SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Commerce 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
110908  Master of Commerce 
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  128  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The purpose of the qualification is:

* To provide an opportunity for learners to obtain detailed knowledge of the discipline concerned and to create an awareness of the variety of institutional contexts in which it is applied

* To give students the opportunity to become acquainted with the practical application of the principles, theories and models of the discipline in the work environment

* To promote a group of learners into a rigorous and comprehensive theoretical and methodological programme when the degree is done by dissertation

* To enable the student to follow the internship route in order to register with a Professional Body (for example, the Health Professions Council of South Africa), thereby becoming a fully fledged practitioner in the field when the degree is done by course work

* To extend to students with professional aspirations the option of advanced academic qualification, research capabilities and improved employment opportunities.

* To enable a student specialising in a field to acquire other expertise, for example, a student specialising in accounting, is able to cope with taxation, economic, monetary and fiscal issues to serve private and public enterprises including commerce, industry, local and central government and non-profit institutions 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Entry requirements for the qualification:

* The applicant must hold a bachelor degree from a recognised institution.
* The applicant must possess a B.Com (Hons) degree in the relevant discipline or such other qualification deemed equivalent from a recognised institution.
* Admission to the programme by selection.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
A level of competence based on the assessment and recognition of prior learning will be considered. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
The M.Com (Dissertation) graduate is able to:

* Demonstrate the ability to carry out research independently.
* Critically review literature related to the topic area.
* Demonstrate critical awareness of the chosen research design;
* Integrate knowledge from a range of areas of the discipline to the topic under consideration.
* Demonstrate insight and competence in theory and context of the discipline.
* Demonstrate knowledge and the ability to apply research methodologies and techniques to the discipline concerned as a field of study
* Develop integration and communication skills through the design, execution and presentation of research.

The M.Com (coursework) graduate is able to:

* Conduct research in the Human Resource environment
* Critically evaluation information and systematically relate it to different contexts of the discipline concerned
* Analyse the individual, group and organisation to determine effectiveness of the operation
* Use psychometric tests to determine, amongst others, the degree of problem solving and decision make that is essential in the appointment of individual to positions.
* Apply knowledge in the practical situation through he analysis of case studies
* Transfer theoretical knowledge from a research project to the work place
* Demonstrate awareness that competence-based management development uses frameworks and profiles as a means of identifying development needs.
* Identify matters pertaining to taxation, economic, monetary and fiscal issues, comment and solve problems on such matters by interpreting tax and fiscal legislation and tax case law. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
The M.Com (Dissertation) graduate is assessed in the following way: -
  • Formal examination of the thesis by assessors.
  • Oral presentation of the findings of the dissertation to assessors.

    The M.Com (Coursework) graduate is assessed in the following way: -
  • Assessment of module work during semester.
  • Written examination in the form of applied questions and the analysis of case studies.
  • The assessment strategies used to indicate the integration of knowledge, skills and attitudes learnt will be tested through: -
  • Summary of achievements of the application of theories in the practical work situation in the form of reports.
  • Portfolios are related career opportunities in specified areas of the discipline.
  • Written report or research project submitted by the student to indicate ability to solve problems in the practical environment.
  • Case studies. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    INTERNAL
  • Due to the interdisciplinary focus of the programme it will be possible for students from other faculties to be allowed into the programme if: -
  • Their modules in a discipline are related or relevant to the programme.
  • The credits from other programmes will make a contribution to the new direction
  • Student with relevant modules form Business Management and Psychology could move across to studies in Social Science, Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations;
  • Possibilities for internal articulation exists within the Faculty of Commerce and Administration. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    * Students
    * Specialists in the field provide guidelines in the development of the programme to ensure relevance in the workplace.

    These include:
  • Specialists in the Private and Public Sectors
  • Specialists from other academic institutions
  • Academics from overseas academic institutions

    * Government: Local, provincial and national officials who provide guidelines for quality and assessment standards.

    * The South African Revenue Service (specialisation in taxation)

    * Professional Bodies, such as, the Health Professions Council of South Africa in the discipline of Industrial Psychology and the Public Accountants' and Auditors Board/South African Institute of Chartered Accountants in the field of Accountancy.

    The stakeholders serve as reference points for syllabus design, research and learner assessment. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The internal assessor will include the lecturer of the module, the Head of Department and assessor selected in the field of specialisation together with experience and academic qualifications.

    The external assessor will be selected in the field of specialisation together with experience and academic qualification from leading institutions. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.