BEd Foundation Phase 

Overview
The Bachelor of Education (BEd) in Foundation Phase Teaching is a four-year undergraduate programme that prepares you to teach learners in Grades R to 3. Situated within the broader field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) (birth to nine years), the programme equips you with specialised disciplinary knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and practical competencies required to navigate the informal nature of Grade R and the more formal foundational education of Grades 1–3.

Upon completion, you will be a professionally qualified Foundation Phase teacher, able to work in a wide range of educational settings, including public, independent, and special schools, and across diverse curriculum frameworks, both national and international. You will be equipped to respond to educational changes and challenges in an ethical, professional, and informed manner.

Career opportunities
In addition to Foundation Phase teaching, the following careers may be considered: 

• Early Childhood Education (ECE):  including Grade R classes, ECE centres, and roles in non-governmental and non-profit organisations (NGOs/NPOs) focused on early childhood, offering early learning programmes, practitioner training, parental support, and resource provision.
• Leadership and support roles in primary schools, such as Foundation Phase subject advisor, phase leader, or head of department, typically following relevant experience and further study.
• Roles within government (education departments) and education sectors, contributing to curriculum development, policy work, programme design, or teacher support initiatives.
• Self‑employment pathways, including establishing ECE centres, designing and offering stimulation programmes, developing educational materials, or working as an education consultant.
• Opportunities to specialise as a learning support teacher.
• Access to postgraduate study (BEd Honours, Master’s, Doctoral programmes), opening careers in academia, educational research, and educational leadership.

The programme is aligned with international qualifications in Early Childhood or Early Years Education, enabling graduates to pursue teaching opportunities in countries with comparable four-year initial teacher education programmes for kindergarten and elementary education.

Articulation 
The BEd Foundation Phase Teaching programme is an initial teacher education qualification that exits at NQF Level 7. 

The degree provides access to a range of Bachelor of Education Honours (NQF Level 8) programmes at Stellenbosch University and other institutions.
Successful completion of an Honours qualification enables progression to Master’s studies (NQF Level 9), and thereafter to Doctoral studies (NQF Level 10).

Programme Content

The four‑year programme consists entirely of compulsory modules designed to develop both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to teach in the Foundation Phase (Grades R–3).

Modules Included in the Programme

Information and Communication Technology

• Information Communication Technologies for Learning (ICT)

Languages

(Students select from)

• English
• Afrikaans
• isiXhosa
• South African Sign Language

Note: All students study two languages - selected from Afrikaans, English, or isiXhosa - at either a first‑ or second‑language level for the full duration of the programme. In the third year, students also take a third additional communicative language.

Education Studies

• Becoming a Teacher
• Development and Learning
• Education Policy and Management
• Sociology of Education
• Addressing Diverse Learning Needs
• Philosophy of Education

Foundation Phase Teaching

• Mathematics Education (Foundation Phase)
• Language Education (Foundation Phase)
• Life Skills Education (Foundation Phase)
• Grade R Theory and Practice

Practical Learning

• Practical Learning is integrated throughout all four years, ensuring progressive, school‑based experience. 

Selection
• Applications close on 30 July
• A total of 125 places are available for Foundation Phase students

Admission Requirements
• A minimum aggregate of 60% in the NSC, IEB, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation)
• Mathematics: at least 40% or Mathematical Literacy: at least 60%

Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements based on their language of learning and teaching:

Learners who received instruction through English medium:
• English Home Language: at least 60%
• Afrikaans or isiXhosa (Home Language or First Additional Language): at least 50%

Learners who received instruction through Afrikaans medium:
• Afrikaans Home Language: at least 60%
• English or isiXhosa (Home Language or First Additional Language): at least 50%

Learners who received instruction through isiXhosa medium:
• isiXhosa Home Language: at least 60%
• English or Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language): at least 50%

Applicants with the old Matriculation Certificate (pre-2008):
Please contact the Client Services Centre at 021 808 9111 for the relevant admission requirements.

Programme coordinator 2026:

Dr Zelda Barends
[email protected]

BEd Intermediate Phase 

This four-year full-time BEd programme prepares you to teach learners in the Intermediate Phase. You specialise in two school subjects and two languages, and the programme covers the theory and practice of all learning programmes from Grade 4 to 6.

Programme content

The programme has a set structure consisting of academic and professional modules. Practical Learning forms an important part of the programme from the first year onwards. All students take two languages as teaching specialisations (chosen from Afrikaans, English or isiXhosa) on Home Language or Additional Language level throughout all four years of study. A third communicative language is taken in the third year of study.

In the first year of study, Mathematics Education is compulsory for all BEd students. You therefore take Mathematics Education together with Becoming a Teacher, Introduction to Language Education, and two other subject specialisations from the following:

• Life Skills
• Natural Sciences (Ed)
• Social Sciences (Ed)

See the prerequisite requirements for these subjects below.

In the second to fourth years of study, you continue with only two specialisation areas. Please note: To continue with Mathematics as a subject specialisation from your second year, you must pass Mathematics Education with a final mark of at least 60% in your first year.

Other compulsory modules include:

• Information Communication Technologies for Learning (ICT)
• Language Education: Core Module
• Development and Learning
• Addressing Diverse Learning Needs
• Education Policy and Management
• Educational Evaluation and Research
• Sociology of Education
• Philosophy of Education

Since this programme culminates in a degree, it gives you access to the Faculty's postgraduate programmes up to doctoral level.

Further study opportunities

You may specialise further in curriculum inquiry, language education, educational support or education policy by completing one of the Faculty's BEdHons programmes:

• BEdHons (Curriculum Inquiry)
• BEdHons (Educational Support)
• BEdHons (Education Development and Democracy)
• BEdHons (Language Education)

From there, you can pursue further specialisation at MEd and doctoral level.

Prerequisite requirements for your chosen subject specialisations

Natural Sciences (Ed)

• A minimum of 50% for Life Sciences OR Physical Sciences in Grade 12

Social Sciences (Ed)

• A minimum of 50% for History OR Geography in Grade 12

Life Skills

• No prerequisites apply (all students may follow this subject)

Selection

• Applications close on 30 June
• Only a limited number of students are admitted to the programme
• Admission requirements for applicants who wrote the NSC or IEB

An NSC or IEB average of at least 60% (excluding Life Orientation)

Mathematics 40% OR Mathematical Literacy 60%

AND

Learners who were taught through the medium of Afrikaans:

• Afrikaans Home Language 60% AND
• English OR isiXhosa (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%

OR

Learners who were taught through the medium of English:

• English Home Language 60% AND
• Afrikaans OR isiXhosa (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%

OR

Learners who were taught through the medium of isiXhosa:

• IsiXhosa Home Language 60% AND
• English OR Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%

The BEd (Intermediate Phase Education) has further admission requirements depending on the school subjects you wish to teach:

If you choose Natural Sciences (Ed):

• Life Sciences or Physical Sciences 50%

If you choose Social Sciences (Ed):

• History or Geography 50%

Admission requirements for applicants presenting the old Matriculation Certificate

For the admission requirements relating to the old Matriculation Certificate (prior to 2008), contact our Client Services Centre at 021 808 9111.

PROGRAMME COORDINATOR 2026:

Dr Elzahn Rinquest

[email protected]