Cornerstone Institute Prospectus 2023-2024

Cornerstone Institute Prospectus 2023-2024 – See Details Below:

INTRODUCTION

Cornerstone Institute was founded in 1970 on the Cape Flats at a time when prospective black theologians were excluded from attending universities due to the oppressive laws of the former regime. As the Cape Evangelical Bible Institute, it provided theological education for unqualified pastors on the Cape Flats.

The institute is historically grounded in a highly ethical ethos, emphasising the relationship between leadership and professional integrity. It embraces students from all walks of life and focuses on the development of leaders. Cornerstone is a non-profit, fully accredited Private Higher Education Institution offering undergraduate programmes (certificates, short courses and degrees) and postgraduate programmes (higher certificate and honours degrees) across various disciplines in the Faculty of Humanities, and the Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Economic Transformation. Most of our programmes are offered online as well as on-campus, making it easy for students to study from all over the world.

To expand our offering, and add value for students across all walks of life, the Fundamentals Training Centre has been incorporated into the Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Economic Transformation of Cornerstone Institute. FTC offers leadership and management training programmes to corporates, government and communities. They have an outstanding track record in delivering responsive, high-quality training programmes and courses to all sectors, both locally and internationally. All our courses and training programmes are customised to meet the client’s needs, time frames and budget. Read here for more information:

FUTURE DIRECTION

In August 2015 Cornerstone Institute gained a benefactor who saw the potential for Cornerstone to address educational challenges faced in Africa, particularly in South Africa, and globally. The serious shortage of accessible high quality and effective learning programmes available to adults (young and old) are factored into our planning. Cornerstone Institute makes a difference by providing an opportunity for all South Africans and members of the global community to acquire perspective, skills and knowledge that can serve their needs and that of our society on every level, and in every sphere that matters. While recognising and acknowledging that Cornerstone Institute cannot serve the entire spectrum of education and training needed to transform society, we can indeed provide a cornerstone and foundation to redress the shortcomings of our mainstream schooling system. We offer a coherent and strategic set of programmes with which our students find paths to personal mastery, advancement, and fulfilment. Our model, built on social relevance, ethical and academic integrity, plurality, as well as financial sustainability, are important pillars to make the impact that we all seek in creating a prosperous, just and equitable society.

The Board and Management of Cornerstone Institute have great plans for its future. These plans will be premised on robust research and will initially be driven through a Research Incubator which will be established in our Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Economic Transformation. Some of the areas that we intend to explore include:

The Green Economy;
Business Trends;
Applied Science for a Sustainable World;
Media and Technology Convergence; and
Arts and Culture

The outcomes of the research we conduct will inform new programmes and faculties, schools and departments at Cornerstone Institute.

SHARED COMMON VALUES

We recognise that values are not just what we talk about and teach, but are core to identity formation. Cornerstone is committed to building a highly ethical and principled worldview in all our students. We promote the values of inclusivity, excellence, integrity, unity, respect and creativity to produce dynamic ethical leaders prepared to act as responsible citizens in a global society.

WHY CHOOSE CORNERSTONE INSTITUTE?

At Cornerstone Institute we source the best faculty, ensuring that the students who graduate from our institution are able to make a difference in all fields of study that we provide; including Psychology, Ethics, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Business, Education, Sociology and Community Development. We seek to share a compelling story, underpinned by a philosophy of education where we convey, transfer and embed the core values of our institution.

What sets us apart from the rest is that we:

Have a signature approach where we offer a fundamental foundational set of courses, referred to as the ‘Cornerstone Core’. These include Intercultural Communication, Economics, Leadership Studies, Worldviews, South African History and Society, and Ethics.
Designed a ‘Four Year Solution’, where students who do not achieve a bachelor’s pass in Grade 12 will be able to access our certificate programmes across all the disciplines we offer, to bridge them into a degree programme, leading to post-graduate studies if desired.
Create access to a university education in a caring and competent community.
Provide a productive and stimulating environment in which learning and teaching can take place, on our campuses and through our online learning environments.
Are committed to community development in all its various forms.
Have an ethically grounded ethos.
Focus on effective career preparation and pathways.
Offer competitive fees and financial support for qualifying students.

