General information
The Centre for Extended Legal Studies (CELS) in the School of Law, UKZN, invites applications from candidates wishing to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Relations in 2023.
This Diploma offers an NQF level 8 qualification and is endorsed by the Labour Relations Industry, which comprises the Bargaining Councils and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). It equips students with labour dispute resolution skills and serves as an advantage should they wish to become Bargaining Council Panellists or CCMA Commissioners.
Duration
- 1 Year of full-time studies; or
- 2 Years of part-time studies
Modules
The PDIR Programme consists of eight modules and is offered part-time over 2 years (two modules per semester) or, for students who are not in full-time employment, full-time over 1 year (four modules per semester). All modules will be delivered primarily by means of online teaching, with minimal on-campus activity. Students will require a stable internet connection and a suitable device, such as a desktop or laptop, and sufficient data, provided at their own cost. Students will also need to be computer literate.
Full-time study
1st Year
- LAWS6CL Contemporary Issues in Labour Law 16C
- LAWS6LL Individual Labour Law 16C
- LAWS6CE Collective Employment Law 16C
- LAWS6LP Principles of Legal Practice 16C
- LAWS6CM Management of Conflict 16C
- LAWS6DR Labour Dispute Resolution 16C
- LAWS6PA Procedural Labour Law A 16C
- LAWS6PB Procedural Labour Law B 16C
Part-time study
1st Year
- LAWS6CL Contemporary Issues in Labour Law 16C
- LAWS6LL Individual Labour Law 16C
- LAWS6CE Collective Employment Law 16C
- LAWS6LP Principles of Legal Practice 16C
2nd Year
- LAWS6CM Management of Conflict 16C
- LAWS6DR Labour Dispute Resolution 16C
- LAWS6PA Procedural Labour Law A 16C
- LAWS6PB Procedural Labour Law B 16C
Entrance requirements
The minimum requirements are an appropriate Bachelor’s degree or one-year Advanced Diploma (NQF level 7). Places are limited, so meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Selection will be based primarily on academic merit, taking all previous qualifications into account, but relevant working experience may also be considered where appropriate.
Fees for 2023
The fees for 2023 have not yet been determined. The fee for 2022 was R4 520 per module. Please expect a 5% to 10% increase in fees for 2023.
How to apply
The following documents must be uploaded with your application:
- Certified copy of ID
- Certified copy of Matric Certificate
- Certified copy of ALL Tertiary Certificates
- Full Academic Transcripts from ALL tertiary institutions where you have studied
- Detailed CV
- Letter of motivation
- Proof of payment of application fee.
Kindly note that applications submitted with incomplete information/documentation and/or without the correct application fee cannot be considered and may result in the application being summarily declined. Please ensure that you have all necessary documents before you start the application process.
Please email any queries or requests for assistance to the Programme Administrator, Ms Kishalia Ruthnam, at RuthnamK@ukzn.ac.za
PLEASE NOTE: The PDIR programme is a Self-funded Teaching Programme and, as such, students are not eligible for NSFAS funding, financial concessions, or university residence. Students will be required to obtain financial clearance each year before registration. This will require the settlement IN FULL of any outstanding fees (an AOD will not suffice).
General information
Forensic investigation is the use of scientific and other expert methods to gather and analyse criminal evidence for the purpose of legal proceedings. Forensic investigative accounting is a specialised branch of forensic investigation, which uses intelligence-gathering techniques, together with accounting, legal, business and communication skills, to investigate and provide evidence of crimes of a financial or commercial nature, usually for the purpose of criminal or civil action, or internal disciplinary proceedings. It is a relatively new field of specialization and the demand for qualified investigators is increasing every year. The Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Justice aims to provide working professionals with the knowledge and practical skills necessary in order to specialise in this field.
The programme is offered by the School of Law, via the Centre for Extended Legal Studies, on the Howard College Campus, Durban (only). It demands a high level of theoretical engagement, intellectual independence and self-directed study.
Programme structure
The programme consists of 128 credits in total, at NQF level 8, taught on a part-time basis (only) over a two-year period. The programme is structured as follows:
1st year
[table id=14 /]
2nd year
[table id=15 /]
Programme teaching method
16 credit modules: The 16-credit modules (coursework modules) will be taught in the first year of study, by means of lectures, which will be held on weekday nights from 5.15 pm to 8.15 during the University terms. Lecture attendance is compulsory. Students will also be required to write assignments and/or tests and undertake a considerable amount of self-directed study in their own time. Final examinations will be held during working hours, in the University’s normal examination sessions.
Forensic Reporting (32 credits): In the second year of study, students will be given a case scenario revealing the commission of a commercial crime or crimes. Students will be allocated to investigation teams (problem-based groups) and each team will be required to plan and conduct a simulated investigation of the crime(s) and produce a forensic report in an acceptable
format and style, according to the conventions and standards of the profession. Teams will be required to work extensively on this report on their own, but support will be provided in the form of introductory lectures, drafting exercises with written feedback, and the assessment of preliminary drafts of the report. There will be no final examination in this module. Instead marks will be awarded for each of the various drafting exercises and preliminary drafts, as well as for the final forensic report.
Entrance requirements
The requirements are a recognised undergraduate degree, or an appropriate one-year Advanced Diploma (NQF level 7), or a CFE qualification, plus relevant working experience. Places in the programme are limited, however, and meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission. Selection will be based on academic merit, taking all previous qualifications into account.
FEES FOR 2021
The fees for 2021 have not yet been determined. The fee for 2020 was R3 950 per 16 credit module. Please expect a 5% to 10% increase in fees for 2021.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a self-funded program and as such no funding will be made available via NSFAS or other student financial aid schemes. Applicants must indicate in the letter of motivation whether their studies will be self-funded or paid via an employment bursary.
PLEASE NOTE FURTHER: as this is a part-time program, students to the program do not qualify for University Residence.
Registration and progression requirements
Once a student is accepted into the programme, the University rules require him/her to register continuously, each semester, until the qualification is complete. Students who interrupt their studies have no guarantee of readmission. Students will have a maximum of six semesters (three years) within which to complete the qualification. Students who are unable to complete it within this maximum period will be academically excluded and will have to appeal for readmission. The University rules do not allow a student to repeat a coursework module more than once. Students who fail any module for a second time will therefore be academically excluded and will have to appeal for readmission.
Closing date for applications
The closing date for applications is 30 September 2020. The following should be attached to your application form:
- Certified copy of ID
- Certified copy of Matric Certificate
- Certified copy of Tertiary Certificate(s)
- Certified copy of complete Academic Record, showing results for all previous tertiary-level studies
- Detailed CV
- Detailed letter of motivation
Applications may be made online at http://applications.ukzn.ac.za or (preferably) you may submit your application in hard copy form to Ms Helga Stiglingh at the Centre for Extended Legal Studies, Room E512, Level 5, Shepstone Building, Howard College (Durban) Campus. For application forms and further queries please contact Ms Stiglingh on (031) 260 2774 or email: StiglinghH@ukzn.ac.za.