It is a three-year, fully online TUT qualification that equips you with the skills and knowledge to thrive in modern retail. You will cover retailing, supply chain management, consumer behaviour, financial management, and professional selling, combining business fundamentals with practical retail insights. If you want a career that blends customer focus, operational excellence and data-driven decisions, this diploma gives you a strong, workplace-ready foundation.

The curriculum blends retail-specific depth (merchandising, operations, buying, and supply chain) with core business capabilities (finance, law, communication, and computer and information literacy). You will also develop personal effectiveness through life skills modules (e.g., time management, conflict resolution, health and wellness). The result is a practical, well-rounded pathway designed for real retail environments, delivered fully online for maximum flexibility.

The programme comprises 32 modules totalling 360 credits. You progress from foundational subjects (communication, computer and information literacy, retailing, accounting, consumer behaviour) to advanced retail strategy, operations, buying, supply chain, finance for retailers, and retail law.

Yes, some modules require prescribed textbooks. For example: Retailing I uses Retail Management: A South African Perspective (Terblanche et al.); Retail Operations Management II uses Introduction to Business Management (Erasmus et al.); Professional Selling I uses Personal Selling (Cant & Drotsky). You will be informed of the editions and purchase links, allowing you to plan accordingly.

You can qualify with a Senior Certificate (pre-2008) and APS 24 (excluding Life Orientation); or a National Senior Certificate (post-2008) with bachelor’s/diploma endorsement, English 4, Mathematics/Technical Maths 3 (or Maths Literacy 4), and APS 24; or an NCV (NQF 4) meeting listed subject-level requirements and APS 24. Full details are on the programme page under Admission Requirements.

Yes. Applicants with APS 22 or 23 may still be considered, but you may be required to complete an assessment before admission is confirmed. This ensures you are ready to succeed in an online, university-level retail curriculum.

The total fees can be viewed HERE. The cost for a particular module is payable at the start of each module and is subject to an annual increase. Always check the latest figures on the page when you are ready to apply.

You pay per module: payment must be received by the module’s payment deadline to register and start that module. This helps you spread the costs of your studies while keeping your progress on track.

Yes. The programme is FULLY ONLINE, so you can study from anywhere. Each module builds towards real-world retail competence, covering everything from notes and presentations in communication modules to strategy, merchandising, operations and finance in retail-specific modules.

You will need a laptop or desktop computer, a stable internet connection, and a basic understanding of computer literacy. There are prescribed textbooks for specific modules, allowing you to budget and prepare in advance. If you have any questions before applying, please get in touch with us using the details provided on this page.

Expect practical, job-ready capability: managing retail operations, building business plans, understanding consumer decision-making, and applying merchandising, inventory control and strategic retailing. You will also gain an understanding of key legal and financial aspects (e.g., the Consumer Protection Act, contract law, and retail financial planning) and strengthen your professional communication, information literacy, and life skills.

The mix of retail-specialist subjects and business fundamentals prepares you to contribute from day one, across store operations, merchandising, buying, supply chain and customer-focused roles. The emphasis on practical application and South African retail realities means you will be ready to add value in diverse retail settings.

There are six start dates a year for this programme, meaning you can apply and start when you are ready.

The diploma is designed to be completed over three years and comprises 32 modules (a total of 360 credits). This provides a clear, structured pathway from foundations to advanced retail management topics, allowing you to build capability steadily while balancing other commitments.