|
|
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: |
| Bachelor of Commerce Honours |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 124831 | Bachelor of Commerce Honours | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Stadio (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 | ||
| Honours 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 | 120 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 08 | Regular-Provider-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 0434/25 | 2025-08-21 | 2028-08-21 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2029-08-21 | 2032-08-21 | |||
| 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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
| PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
| Purpose:
The purpose of the Bachelor of Commerce Honours is to provide learners with advanced knowledge and skills in a specific field of study. The qualification is characterised by its focus on specialised coursework, critical analysis, and research within a chosen discipline or area of study. The qualification serves as a pathway for further postgraduate studies, such as a Master's degree, as well as entry into certain professional fields that require advanced knowledge and expertise. The qualification is in line with the requirements of the HEQSF qualification type, makes a significant contribution to the South African higher education system by providing learners with opportunities for advanced learning, specialisation, and professional development in their chosen fields of study. This qualification is multifaceted, encompassing both national educational objectives and career aspirations for individuals. The decision on which majors should be included and offered as part of this qualification was based on the relevant undergraduate qualifications from which learners will articulate. The qualification offers the following majors: General, Economics, Financial Management, Investment Management, and Risk Management. In addition to this, the institution currently offers a Bachelor of Commerce in Project Management and a BCom in Digital Marketing. The qualification, therefore, offers articulation opportunities to a range of learners. The institution has the necessary resources in place to provide an articulation path in these disciplines, as they are on offer at the undergraduate level as well. In the national context, the qualification is aligned with the NQF, and with this, it has the power to enhance human capital in a suitable and structured manner, at the correct level of complexity. In addition to this, it also promotes research and innovation, fostering a culture of inquiry and critical thinking. In the career context, it enables the building of specialised knowledge and skills amongst the learners. As such, it opens career advancement opportunities in a country that desperately needs more specialised skills. Examples of occupations from the National List of Occupations in High Demand: 2024 issued by the South African Government and asking for a minimum of an Honours qualification, link to selected majors suggested for this qualification: Finance Manager, Corporate General Manager, