If you are looking for a short course to build new skills, change direction or strengthen your professional knowledge, Wits Plus has a wide range of learning options available through the University of the Witwatersrand’s lifelong-learning offering.
The official Wits Plus short-course page currently lists 81 courses across areas including artificial intelligence, business management, construction, geosciences, languages, law, mining, health sciences, governance and leadership.
The available courses have different start dates, formats, requirements and application deadlines, so prospective students should check the individual course page before applying.
What is Wits Plus?
Wits Plus is the lifelong-learning platform associated with the University of the Witwatersrand. It provides open-enrolment short courses as well as customised learning solutions for groups and organisations.
The official website describes its short courses as opportunities for individuals to expand their knowledge and skills.
What short courses are available?
The Wits Plus catalogue covers a wide range of subject areas.
The current catalogue includes:
- Accounting
- Artificial Intelligence
- Arts
- Business Management
- Construction
- General Management Development
- Geosciences
- Governance
- Languages
- Law
- Leadership and Coaching
- Mining
- Science and Health Sciences
- Specialisation
- Wits Business School Executive Education
- Wits School of Governance
This means there are options for people interested in both general professional development and more specialised technical fields.
Artificial Intelligence courses
Artificial intelligence is one of the areas currently represented in the Wits Plus catalogue.
The current listings include:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- Large Language Models
- Your Personal AI System: A Hands-on Generative AI Course for Everyone
- Other AI-related programmes and specialisations
The exact dates, format, requirements and fees vary by course.
Business and management short courses
Wits Plus also lists several business-related learning opportunities.
Examples include:
- B-BBEE: Management Development Programme
- Predictive Reasoning for Business, Government, and Creative Industries
- Principles and Fundamentals of Fundraising
- Corporate Social Responsibility & Business in Society
- Operations Management Practice
- Business Communication Skills
- Social Media Marketing
- Data Literacy
- Financial Management of a Business Operation
Some courses are offered online, including courses delivered through Wits DigitalCampus.
Languages and communication
The Wits Plus catalogue includes a substantial language-learning category.
Current listings include different levels of General English, English for University Success, English-related assessments and South African Sign Language courses.
For example, the current catalogue lists General English courses ranging from Beginner through Upper-Intermediate for the October 2026 intake.
Law and governance
There are also short courses covering legal, governance and regulatory subjects.
The catalogue currently includes areas such as:
- Access to Information and Privacy Law
- Advanced Administrative Law
- Advanced Collective Labour Law
- Environmental Law and Sustainability
- International Nuclear Law
- Governance and Ethics
- Governance, Policy and Regulation for the Digital Era
- Risk, Compliance and Governance in the Financial Sector
Course dates and application deadlines differ, so students should check the specific programme page.
Mining, engineering and geosciences
For learners interested in technical and mining-related fields, Wits Plus lists numerous courses in mining, mining engineering and geosciences.
Current listings include:
- Geological Orebody Modelling
- Sampling Theory and Methods
- Mining Methods
- Occupational Health and Safety Practice in Mining
- Introduction to Geostatistical Methods in Mineral Evaluation
- Exploration Targeting Using Geophysics
- Critical Raw Materials
- Machine Learning for Geological Modelling
- Beneficiation Economics
Some programmes have 2027 intakes already listed on the official website.
Education and health sciences
Wits Plus also has courses connected to education and health sciences.
The catalogue currently lists Child Development “The first 1000 days”, an online course through Wits DigitalCampus, as well as Early Intervention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants.
A separate listing also shows Teaching in Health Sciences: From Professional to Educator, with an online option.
These may be particularly relevant to people looking to develop specialised knowledge in education or health-related professional settings.
Are Wits Plus short courses online?
Some courses are explicitly listed as online.
For example, the current catalogue identifies courses delivered through Wits DigitalCampus and lists online versions of selected management, business, education and other programmes.
However, not every Wits Plus course is necessarily online. The format depends on the individual course.
