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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Commerce 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
116317  Bachelor of Commerce 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National First 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  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  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   2033-06-30  

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 
Purpose:
Bachelor of Commerce:
1. Enable the learner to acquire the conceptual thinking skills to think critically, independently and innovatively.
2. Empower learners with learner-level knowledge and specific skills in the foundations of commerce, to enable them to pursue rewarding careers in the local, national, regional and global business and public sector economic.
3. Provide south Africa with learners competent in one or more of a range of specialisations: for example, accounting, business statistics, corporate governance, economics, information systems, knowledge management, marketing, finance, insurance, people management, property, taxation, public sector studies and law among other things.
4. Enable the learners to develop their intellectual and moral capacity, a thorough understanding of the business and economic environment and build a foundation for further specialisation in post learner studies and to lay the foundation for an appreciation of life-long learning and the ability to take responsibility for their learning.

Rationale:
The Bachelor of Commerce prepares learners for post learner study; provides learners with a well-rounded and broad education across several Business disciplines, thus preparing them for a wide range of professions crucial to the welfare of society; produces learners who can think laterally, critically and creatively; produces learners who are prepared for life-long learning; produces learners who understand the principles of, and are capable of critical citizenship. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Prior accredited learning of a learner at the TVET or UOT level in relevant domains which constitute credit-bearing units or modules will be recognised if evidence can be produced that shows that the learner has achieved, at a satisfactory level, the outcomes and associated assessment criteria specified for admission to qualifications of study leading to the Bachelor of Commerce qualification.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is a:
  • National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor's studies.
    Or
  • Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement.
    Or
  • National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor's studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate reasoning skills, critical analysis, effective oral and written communication skills and problem-solving.
    2. Demonstrate skills at HEQF Level 7 in at least one major discipline within the broad area of commerce.
    3. Demonstrate foundational knowledge in a range of core disciplines, including business ethics, mathematics, statistics, financial accounting, economics, information systems and commercial law.
    4. Ability to access, research, assess, evaluate, and synthesise and communicate information relevant to commerce, appropriately and effectively using both hard copy and electronic resources.
    5. Function effectively as an individual, in diverse, multicultural teams.
    6. Engage in life-long learning through the exercise of fundamental learning skills and understands the requirement to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of the changing business, financial and policy environment which brings new methods, techniques, and competitive challenges ever.
    7. Manage and organise his/her activities and based on fundamental knowledge and skills acquired in the BBuSc degree can proceed to further academic or professional education. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria will assess the Exit Level Outcomes in an integrated manner.
  • Identify, assess, formulate and solve convergent and divergent problems related to disciplines in Commerce.
  • Read critically, understand and integrate information.
  • Identify, evaluate and prioritise the significance of local, industrial, national and international political, economic, environmental, social and technical information and trends in the respective disciplines.
  • Employ appropriate media in report preparation and presentation.
  • Prepare communication for different levels of management and adapt to new contexts and promote constructive change within the disciplines.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Learning and assessment will be integrated into this qualification. Continuous formative assessment will ensure that learners get feedback on their progress towards the achievement of specific learning outcomes. Summative assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning about the learner attributes of the qualification. Such judgement will include 'integrated assessments' which assess the learners' ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, competencies and attitudes that are represented by the learner's attributes, either as a whole or as components of the qualification.

    Assignments designed to meet the requirements of integrated assessment will be such as to achieve: An integration of the achievement of learner attributes in a way that demonstrates that the purpose of the qualification as a whole has been achieved in the parts of the qualification of study; Evaluation of learner performance to demonstrate applied competence; and Criterion-referenced assessment, which is clearly explained to and understood by the learners and that can be applied in recognition of prior learning. A wide range of knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes will be integrated using innovative methods - and in the assessment of outcomes due to recognition will be given to criteria and methods of assessment that assess these appropriately and adequately.

    The University has a system of external peer review and evaluation of each course. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department. The academic staff of the University of Cape Town will be used in a manner which is consistent with the quality assurance system of the Institution.

    Moderation of learners' achievements and the overall award of the qualification at the exit level will be based on the well-established procedures of moderation (including, for example, the use of accredited/registered external examiners (external to the institution). 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This Bachelor of Commerce Degree qualification standard is comparable to similar qualifications from around the world about outcomes and assessment criteria, the level of depth and complexity involved in the study process, and with due regard to notional learning time. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Commerce in Industrial Psychology. NQF, Level 7.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Accounting, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    LP ID Learning Programme Title Originator Pre-2009
    NQF Level    		 NQF Level Min Credits Learning Prog End Date Quality
    Assurance
    Functionary    		 NQF Sub-Framework
    116431  Bachelor of Commerce  University of Cape Town  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  360       HEQSF 


    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.