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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
120726  Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management 
ORIGINATOR
EDUVOS (Pty) Ltd (Previously Pearson Institute of Higher Education (Pty) Ltd) 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National First Degree  Field 11 - Services  Hospitality, Tourism, Travel, Gaming and Leisure 
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  EXCO 0512/22  2022-11-22  2025-11-21 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-11-21   2031-11-21  

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.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
96716  Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The South African Tourism Industry has grown into one of the biggest profit generating industries in the country. This trend is not only manifested locally, but has become prevalent worldwide. A qualification in Tourism Management equips successful students for employment in front-line positions in the travel and tourism industry, for example as a Travel Sales Executive, a Tour Guide or a Tour Operator. The curriculum of Midrand Graduate Institute's Tourism Management programme aims to equip qualifying learners with the knowledge and practical skills required to perform effectively in a management role in the tourism industry, as well as with an appropriate knowledge base as preparation for further learning.

Rationale:
The Tourism Management Programme at Midrand Graduate Institute provides a different and needed model of higher education in this discipline, some of its characteristics being:
  • As well as providing the students with a solid grounding in the academic theory underpinning the main concepts of the field of Tourism Management, the curriculum includes a substantial practical experience, culminating in an industry internship which forms part of the final year curriculum.
  • Also included in the curriculum are a range of relevant, more generalised modules which aim to broaden the knowledge base of our Tourism Management students. Such modules include Introduction to Financial Accounting, Business English and Public Relations.
  • Coupled with the curriculum model described above, the classes are small and thus the resulting staff : student ratio makes it possible for students to receive individual and specialised attention.

    The result is a well-rounded graduate who, on successful completion of the curriculum, has the option either of entering the world of work immediately, or of continuing with further study in the field of Tourism Management.

    Further, the Programme contributes to regional and national goals in a variety of ways, including:
  • Broadening access to and success in higher education through flexible entry and fixed exit standards and through the inclusion of academic support components.
  • Recognition of multiple exit points.
  • Inclusion of certain generic competencies.
  • Encouragement of social responsibility.
  • Ensuring that students will be employable on graduation, but, at the same time, will have the knowledge base to continue with further learning. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    A Matriculation (Grade 12) certificate, or equivalent qualification, is the minimum requirement for admission. In order to determine the curriculum for which a student may register, the Midrand Graduate Institute Points System applies:
  • Applicants with Matriculation exemption and a minimum of 17 points may be admitted to the 3-year degree programme.
  • Applicants with a Matriculation certificate and a minimum of 17 points may be admitted to the 2-year diploma programme. A student who successfully fulfils all the requirements for the diploma programme and who achieves the required academic standard, may proceed to Level 3 of the Degree programme.
  • Applicants with a Matriculation certificate and between 14 and 16 points may apply in writing to the relevant Faculty Head for admission to the programme.

    Mature Age applicants or applicants with non-South African school-leaving qualifications or with previous tertiary experience will be considered individually by the Faculty Head.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:
    Prior learning is recognised in the following ways:
  • A student, who has completed a specific module/subject at Midrand Graduate Institute, may apply for credit for that module/subject.
  • A student, who has completed the equivalent of a specific module/subject either at Midrand Graduate Institute or at another recognised higher education institution, may apply for exemption from that module/subject.
  • In the case of a practically orientated module/subject, a student who is able to demonstrate appropriate competence may be granted exemption from that module/subject. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Bachelor of Commerce (Applied Tourism Management) programme is offered as a 3-year degree programme with 2 lower level exit points as follows:
  • A student who successfully completes Level 1 of the curriculum, and who exits from the programme at that point, will be awarded a Certificate in Tourism Management.
  • A student who successfully completes Levels 1 and 2 of the curriculum, and who exits from the programme at that point, will be awarded a Diploma in Tourism Management.

    It is important to note that the Tourism Management Programme is structured in such a way that, as well as constituting Levels 1 and 2 of the degree programme, the curricula for the Certificate and Diploma constitute genuine stand-alone qualifications.

    It should also be noted that a student who registers for the Tourism Management Programme will receive only one qualification, that is the highest level qualification for which he/she has completed the requirements. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit-level outcomes are divided into generic competencies, fundamental competencies and those core to the Tourism Management Programme, as follows:

    Generic competencies:
  • The ability to work as a member of a team.
  • The ability to collect, analyse and present information.
  • A knowledge of the use of technology.
  • The ability to use technology and other methods of presentation for communication purposes.
  • The ability to identify and suggest possible solutions to a problem.
  • The ability to organise work requirements so as to meet set deadlines.

