Stellenbosch University
Postgraduate Diploma in Futures Studies
Stellenbosch, South Africa
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2025
TUITION FEES
ZAR 109,648 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
Introduction
Acquire strategic foresight to make long-range decisions
Our internationally accredited PGDip Futures Studies will help you understand the forces and trends that shape the future, and the nature of global change. This will enable you to manage long-term organisational strategies aimed at designing the ideal future. The programme will also equip you with high-level competencies to react meaningfully to growing complexity in the organisational environment while taking Africa and South Africa’s developmental challenges into account. This will allow you to mitigate risks and leverage opportunities.
A transformative learning experience awaits you – particularly if you see your future self as a strategist, long-range decision-maker, manager or leader. It is the only programme of its kind presented in Africa and one of only a few in the world.
What is Futures Studies?
Futures Studies are not about predicting the future, but rather about understanding how various futures will unfold. It analyses the interaction between a wide range of variables or forces and distils from these forces those issues that will affect the future of a country, government, entity or individual. It studies the world of economics, politics, technology, demography, social values and other subject fields, both locally and globally.
It equips decision-makers with ways to deal with change and to make the right decisions to survive but preferably thrive in a changing world. Futures Studies is about acquiring strategic foresight to make long-range decisions to mitigate risks and identify opportunities.
Ways in which you can make this programme work for you
- Choose between two streams: We offer the PGDip Futures Studies with generalist modules for those involved in strategic long-term planning, and the PGDip Futures Studies stream in Managing New Technologies (MNT) for those involved in planning their organisations’ technological future.
- Choose between two formats and duration options: The flexible design of the programme allows you to choose the format (blended learning or modular) and duration (1 year or 2 years), making it easier for you to study while you work.
- Invest in your career path: Passed at a certain level, this PGDip can give you access to these programmes at the Business School: MPhil Futures Studies, MBA, or MPhil Leadership Coaching.
Ideal Students
PGDip Futures Studies with Generalist modules
Futures Studies serves the needs of individuals, groups, organisations and governments that wish to gain an understanding of possible changes in their long-term future and to respond accordingly. This is particularly important in light of Africa’s and South Africa’s imperative to raise the quality of life. This, in turn, requires the development of individuals and institutions with a holistic understanding of the social, ethical, political, technical and economic forces shaping the future. Hence, the programme is aimed at:
- Strategic planners, managing directors, CEOs and anybody involved in strategic planning over five to 20 years and longer
- Anyone who wants to play a role in creating a better future for South Africa and Africa.
PGDip Futures Studies stream in Managing New Technologies (MNT)
This programme is aimed at those who need to take the management of new technologies into account in longer-term planning. The skill set acquired through this programme will add value to managers in any industry. This includes those working in IT, management and consulting, entertainment or the creative industries, education, and financial services. This programme will therefore benefit:
- Leaders, managers, strategic planners and consultants involved in companies, divisions, start-ups, projects, or networks of gig workers
- Those involved in long-term decisions regarding the adoption of new technologies for strategic gain
- Those who want to play a significant role in creating a time horizon of a better future for South Africa and for Africa.
Admissions
Curriculum
PGDip Futures Studies with Generalist modules
The modules of the PGDip Futures Studies are split into a foundation phase (covering skills, frameworks and tools you can apply in any field of work) and a specialisation phase (programme-specific modules).
You need to do 4 of the following 5 foundation phase modules:
- Term 1: Understanding the World (compulsory)
- Term 2: Responsible Leadership (compulsory)
- Term 3: Thinking Frameworks (compulsory)
- Term 4: Organisational Behaviour OR Managing Risk and Uncertainty
Next, you need to do the 4 modules of the specialisation phase:
- Term 1: Principles of Futures Studies
- Term 2: The Future of Technology
- Term 3: Measuring and Making the Future
- Term 4: Futures Studies in Practice
PGDip Futures Studies stream in Managing New Technologies (MNT)
The modules of the PGDip Futures Studies are split into a foundation phase (covering skills, frameworks and tools you can apply in any field of work) and a specialisation phase (stream-specific modules).
You need to do 4 of the following 5 foundation phase modules:
- Term 1: Understanding the World (compulsory)
- Term 2: Responsible Leadership (compulsory)
- Term 3: Thinking Frameworks (compulsory)
- Term 4: Organisational Behaviour OR Managing Risk and Uncertainty
Next, you need to do the 4 stream-specific modules of the specialisation phase:
- Term 1: Management of Technology and Innovation (15 credits)
- Term 2: The Future of Technology (15 credits)
- Term 3: New Technologies Taxonomy (15 credits)
- Term 4: Managing New Technologies Capstone (15 credits)
Program delivery
Choose between two formats
At Stellenbosch Business School we put a strong premium on face-to-face interaction, regardless of whether you attend classes in person or virtually.
Blended Learning classes
Late-afternoon classes once every week for those doing their PGDip over 1 year, or once every fortnight for those doing their PGDip over 2 years. The blended learning classes are presented from the Business School’s Hyflex classrooms. You can choose to attend the compulsory classes online, or in person on campus from the Hyflex classrooms. The online classes are presented synchronously with the on-campus classes.
The specialisation modules and foundation modules alternate weekly. This means one week of foundation modules is followed by one week of specialisation modules. The specialisation modules are presented on Wednesday afternoons from 16:00 till 20:15 (short break included), while the foundation modules are presented on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 16:00 to 20:15 (short break included).
The advantages of blended learning include:
- Flexibility: Study while you work with the flexibility of digital class attendance, which means minimum time away from work.
- Less travel: The blended learning delivery option opens up access to students from elsewhere in South Africa, from other African countries and even further afield. It also lowers the opportunity cost to do this programme with us as it reduces travel and accommodation costs.
Modular classes
Four full blocks of classes spread over the year if you are doing the 1-year PGDip (i.e. morning and afternoon classes from Monday to Friday), or four blocks of either morning or afternoon classes per year if you are doing the two-year PGDip (i.e. morning or afternoon classes from Monday to Friday).
The advantages of modular classes include:
- Flexibility: Study while you work, with in-class experience and focused studies.
- An immersive experience: Being on campus for a week at a time allows you to focus on your studies without interruption from work. Working with your classmates in a face-to-face environment adds another dimension to collaborative (peer-to-peer) learning and network building.
Choose between two duration options
1-year PGDip
Delivery mode for all modules (foundation and specialisation):
- Blended learning format: 1 late afternoon session per week for 40 weeks + 4 weeks of assessments OR
- Modular format: 4 full modular blocks spread over the year (i.e., mornings and afternoons)
2-year PGDip
Delivery of foundation modules in Year 1:
- Blended learning format: 1 late afternoon session every second week OR
- Modular format: 4 block weeks per year with classes either in the morning or the afternoon
Delivery of specialisation modules in Year 2:
- Blended learning format: 1 late afternoon session every second week OR
- Modular format: 4 block weeks per year with classes either in the morning or the afternoon
Notes:
- Each modular block runs from Monday to Friday, except the first modular block which runs from Monday to Saturday.
- South African students who select the 2-year option will be able to pay their fees over 2 years.