ACCELERATE YOUR GROWTH AND SUCCESS

Advance your career while adding value to your organisation

The Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice is one of the most popular and sought-after programmes at the UCT GSB, with students and managers alike reporting its benefits to their organisations.
This programme is perfect for:

  • middle managers who want to enrich their careers,
  • junior  managers with proven leadership potential, or
  • specialised individuals moving into management roles.  

The modular structure of the course (four teaching blocks, with breaks in between) gives you time to implement what you learn as you learn – adding direct and immediate value to your organisation.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice is also offered in two distinct formats, beginning at different times of the year:

Face-to-face: This involves attending classes at the UCT GSB, with in-person teaching, learning and class interaction.
Live online: This format is delivered online, with students required to attend classes via virtual meeting platforms and digital resource tools.

Delegates will:

  • Develop crucial business skills needed to thrive in complex environments
  • Gain tools and techniques to be an efficient and effective manager 
  • Learn to be a leader who inspires and adds value without compromising on the bottom line.
Select Location and Delivery
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uct gsb PGDIP in Management practice overview

Learn more about the annual term dates for the UCT GSB PGDip in Management Practice programme.

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The PGDip in Management Practice comprises four core courses offered through four modules over a nine month period. Explore the programme format and delivery.

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Learn more about which attributes and qualifications are required for the UCT GSB PGDip in Management Practice.

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A step-by-step guide on how to apply for the UCT GSB PGDipin Management Practice programme.

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The PGDip in Management Practice curriculum is made up of four core courses taking place over nine months.

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The UCT GSB is committed to broadening access to postgraduate education through funding and scholarship opportunities. Explore funding options available to PGDip candidates.

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WHAT OUR ALUMNI SAY

PGDIP IN MANAGEMENT PRACTICE FORMAT AND DELIVERY

Two annual intakes, covering four thematically designed courses

The PGDip in Management Practice is a rigorous modular programme which is taken over one year. The programme covers four compulsory courses. The PGDip has two intakes annually, one in February and one in May. Both intakes cover the same curriculum, and differ only in the delivery method.

There are two intakes annually on our sought-after Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice programme:

Live Online

Duration: 9 months

Course Start Date: Friday, 24 May 2024

Block Dates:
The May intake is facilitated as a full virtual programme where all teaching classes takes place live, online. This is ideal for students who are not based in Cape Town or South Africa, or who are unable to travel to Cape Town three times over the course of the year.

  • 24 May – 2 Jun: Course 1: virtual start online in own time
  • 3 - 11 Jun: Course 1: live virtual attendance (7 days)
  • 26 Aug – 5 Sep: Course 2: live virtual attendance (9 days)
  • 11 - 19 Nov: Course 3: live virtual attendance (7 days)
  • 10 Feb 2025 (18:00 - 20:00): Course 4: non-contact
  • 7 April 2025: ALP4 due

Application Period:1 May 2023 - 30 April 2024

Course Fee:R93 810

Application Fee:2070 ZAR / 300 USD

Face-to-face

Delivery Method: Face to Face

Location:Cape Town

Duration: 9 months

Course Start Date: Saturday, 01 February 2025

Block Dates:
The February intake has a face-to-face teaching component that requires students to attend classes at the UCT GSB Breakwater campus in Cape Town three times a year for approximately 8 - 10 days.

  • 1-11 Feb: Course 1: virtual start online in own time
  • 12-20 Feb: Course 1: face to face (7 contact days)
  • 13-23 May: Course 2: face to face (9 contact days)
  • 22-30 Jul: Course 3: face to face (7 contact days)
  • 30 Sep (18:00 - 20:00) Course 4: non-contact
  • 4 Nov: Action Learning Project 4 due

Application Period:1 May - 30 November 2024

Course Fee:R 107 220

Application Fee:2070 ZAR / 300 USD

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice is practical in its emphasis. This course was specially designed to challenge students to apply their newfound knowledge and skills to real situations in companies and organisations. This means that inter-modular work is as important as what happens in the classroom during each of the 4 modules.

 Each module offers an intensive mix of lectures, group work and individual time to integrate learning, and students will need to give 100% of their time and attention to the work at hand while they are on campus. Between modules, you will need to allow sufficient time in your schedule to work on assignments and prepare for the next module.

Work throughout the course is assessed by both individual and group assignments. An individual assignment must be completed by the day before the first contact day of each module, while a group integrated case study must be submitted on the last day of each module. There are also in-class tests on some subjects. Lastly, students must work on an action learning research project that integrates and consolidates what they learn throughout the programme.

The attention paid to each student is one of the key factors that differentiates the PGDip in Management Practice from similar qualifications. In addition to support from academic faculty and staff, there is an active mentorship programme to provide academic support to current PGDip in Management Practice students while they study. The programme does this by identifying and inviting top performing alumni to volunteer their time towards the learning journey of current students.

Once you graduate from the UCT GSB you will join our alumni network which is a dynamic forum that comprises more than 23 000 past GSB students in 68 countries world-wide. Many of the GSB’s alumni hold key positions in top companies or have started their own successful businesses. Alumni play a vital role in supporting and encouraging more recent graduates to follow in their footsteps and GSB students who find employment after graduation – particularly internationally – frequently do so through alumni contacts

Faculty: ELANCA SHELLEY

MEET THE COURSE CONVENOR

DR ELANCA SHELLEY

Dr Elanca Shelley has been involved with Customised Academic Programmes since May 2007 and has over 15 years’ experience in the public sector in South Africa, mainly in the defence industry. Of this time, a significant portion was spent in the training environment. Numerous years of practical experience in management consulting have contributed to her broad range of skills in the services and government sector. She qualified with a PhD and an Executive MBA from UCT and her areas of expertise include Executive Development, Systems Thinking and Organisational Diagnostics and Design.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice (PGDip) Info Session

 Tuesday, 23 April 2024
 12:30 (GMT+2)

Join us for an information session webinar about the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice (PGDip) at the UCT Graduate School of Business

Learn more RSVP

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