How Long Does it Take to Study Business Management?

Business management is an exciting subject that allows graduates to work in various roles and sectors. A business management graduate can find a job in retail, e-commerce, tech companies, and even the agricultural sector. This is because all companies need the expertise and knowledge of business management graduates to help them expand and maximise profits.

Students can choose from various programme types depending on the expertise they wish to gain and the career they wish to pursue. If you are wondering how long does it take to study business management, the simple answer is that it varies. This is because business management qualifications are offered at higher certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. Each qualification has its own set of eligibility criteria which candidates need to meet for acceptance into the programme.

This article will introduce readers to the different types of business management programmes available in South Africa, how long does it take to study business management, and the career paths available.

Table of Contents

Types of Business Management Qualifications in South Africa

A business management qualification at the undergraduate or certificate level helps to lay the foundation for how businesses operate. The technical skills and knowledge students gain in the classroom can teach them how to manage various aspects of a business, such as finance or marketing.

These, combined with the soft skills they gain during practical experience, help mould them into successful managers who guide companies to optimise and generate higher profits. Let us break down the various qualifications available and clarify how long does it take to study business management with each.

Higher Certificate in Business Management

Regenesys Business School offers a Higher Certificate in Business Management (HCBM)

Duration: 1 year
Qualification: Matric with certificate or diploma pass
Credits: 125
Overview: Students study 5 compulsory subjects and can choose an additional 2 electives. This accredited programme covers the basic foundation of business management. Students can choose from offline and online classes.

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management

Regenesys Business School offers a Bachelor of Business Administration

Duration: 3 years
Qualification: Matric with Bachelor pass, an NQF level 4 equivalent, or an NQF level 5 qualification from an accredited institute
Credits: 365
Overview: This structured programme is taught by industry experts, and students have a chance to network and build leadership skills. This accredited programme offers offline and online classes.

Postgraduate Business Management Qualifications

A postgraduate degree is an advanced qualification that requires students to have completed an undergraduate degree. Postgraduate programmes build on the foundation that undergraduate programmes offer and allow students to pick a specialisation. This allows them to advance from general management positions to specific leadership roles such as Country Marketing Manager. The postgraduate qualifications that applicants choose also define how long does it take to study business management.

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management

Regenesys Business School offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management

Duration: 1 year
Qualification: 3 year bachelor’s qualification or an NQF level 7 equivalent. Additionally, candidates require relevant work experience.
Credits: 125
Overview: This programme offers a general understanding of the core business principles. It requires students to have professional experience so that they can relate the theoretical concepts to practical situations.

Master’s Degree in Business Management (MBA)

Regenesys Business School offers a Master of Business Administration

Duration: 2 years
Qualification: Relevant postgraduate qualification or a NQF level 8 equivalent. Additionally, candidates require relevant work experience.
Credits: 230
Overview: This programme is designed to mould leaders out of managers. It allows students to practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills during class discussions and group projects. The programme’s second year is dedicated to electives and a 45-credit dissertation. This accredited programme offers offline and online classes.

Mode of Study and Its Impact on Duration

In addition to qualification, another factor that determines how long does it take to study business management is the mode of study. Students can choose from full-time, evening, weekend, and online classes.

Most advanced educational qualifications have a set time for completing a course when students are enroled full-time or part-time. This is because the lecture timings are set, and students need to meet a defined number of credits each semester. Additionally, students need to match their study pace with their peers to remain competitive. Students who choose full-time programmes have lectures distributed over the week and have ample time to complete coursework and projects.

On the other hand, part-time students usually have classes in the evenings or on weekends. This allows part-time students to balance their qualifications with work and family commitments. Part-time programmes take longer because students enrol in fewer credits each semester.

Online programmes offer students the flexibility to study while working or caring for their families. At the same time, they are designed to match the pace of the full-time programmes. Individuals who wish to balance other obligations with their advanced qualifications can choose to enrol in one of the many business management programmes offered at Regenesys Business School.

Work-Integrated Learning and Its Effect on Duration

Work-integrated learning is an experimental teaching method that allows students to gain practical experience and credit points by implementing their theoretical knowledge in real workplace situations. The work experience is integrated into the academic programme and can be paid or un-paid. Unlike an internship, which usually takes place over the summer, work-integrated learning is longer and completed during the semester.

So, how long does it take to study business management with work-integrated learning? The response would be that it varies depending on the company offering the position and the scope of work.

It allows students to gain relevant work experience and develop skills necessary for business management roles. This will also boost their resumes when they apply for full-time employment after their qualification. At the same time, students enroled in a work-integrated learning programme will take longer to graduate.

Comparison of Study Duration by Qualification Level

When applying for a higher education qualification, individuals must decide their study purpose and future career goals. They might also need to consider additional factors such as work and family commitments and financial needs before choosing a qualification and study mode that best suits their needs.

Let us look at the different qualifications available and the mode of study available at Regenesys to understand how long does it take to study business management in South Africa.

Qualification	Contact (years)	Online (years)	NQF Level
Higher Certificate	1	1	5
Bachelor’s	3	3	7
Postgraduate Diploma	1	1	8
MBA	2	2	9

Career Prospects Based on Qualification Level

Students gain expertise depending on the qualification level they choose for their business management studies. These also factor in when trying to determine how long does it take to study business management, as each qualification takes a different time frame to complete.

As students complete higher qualification levels, they undertake specialised subjects that prepare them to lead particular departments. They can also choose to pursue advanced qualifications that are focused on a particular sector, for example, the Higher Certificate in Business Management in Retail Management offered by the Regenesys Business School.

Let us examine the various career prospects available for different business management qualifications.

Higher Certificate Holders: This certificate qualification can lead students to apply for entry-level jobs such as office administrator and customer relations officer.
Bachelor’s Degree Graduates:This certificate qualification can lead students to apply for positions such as HR Manager, business analyst, and consultant.
Postgraduate Diploma: This diploma qualification allows students to prosper in specific management roles, such as sales manager or account manager.
MBA Graduates: This certificate qualification can lead students to apply for prestigious positions such as director of business and global business manager. The teachings from this programme can also be the catalyst for becoming entrepreneurs.

Conclusion

Business management studies prepare students to take leadership roles in organisations. The programme curriculum is designed to engage students interactively and allow them to display problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. The various qualifications offer different levels of understanding of the subject matter. They are also of varying length and offer different modes of study, which helps define how many years does it take to study business management.

If you are interested in pursuing business management, do check out Regenesys for a variety of certificate, undergraduate, and postgraduate programmes.