In a world increasingly shaped by digital innovation, especially across Africa, organisations are turning their attention to digital strategies that not only elevate their presence in the market but also help build long-term value and meaningful connections with their audiences.
The IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Strategy, available at Emeris, is thoughtfully designed for individuals with an undergraduate qualification (NQF Level 7) and work experience in brand or business strategy, strategic marketing, communication, or media planning, who are ready to embrace a digital-first mindset.
This programme equips you with the tools to craft digital strategies that go beyond visibility. You'll learn how to build authentic brand identities, strengthen reputations, and grow brand equity in ways that are both impactful and sustainable. Through a strategic brand-building lens, you’ll explore how digital thinking can unlock value for corporates, non-profits, entrepreneurial ventures, and start-ups alike.
As digital transformation continues to reshape how the world does business, there's a growing demand for professionals who can blend strategic insight with digital fluency. This qualification empowers you to step into that space, ready to lead, innovate, and grow brands in the digital age.
Minimum Admission Requirements
For alternative admission options, please click here or reach out to student recruitment.
Please note, requirements for entry to this qualification are correct at the time of publication, however, these may change.
Year 1 – Semester 1
Principles of Brand Building
Students will develop an understanding of the core frameworks, principles and concepts used for constructing and building purposeful brand identities and architecture. The role of brands in adding value to stakeholders and society will be explored utilising design and systemic thinking to develop innovative brand building solutions. The principles of brand leadership and brand management will be discussed.
Year 1 – Semester 2
Digital Channel Planning
Students will develop a working knowledge of the digital planning landscape, tools and platforms to enable them to construct fundamental digital omnichannel plans which align with other brand building elements. Various brand building scenarios will be considered when applying the digital toolkit.
Digital Experience Design
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the process of digital user profiling and digital brand contact point analysis to facilitate the design of seamless brand experiences. The focus is on understanding the needs of stakeholders and constructing comprehensive profiles to guide the development of a digital brand experience plan to increase engagement and retain clients.
Year 2 – Semester 1
Creativity Skills
Principles of design thinking are utilised universally to create innovative solutions to brand-business challenges. Whilst digital strategists are not necessarily designers nor content creators, students are provided with the guidelines required for creating basic visual and verbal digital content. These guidelines will also provide a framework against which more specialised creative work can be evaluated in context of strategic objectives.
Digital Strategy Implementation and Measurement
The purpose of this module is to construct feasible digital strategy implementation and performance measurement plans. Emphasis is placed on the way in which a digital strategy is implemented, forecasted, budgeted and measured against strategic and financial objectives. Students will be able to forecast the return on investment for a digital campaign and analyse the effectiveness of a digital brand building strategy.
Year 2 – Semester 2
Research Methodology
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the process of research and to develop their understanding of the techniques of gathering, analysing, interpreting, and evaluating data. Emphasis is placed on a controlled application of methods and techniques to solve a practical problem in the field of digital strategy for brand building.
For Emeris the following qualifications allow you to articulate into the IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Strategy should you meet the requirements:
The successful completion of the IIE PGDip in Digital Strategy enables you to progress into an appropriate Master’s qualification, subject to meeting the admission requirements.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Strategy is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF 8) by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA ID 119823).
Jobs in this field:
Digital Strategist
Digital Brand Manager
Digital Marketing Manager
Digital Communication Manager
Digital Experience Designer
Digital Channel Planner
At Emeris, we believe that effective teaching is about creating experiences that foster student growth. Our academic team design activities that challenge students and identify their strengths, allowing for real-time adaptation in the learning journey. By combining subject expertise with teaching insights and digital tools, we extend learning beyond the classroom. This approach ensures students not only keep up but thrive.
For students based in South Africa, online students may select any campus of Emeris as their Examination Centre.
An alternative examination centre is only permissible for students studying abroad and those located in a province of South Africa where there is no Emeris campus. If there is no Emeris campus within reach, an alternative venue will need to be sourced by you. For non-Emeris venues, there is an alternative venue levy per module.
Duration
2 years part-time
Intakes
February
Campuses
Mode/s of study
Information
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