee is non-refundable.

 

What’s Included in your fee?

  • Tuition
  • Software
  • Textbooks

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship are equipped with the foundational knowledge, practical skills, and entrepreneurial mindset to identify opportunities, develop innovative business ideas, and participate meaningfully in small-business environments.

They can apply design thinking, basic financial and business principles, and marketing fundamentals to conceptualise, plan, and communicate viable business solutions. Entrepreneurship graduates combine creativity with problem-solving, enabling them to contribute to start-ups, SMMEs, creative industries, or pursue their own entrepreneurial ventures.

Graduates are prepared to develop and present business ideas, create basic marketing and business plans, and apply digital tools and technologies to support business operations, communication, and growth.

Apply your knowledge and shape the future of business in roles such as:

  • Entrepreneur or Small Business Owner
  • Start-up Founder
  • Business Development Assistant
  • Marketing & Sales Assistant
  • Social Media & Digital Support for Small Business
  • Retail or Service Business Manager
  • Freelance Business Practitioner

Take your Next step

Ensuring that every active participant is challenge-ready, work-ready, life-ready and society-ready.

Please select a study option

1 Year 

Starting July 2026

Tuition from R42000

APPLY NOW