FAQs
How to Apply?
The registration process for full-time and selected part-time study requires an initial application, an entrance challenge and an interview. This is to ensure that students entering Vega are successful and have the ability to cope with the demands placed on them. Vega likes to reward incoming students for their past efforts. It's for this reason that Vega has a Bright Star Merit Award for top-performing students.
What is a Vega Entrance Challenge?
All applicants for all Vega full-time qualifications are required to complete a 3-hour Vega Entrance Challenge. This should not be viewed as a test or examination – you do not have to prepare or study for this. We are not looking at right or wrong answers, and hope that applicants will have fun while doing it!
We use the Vega Entrance Challenge to assess applicants, in conjunction with their educational information, interview and portfolio, to help us to guide you in your choice of study.
This Entrance Challenge has been designed to explore how you observe the world around you: your ability to think and express yourself creatively, and your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It will help us to ensure that you enrol for a course suited to your interests and abilities.
Is Vega an Internationally Recognised Institution?
Vega is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd, registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private further and higher education and training institution under the Further Education and Training Colleges Act, 2006 (reg. no. 2009/FE07/003, prov. to 31/12/2014) and the Higher Education Act, 1997 (reg. no. 2007/HE07/002).
Regarding "international recognition", there appears to be a very common misconception prevailing, namely that qualifications obtained in one country are recognised or accepted at face value in any other country as having the same value as in the home country. This "value" is commonly expressed in terms of academic credits and the level of registration on a national qualifications framework.
Truth is however quite different, both in respect of further study and employment. If somebody wants to enrol with Institution Y on the basis of having obtained a qualification at Institution A, Institution Y will evaluate the qualification obtained from Institution A and decide what credit, if any, it will award for that qualification for purposes of completion of its own programmes of learning. This practice, often involving a qualifications authority, is the norm both in South Africa and abroad. Moreover, no qualification is guaranteed to be fully accredited by any other institution. The credit-award decision is the prerogative of the institution concerned, and is based on its view of whether the content and level of the qualification obtained elsewhere is compatible with its own programme the prospective student wants to enrol for. In South Africa, for example, a maximum of 50% of the credits of one qualification is allowed for purposes of completing another qualification, except where a lower level qualification is the entry requirement for a higher-level qualification.
This means that "internationally recognised" is a bit of a misnomer. Other than awareness of the reputation of a well-known, usually older, institution, "recognition" doesn't have meaning outside of the preceding context of the verification of the value of a qualification and authenticity of the certification thereof. On this basis Vega, as a division of the IIE, has "international recognition",
What are the benefits of studying at Vega?
The education and training at Vega is outcomes based, wholly integrated and highly interactive. Our approach has three golden threads: context, content and creativity. We believe that successful and innovative brand communications relies on the synergy of diverse disciplines. Students are exposed not only to the traditional building blocks of brand communications from print to electronic media, but are expected to consider alternative creative possibilities to solving all brand communication questions.
Vega is committed to connecting with the educational imbalances of the South African past, within the specific context of brand communications. We believe that insights into the histories, cultures and cultural practices of the African continent are crucial to South African communications industries. Course content and social and cultural awareness programmes aim to develop critical consciousness and cultural sensitivity.
How do I get an idea of what Vega is about?
Vega holds three national Open Days a year. Lecturers and students are available on these days to show you around the school, provide course details, application information and so forth.
Our Contact Navigators are also available to show you around the campus throughout the year, to answer any questions relating to Vega and our courses, and assist in the application process.
The registration process for full-time and selected part-time study requires an initial application, an entrance challenge and an interview. This is to ensure that students entering Vega are successful and have the ability to cope with the demands placed on them. Vega likes to reward incoming students for their past efforts. It's for this reason that Vega has a Bright Star Merit Award for top-performing students.
Who Needs to Write the National Benchmark Test (NBT)?
Students applying for the BA in Brand Building and Management* need to register and write the 3-hour Academic and Quantitative Literacy Test (AQL). We do recommend that applicants applying for any of the other programmes sit the test, as it will enhance your application.
For more information on the NBT assessment and the dates, please visit
www.nbt.ac.za.
Students that have Maths at Level 3 or Maths Literacy at Levels 4, 5 or 6 require an intermediate achievement level in the AQL assessment.