Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration

PDBA
A
 Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration

accelerate your understanding of the

world of business, advance your general business
management knowledge, develop your leadership
skills and sharpen your business acumen

MESSAGE FROM THE

WITS BUSINESS SCHOOL
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR
South African case studies produced by our Case Centre

3 0 If you would like to stretch yourself, grow your career

and develop as a professional and as an individual,
the Wits Business School Postgraduate Diploma in
Faculty with PhDs Business Administration (PDBA) could be just what

95%
you are looking for.

The popular WBS PDBA is a stand-alone qualification,

but it also provides credits that count towards an MBA,
Academic articles by our faculty published every year (+/-)
should you wish to continue your studies – as many of

55 our students do! There are weeknight, Saturday and

block release programmes so that you can continue to
work while you study and have flexibility to complete the
WITS UNIVERSITY programme as it suits your lifestyle.

CONTENTS 28
A-rated Scientists
The WBS PDBA curriculum is cutting-edge and highly
relevant to our context within Africa and the socio-
economic regeneration of our country and continent.

4
Message from the Academic Director 1
The programme gives a solid foundation in all aspects of
What is a PDBA? 2
business, equipping you with the tools and confidence
When can I enrol? 2 Nobel Laureates needed to successfully manage (or start) a business.
Does the PDBA help towards an MBA? 3
Curriculum 4 As one of the oldest business schools in Africa, Wits
Business School has delivered academically rigorous
Block-Release Schedule 4
business education for more than fifty years and has
Career Development 5 graduated thousands of top business leaders.
Why Wits Business School? 5
Application process and Fees I hope to welcome you onto the PDBA programme soon.
6
Checklist 7 Prof Logan Rangasamy
Experience WBS 8 Academic Director
Alumni Testimonials 9
Contact Details 10

1
FOUNDATION
WHAT IS A PDBA?
The WBS Postgraduate Diploma in Business
Administration (PDBA) is a one-year generalist
business qualification (NFQ level 8).

WHO IS IT FOR?
The PDBA is for ambitious professionals who
wish to accelerate their management careers.
WHEN CAN I
ENROL?
WHY DO A PDBA?
• A PDBA is a part-time programme, enabling There are two intakes per year:
you to continue working while you study. • Mid-year intake (Modular Format)
• A PDBA gives you a broad understanding of • January intake (Part-time)

for
the world of business that you can leverage
for rapid career and personal growth. Applications are strictly online. As the PDBA is

success
• If you are in a specialist area, or are wanting a popular programme which receives hundreds
to switch careers, the PDBA allows you to of applications, it is always best to apply as early
build on your general business management as possible to avoid disappointment.
knowledge and leadership skills.
• It exposes students to concepts, opportunities ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
and challenges that will enhance your You may qualify if you have:
performance at work while sharpening your • A Bachelor’s degree (NQF 7).
overall business acumen. • A minimum of two years’ work experience
• A PDBA is about developing managers who • Applicants are usually required to write an
can act ethically and effectively in the entrance test and will be informed of our
management of organisations. requirements in this regard once you have
applied.
• A limited number of applicants can be
DOES THE PDBA HELP TOWARDS AN MBA? accepted without a Bachelor’s degree based
A PDBA will give you two credits towards an
on solid experience or other factors.
MBA. You will need to meet the minimum
requirements for an MBA and, in addition, obtain
a minimum of 65% average for all PDBA modules.

2 3
 A
CAREER DEVELOPMENT WHY WITS BUSINESS
SCHOOL?
a variety of career management services WB S is one of the top busin ess schools in
which we encourage our students to Africa.
participate in. It is accredited by the Association of MBAs
These include: (AMBA) and the Global Admissions Council
Career coaching, advisory and (GMAC).
employment consultation WB S is a founding member of the South
Car eer management workshops African Business School Association
Annual Career Fair (SABSA), and is a member of the Association
C V and cover letter critique and of African Business Schools (AABS).
feedback WB S is located in the heart of the vibrant
C ompany workshops and competitions commercial hub of Africa.
Graduate recruitment and networking WBS has a world-class academic faculty
events our lecturers are specialists in designing
Mock interviews transformative learning experiences for
students across all our programmes.
WB S leads the market through our relevant

CURRICULUM
and cutting-edge research and dedicated
Case Centre.

