UNISA Diploma in Law 2025/2026

UNISA Diploma in Law 2025/2026

UNISA Diploma in Law Outline. Below is a piece of constructive information on the UNISA Diploma in Law offered in the 2025/2026 Academic year.

Diploma in Law is one of the best courses offered by the University of South Africa (UNISA). Details required to apply to study Diploma in Law at UNISA can be found in the 2025/2026 UNISA Prospectus.

Applicants should carefully read the UNISA Law Requirements before they apply for the 2025/2026 UNISA Online Application.

Continue Students should Login to myUNISA.

UNISA Diploma in Law

Qualification code:98750
NQF level:6
Total credits:360
SAQA ID:79446
APS/AS:18

UNISA Diploma in Law Rules:

Students should note that during the course of their studies they would be required to have access to a computer, printer and the internet.

UNISA Diploma in Law Purpose statement:

The purpose of this qualification is for students to gain knowledge, skills and experience in general areas of the law and the application and social context of the law so as to enable the student to provide primary legal services to the public and support to legal professionals. A student acquiring this qualification will have skills, knowledge and experience to Apply advanced paralegal knowledge and understanding of law to a specific problem within the South African legal context; Conduct and evaluate legal research and make recommendations based on the findings of the research; Communicate, in writing or orally with internal and external clients in a paralegal or legal workplace; Advice, counsel and represent clients in a variety of settings; Draft legal documents in a paralegal context; Solve problems in a paralegal context by working in a team and individually; Manage administration, including financial administration, and provide organisational support in an office environment; Exercise ethical conduct, values and professionalism when dealing with clients.

This qualification will be presented using both online and distance learning modes.

Who can register?

  • Applicants may only register once they have received confirmation from Unisa that their application for admission has been accepted. Unisa reserves the right to not process and/or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification. Admission to the alternative qualification is not automatic. It will depend on whether you comply with admission requirements and if space is available.
  • Re-registering students may register for the 2021 academic year once the registration period opens.

Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.

How to choose your modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a certain amount of time in order to graduate.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits/modules per academic year and/or semester:

  • For the 2021 academic year, you must register for your semester 1 and 2 modules by 12 March 2021. There will be no semester 2 registration period. No exceptions or registration extensions will be permitted.
  • The maximum number of credits that will be allowed is 120 credits.

The maximum number of credits do not include supplementary and/or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately

  • 6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
  • 4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Click here for more information on managing your studies.

UNISA Diploma in Law Curriculum for this qualification

As you are deciding on the modules you will be registering for, remember to write down the module names and codes so that you have something that you can refer to when completing your registration.

First level in UNISA Diploma in Law

RULES on NQF-level 5:

Students who have already passed EUP1501 or SCL1502 for this qualification will retain the credit
and do not have to register for IRM1501. This does not mean the modules are equivalent.

ModulePre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
BWE1501 – Business Practice and Workplace EthicsRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501 and ILW1501
CPD1501 – Citizenship, Public Participation and Democracy
CRW1501 – Introduction to the General Principles of Criminal Law
ENN1504 – Practising Workplace English
ILW1501 – Introduction to Law
IRM1501 – Introduction to Research Methodology for Law and Criminal Justice
PAR1501 – Introduction to Paralegal StudiesRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501 and ILW1501.
PVL1501 – Law of Persons
SCL1501 – Skills Course for Law Students
SJD1501 – Social Dimensions of Justice

Second level in UNISA Diploma in Law

ModulePre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
ADL2601 – Administrative LawPre-requisite:ILW1501 & SJD1501 (Not applicable to 02291, 99303, 99304 & 99311)
FBE2604 – Forms of Business EnterpriseRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501 and ILW1501
IND2601 – African Customary LawPre-requisite:ILW1501 & PLS1502 (PLS1502 – not applicable to 98750, but only until 2021)
IOS2601 – Interpretation of StatutesPre-requisite:ILW1501 (Not applicable to 98318, 99303 & 99304)
LEG2601 – Legal Aspects of Environmental Management
LLW2601 – Individual Labour Law
LLW2602 – Collective Labour Law
LSB2605 – Legal Aspects of Small BusinessesRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501 and ILW1501
PAC2602 – Paralegal Advice CentreRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501 & ILW1501
PVL2601 – Family LawPre-requisite:ILW1501 & PVL1501 (PVL1501 not applicable to 98681)
PVL2602 – Law of SuccessionPre-requisite:ILW1501 & PVL1501
SSL2601 – Social Security Law

Third level in UNISA Diploma in Law

RULES on NQF level 7

Students who have already passed EVI3701 for this qualification will retain the credit
and do not have to register for LEV3701. This does not mean the modules are equivalent.

ModulePre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
COL3704 – Consumer LawRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501 & ILW1501
EDL3703 – Education LawRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501, ILW1501 & ADL2601
HIL3705 – HIV/AIDS and the LawRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501 & ILW1501
LAH3701 – Land and HousingRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on ADL2601
LEV3701 – Law of EvidencePre-requisite:SJD1501 & CRW2601 (CRW2601 – not applicable to 98220, 98681 & 98750)
LGL3702 – Local Government LawRecommendation:Should be taken together with or follow on SCL1501, ILW1501 and ADL2601
PVL3702 – Law of ContractPre-requisite:PVL2601 & PVL2602
PVL3703 – Law of DelictPre-requisite:PVL2601 & PVL2602