Applicants should therefore check the specific course listing before assuming that a programme can be completed remotely.
When do the courses start?
There is no single Wits Plus intake date.
The current catalogue shows courses beginning on different dates throughout 2026 and 2027.
Examples include:
- September 2026
- October 2026
- November 2026
- January 2027
- February 2027
- March 2027
- July 2027
- August 2027
- September 2027
Some courses have dates listed as TBC, meaning the specific date has not been confirmed on the catalogue page.
Do Wits Plus short courses have the same requirements?
No.
Requirements vary between programmes.
For example, a specific Wits Plus course may have its own academic or language requirements, while another course may have different entry conditions.
The official course catalogue therefore should not be treated as having one universal admission requirement.
Prospective students should open the individual course page and check its requirements before applying.
How much do Wits Plus short courses cost?
Fees are course-specific.
The general short-course catalogue does not provide one standard price covering all Wits Plus programmes. The cost depends on the particular course.
For this reason, Youthscope does not list a single “Wits short course fee” because doing so could be misleading.
Applicants should check the official page for their selected course for the current fee information.
Are Wits Plus courses free?
The official catalogue does not describe the entire Wits Plus short-course catalogue as free.
Because individual programmes have their own course information and fees, applicants should check the selected course rather than assuming that a Wits Plus short course is free.
Do Wits Plus short courses provide a stipend?
Not specified as a general benefit.
Wits Plus presents these as short-course and lifelong-learning opportunities. The general catalogue does not state that participants receive a stipend.
Therefore, prospective students should not assume that enrolling in a Wits Plus short course includes a stipend or salary.
What certificate do students receive?
Certification varies by course.
For example, the Wits Plus catalogue and individual course pages can specify certification such as a Certificate of Competence for particular programmes.
Students should check the certification information on the individual course they are considering rather than assuming that every Wits Plus programme awards the same qualification.
How to find a Wits Plus course
The official Wits Plus website provides a searchable short-course catalogue.
You can browse the courses by category and then open an individual course to check information such as:
- Course description.
- Start and end dates.
- Application closing date.
- Course format.
- Duration.
- Entry requirements.
- Certification.
- Fees.
- Application instructions.
This is particularly important because the catalogue contains courses with different schedules and requirements.
Wits Plus short courses: Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Institution | University of the Witwatersrand / Wits Plus |
| Offering | Short courses and lifelong learning |
| Current catalogue | 81 courses shown on the supplied page |
| Subjects | AI, business, languages, law, mining, construction, health sciences and more |
| Online courses | Some |
| 2026 intakes | Yes |
| 2027 intakes | Yes |
| Fees | Course-specific |
| Stipend | Not specified as a general benefit |
| Closing dates | Course-specific |
| Entry requirements | Course-specific |
| Certification | Course-specific |
The catalogue is subject to change as individual course information is updated.
Final word
Wits Plus currently offers a broad selection of short courses for people looking to develop skills in areas ranging from artificial intelligence and business to languages, law, mining, construction, education and health sciences.
Because each programme has its own schedule, requirements, fees and certification details, prospective students should use the official Wits Plus catalogue to identify a course and then check the individual course page before applying.
Official source
Wits Plus — Official Short Courses Catalogue
The official catalogue currently lists 81 courses and provides the individual programme information needed to verify dates, formats and other course-specific details.
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Author/Updated Information
Written by: Mbalizuke Nkosi
Published: 19 September 2026
Updated: 19 September 2026
Information checked: 19 September 2026
Mbalizuke Nkosi is the editorial voice behind YouthScope.co.za, a South African youth-focused platform dedicated to providing reliable information on opportunities, education, and career development. The platform serves students, graduates, job seekers, and young professionals by delivering accurate, timely, and easy-to-understand content.
Through informative and professionally curated content, YouthScope.co.za aims to equip young people with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed decisions about their education and future careers.
For inquiries or support, please contact admin@youthscope.co.za.
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