The curriculum revolves around e key themes:

COURSES

01
Quarter 1: - Strategy
- Project Management Context in Africa
- Essential Business Skills
Quarter 2: - Management and Financial Accounting Context in South Africa
- People Management

Quarter 3: - Digital Business

- Introduction to Finance
- International Business and Economics
03 Sustainability

Quarter 4: - Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial Action

- Marketing
- Business Law
05 Critical Engagement

Also available in
BLOCK
(mid-year intake) Please
see www.wbs.ac.za for the
electives & schedule.

4 5
A
PPLICATION PROCESS
• Only online applications are accepted. Complete an online
application at www.wbs.ac.za by clicking
Checklist
Online application
• Required documents at application stage are on the Checklist.
Copies of your degree
• Should your application be successful, an amount of
certificate/s
R15 000 will be payable on acceptance. This amount is
Copies of your academic
fee payable in your first year. transcripts
SAQA certificate
Deadline for applications: (Applicable to International
Check website for update qualifications)

Your CV (see application

website for more)

PDBA FEES
Fees for the PDBA for 202 are quoted as
R *
*subject to review in 202

ENQUIRIES
+27 (0)861 000 927
admissions.wbs@wits.ac.za

INTAKES
• Mid-year intake (Modular format)
•

6 7
 OUR TEACHING TEACHING PUBLIC
Spending time METHOD EXCELLENCE DIALOGUE,
in this learning Our teaching method Apart from our full- DEBATE &
is lively and interactive, time faculty, we have a DISCUSSION
environment, making extensive use number of visiting/adjunct WBS hosts regular
surrounded by of case studies which professors from other public lectures and panel
exceptional people, bring real-world business business schools around discussions on issues
challenges into the the world. Numerous guest facing South Africa and the
will provide you with classroom. lecturers bring their up- rest of the continent.
the foundation for an to-the-minute business or
extraordinary life industry knowledge into the
classroom.

I opted for a WBS PDBA as a springboard to My desire to upskill and further improve myself
There is no better time or place for you my career, and WBS created an environment is the reason why I chose to enrol for Wits
to become all that you want to be where I could achieve excellence through hard Business School’s Postgraduate Diploma in
work, perseverance and dedication. I have been Business Administration.

experience
pulled, pushed and stretched to the limit – but it The PDBA has not only equipped me with
was precisely at that point that I realised that I practical business knowledge, but it has also
am capable of more. sharpened my interpersonal and soft skills.
The PDBA gave me confidence in multiple This course has allowed me to be part of a group
disciplines and changed the way I view the of people who share a passion for exploring
world, business and those I live and work with. new ideas, and as a result it has made me into

WBS
The growth I experienced was tangible and a well-rounded person who is always ready
intoxicating, and has only intensified my hunger to take on challenges.
for knowledge. What you put in is what you The highlight of my PDBA studies was
get out! learning how to think critically about the
relationship between the economy, organi-
Patrick Klostermann
sations and individual business leaders, and
PDBA 2019
how organisations need to be managed in a
fast-changing tech world.
The confidence I gained from doing my
PDBA has changed the way I conduct business
and will lead to progression in my career. I
thoroughly enjoyed my time at WBS, and I
now have an extended network of people from
various industries which will have a profound
impact on my life and career.
Olebogeng Mataboge
PDBA 2019

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www.wbs.ac.za

WITS BUSINESS SCHOOL

The University of the Witwatersrand
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PO Box 98 Wits 2050 Johannesburg
+27 (0) 11 717 3544