Postgraduate Diploma in Science in the field of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Are you eager to transform technology and science research innovations into commercially successful products? Do you aspire to be a tech or deep tech entrepreneur? Then this is the one-year intensive hands-on programme for you!
Overview
This course is tailored to enable researchers and aspirant entrepreneurs to innovate and fast-track ideas to market by teaching you how to plan, build, protect, and monetise innovation. In this dynamic programme, you will acquire all the essential skills to make a success of technical innovation within a university research context, combined with entrepreneurship.
Led by the Wits Innovation Centre, and situated in a vibrant inter-disciplinary environment, the course is taught by leading experts from the Faculties of Science, Engineering, Wits Business School, and the Wits School of Business Sciences.
In this one-year intensive programme you will cover the following knowledge areas:
- Utilising Design Thinking for Successful Innovation: Learn how to apply Design Thinking to create effective solutions across various contexts.
- International Best Practices in Commercialising Research (Deep Tech Entrepreneurship): Gain insights into global standards and strategies for bringing deep tech innovations to market.
- Innovation Ecosystems in Africa and New Venture Creation in the Digital Age: Explore the unique innovation landscapes in Africa and the opportunities for digital-age entrepreneurship.
- Basics of Business for Innovators: Understand fundamental business concepts crucial for innovators and entrepreneurs.
- Communicating Innovation: Develop the skills to effectively communicate your innovations to various stakeholders.
At the heart of the programme is a year-long research project designed to help you bring research innovations to market by incorporating the proven mindsets, processes, and tools to ensure comprehensive and impactful solutions.
Curriculum
This is an intensive year-long full-time programme at the PGDip (Honours equivalent) level.
The course structure is:
- Innovation and Research Commercialisation (30 credits)
- Design Thinking and Innovation (20 credits)
- Venture Creation for Innovators (10 credits)
- Basics of Business for Innovators (10 credits)
- Communicating Innovation (10 credits)
- Research Project in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (40 credits)
Entry Requirements
- A Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of a South African NQF level 7 qualification in the fields of Science, Engineering, Health Science or Humanities.
- Motivation Letter: Entry into this programme is highly competitive so your motivation letter needs to convince us that you have what it takes to make it as an innovative technology entrepreneur!
Please note: 雷速体育_雷速体育直播s wanting to progress to an MSc in the Wits Faculty of Science following the PGDipSc will need to complete a Science Honours. For entry into Masters programmes in other Wits Faculties, a 65% minimum average will be required in the PGDipSc in order to apply to such programmes.
University Application Process
- Applications are handled centrally by the 雷速体育_雷速体育直播 Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process. Refer to Wits Postgraduate Online Applications Guide for detailed guidelines.
- Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
- Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
- Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.
Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.
International students, please check this section.
For more information, contact the 雷速体育_雷速体育直播 Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.
University Fees and Funding
Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.
For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.