CORNERSTONE LEARNING COMMUNITY – ONLINE OR ON CAMPUS

Cornerstone Institute is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997, Registration Certificate No 2001/HE08/006. We attract students from all over the world and particularly target students from the African continent. We operate within the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Those who join the Cornerstone family do so because the institution offers the finest thought and practice, exceptional service, teaching excellence, affordability and ease of access. We create vibrant learning environments where students are exposed to a total learning experience, irrespective of whether they are on campus or studying online. Its diverse student population, ranging in age from 17 to 70 and originating from more than 20 countries, contribute to an eclectic atmosphere filled with fun and the opportunity to make new friends in a warm and inviting family environment.

Admission Requirements
Undergraduate: must have passed the equivalent of a South African Grade 12.
Postgraduate: see admission requirements of your specific program of interest under ‘programs’ on our website
For further inquiries regarding admission requirements, feel free to e-mail admissions@cornerstone.ac.za
Feedback and Acceptance Letters
Feedback will be provided via e-mail 2 weeks after the full application has been received. If you are accepted, you
will be provided with a fee quote. Before a visa letter can be issued, a deposit of 60% of the total fee is required.
Visa Letters:
Once you have received a provisional acceptance letter from Cornerstone Institute, 60% of the annual tuition fee
must be paid to Cornerstone Institute in order for the registrar to issue you with a visa letter to apply for a study
permit. (Many of our foreign students struggle to get their visa in time and end up arriving later for the start of lectures.)
In adherence to South African Government rules and regulations, your final registration is subject to producing a
valid study permit that can be applied for at the nearest South African representative, normally in your home country. For this purpose you will use the official visa letter issued by the Registrar. This letter must be presented to a
South African diplomatic mission abroad, which has the authority to process applications for study permits. The
South African Department of Home Affairs and South African diplomatic offices abroad are responsible for the regulations and procedures. Do not proceed to Cornerstone Institute without the study permit/visa.
Should you require assistance with finding accommodation please contact Student Services at
sdss@cornerstone.ac.za
Tel: 021 448 0050 www.cornerstone.ac.za
Fax: 086 663 2280 Email: info@cornerstone.ac.za
Study Permit Requirements
Letter of Admission from Cornerstone Institute.
Proof that sufficient funds are available for the proposed stay in South Africa to cover tuition fees, maintenance
and incidental costs.
Details regarding arranged accommodation, which should be in Cape Town or surrounding areas. (The Embassy requires proof of residence, i.e. a formal letter with a lease agreement from the owner of the residence.
Cornerstone cannot supply this.)
A police clearance certificate.
The expiry date of your study permit is very important. It is your own responsibility to apply for an extension 30
days before it expires.
Repatriation guarantee
 You should provide a medical certificate as provided for on the study permit application form and particulars
of, or arrangements made with regard to, medical insurance/cover in South Africa. You will also need to submit
medical and radiological reports, which should be less than six months old and relevant certificates if you are married, widowed, divorced or separated.
 If the duration of your studies is longer than one year, you will have to lodge a cash deposit or bank guarantee
equivalent to the airfare or transportation costs to your country of origin for repatriation purposes. Please keep the
receipt issued for the guarantee for a possible extension of your study permit in South Africa. The cash deposit will
only be reimbursed once you are back in your home country.
Immigration Matters
 Formal admission to Cornerstone Institute does not guarantee the issuing of a study permit.
 Students without valid study permits cannot be registered at Cornerstone Institute.
 Permit Applications should be made at least 30 days prior to the date of departure.
All documents required when you apply for a study permit or visitor’s visa must be originals or certified copies. (A
certified copy is a photocopy of the original document with an original certified stamp that the authorized person
[Commissioner of Oaths] has seen the original document. An uncertified photocopy of the original or a photocopy
of a certified copy is not sufficient.)
Working while studying in South Africa
 The holder of a study permit may conduct part-time work as long as the period does not exceed 20 hours per
a week and may also work full-time during academic vacations.
 A holder of a study permit may also be granted permission to conduct work in the form of practical training in
a field related to his/her studies, on submission of the following documentation:
 A letter from Cornerstone Institute confirming that practical training is required or advantageous to complete
the intended study, and
A letter from the prospective employer offering practical training
If writing the National Benchmark Tests is a requirement for your studies, please follow the link below to apply to
write them in your own country.

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Theology in Community Leadership: Business Studies
Bachelor Of Arts Majoring in Psychology
Bachelor Of Arts Majoring in Sociology / Community Development
Bachelor Of Arts Majoring in Theology
Bachelor Of Arts Majoring in Media Studies

Cornerstone Institute Prospectus 2023-2024