    Fundamental competencies:
    Business Management IA:
  • A sound knowledge of the theoretical principles underlying business management, general management and the functional management of an enterprise. This includes an understanding of the business organisation and its environment, leadership and control in management, public relations, the integrated marketing strategy and general business management.

    Business Management IB:
  • A sound knowledge of the theoretical principles underlying business management, general management and the functional management of an enterprise. This includes an understanding of financial management, asset management, financing decisions, operations management, purchasing management, human resource management and contemporary issues in management.

    Business English:
  • The ability to communicate in English in a business-orientated environment.

    Computer Skills:
  • A sound knowledge of the theory of and practical skills in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint.

    Public Relations I:
  • An understanding of the scope and ethics of public relations, and the development and practice of public relations.
  • An understanding of the role of research in public relations.
  • An understanding of the relationship between public relations and marketing, advertising and personal selling.
  • An understanding of the role of communication in public relations.
  • The ability to plan a public relations programme for events such as exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences, seminars and open days, and for features such as corporate image and identity, corporate social investment and sponsorship.
  • An understanding of the role of the media (print, electronic, television, video and audio-visual media) in public relations.

    Introduction to Financial Accounting:
  • An understanding of the basics of accounting.
  • The ability to draw up a balance sheet and income statement, reconcile a bank statement and calculate profit or loss on the sale of assets.

    Human Resource Management A:
  • A sound knowledge of entrepreneurial skills necessary to manage effectively people within a small business.
  • An understanding of the employment relationship, and the management of that relationship within the broader South African context.

    Human Resource Management B:
  • The ability to manage human resources in a small business, and an awareness of the legal implications in terms of South African industrial relations practices.
  • An understanding of how to ensure effective training and development in a small business.

    Research Methodology:
  • An overview and understanding of core business and management research techniques, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.

    Business Ethics
  • An understanding of the role of ethics in decision-making in business, including ethics related to corporate responsibility, affirmative action, AIDS, sexual harassment and retrenchment.

    Core competencies:
    Travel Practice I:
  • A sound knowledge of the basic principles that apply to the travel industry.
  • The ability to apply skills and knowledge to the travel industry.
  • A sound understanding of operations, and manuals used, in the travel industry.

    Tourism I:
  • A sound knowledge of important aspects of South African culture in terms of language and ethnic groups.
  • A sound knowledge of main scheduled and non-scheduled transportation available in South Africa, major route networks, and different types of leisure and accommodation facilities available.
  • A sound knowledge of the history of South Africa.

    Tourism Development I:
  • A sound knowledge of what tourism is, its origins and historical development.
  • A sound knowledge of the methods used to measure tourism.
  • The ability to identify the factors contributing to the growth and evolution of tourism.
  • A sound knowledge of the structure of the tourism industry, and ways to access and improve service.

    Marketing for Tourism:
  • A sound understanding of the basic principles of Marketing as they apply to the tourism industry, including the nature of marketing, the marketing environment, market segmentation, market targeting and product positioning, market information, product decisions, distribution decisions, marketing communication decisions, and pricing decisions.
  • The ability to plan, implement and control a marketing strategy.

    Law for Tourism:
  • A sound knowledge of the sources of South African law, the classification of South African law, the structure of the South African judicial system, the law of contract (the requirements for a valid contract; termination of a contract and breach of contract), and certain specific contracts.
  • The ability to apply some of these basic principles to case studies relevant to the tourism industry.

    Business Management IIA:
  • A sound knowledge of the theoretical principles underlying entrepreneurship and small business management, entrepreneurial success, business creativity and innovation and identifying opportunities.

    Business Management IIB
  • A sound knowledge of the theoretical principles underlying planning, organising, leading and controlling a business, including goal formation, strategic planning, managerial decision-making, leadership, motivation and the management of diversity.

    Marketing for Tourism IIA:
  • A sound knowledge of the marketing audit, marketing planning, marketing strategies, marketing controls and guidance.
  • The ability to apply these marketing principles and concepts to specific examples in the tourism industry.

    Marketing for Tourism IIB:
  • A sound understanding of the case method of instruction in marketing.
  • The ability to analyse and recognise practical problems that marketing strategy has to address.
  • The ability to isolate problems/opportunities in a case and apply the relevant tools and techniques to the situation.
  • The ability to develop and write a marketing plan based on a specific case.

    Tourism Development IIA:
  • A sound knowledge of tourism demand.
  • The ability to apply the concepts and indicators of tourism demand.
  • A sound knowledge of consumer behaviour, and models and patterns of tourism demand.
  • The ability to measure demand for tourism.

    Tourism Development IIB:
  • A sound understanding of key methodologies in tourism development planning.
  • The ability to use these key methodologies to analyse and review the tourism development planning process.
  • The ability to prepare a tourism development plan for a tourism development project or destination.

    Travel Practice II:
  • A sound knowledge of tours and tour planning, itinerary planning and tours costing, room management, food and beverage management, front office management, facility management, security, guest relations, and guest house management.

    Tourism II:
  • A sound knowledge of geographical destinations and places of interest and sightseeing worldwide.
  • The ability to identify areas on a map.
  • The ability to plan tours and draw up itineraries.

    Travel Practice III:
  • A sound knowledge of fares and ticketing, tourist guiding, conferences and other events.
  • The ability to apply these concepts in practical situations.

    Tourism III:
  • An advanced knowledge of general destinations.
  • An advanced understanding of various international destinations and places of interest.
  • The ability to draw up itineraries.

    Tourism Development IIIA:
  • A sound understanding of the role of the government in tourism.
  • The ability to carry out site selection and analysis.
  • A sound understanding of natural attraction development, cultural attraction development, and man-made attraction development.
  • A sound understanding of visitor management, accommodation development, information office development, integrated environmental management, environmental impact assessment, social impact assessment, and environmental policies in tourism businesses.

    Tourism Development IIIB:
  • A sound understanding of the economics of tourism, tourism demand measurement and forecasting, international co-operation and tourism, the politics of tourism, the development sociology of tourism, the anthropology of tourism, tourism and information technology, eco-systems, conservation and tourism, and tourism manpower development.

    Marketing for Tourism III:
  • A sound understanding of the marketing plan, product strategies, pricing strategies, distribution strategies, and promotion strategies.
  • The ability to draw up a marketing plan.

    Business Management IIIA:
  • A sound knowledge of the theoretical principles underlying diversified business environments, ethics and social responsibility, planning and controlling in a globalised world, and global issues affecting varying cultures.

    Business Management IIIB:
  • An understanding of change and its impact on organisations.
  • An understanding of change as a positive process.
  • An understanding of the importance of appropriate leadership in order to minimise resistance to change.
    Internship.
  • An understanding of the relationship between theory and practice, developed by working in an organisation and applying academic knowledge to practice in a real world context.

    Research Project:
  • The ability to apply theory to a selected case study by carrying out a sound research process. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Generic competencies:
  • Group projects and assignments.
  • Tests, assignments and examinations.
  • Class and Project presentations.
  • Class and Project presentations.
  • Case-study based tests, assignments and examinations.
  • Deadlines set for various assessment components.

    Fundamental competencies:
  • Tests, assignments and examinations.

    Core competencies:
  • Tests, assignments and examinations.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Midrand Graduate Institute practices an integrated system of assessment, in terms of which students are assessed on an ongoing basis. Students are required to complete class tests, assignments (including practical work and projects) and examinations, the results of which count towards the final mark for each module. The components of the final mark are determined separately for each module. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    To our knowledge, this Programme has not been assessed internationally. However, given that:
  • The curriculum incorporates the latest trends and practices in the discipline.
  • Well-qualified academics and industry practitioners act as external examiners and moderators of the Programme.

    We have no reason to doubt that the quality and content of our Programme would meet international standards. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    With regard to vertical articulation, a student who wishes to proceed to postgraduate studies at another higher education institution, having completed the Tourism Management Programme at Midrand Graduate Institute, should be able to do so based on the knowledge and skills acquired during the course of the programme, provided, of course, that his/her academic performance has been of the required standard.

    In terms of horizontal articulation:
  • A student who transfers to another programme within Midrand Graduate Institute will be given credit for relevant modules successfully completed towards the Tourism Management Programme.
  • Students who, having completed certain modules in the Tourism Management Programme at Midrand Graduate Institute, wish to transfer to another tertiary level institution, are able to apply successfully for exemption from relevant modules on the basis of modules passed at Midrand Graduate Institute.

    One of the objectives of our rigorous external moderation and examination procedure, and of our ongoing interaction with academic staff of other tertiary level institutions, is to ensure that the content and standard of our curriculum is such that our students will have the opportunity for both vertical and horizontal articulation, both within and outside of Midrand Graduate Institute. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    All final assessments at all levels of the curriculum are moderated by academic staff of public higher education institutions or by appropriately qualified industry practitioners. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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.
     
    1. EDUVOS (Pty) Ltd (Previously Pearson Institute of Higher Education (Pty) Ltd) 


    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.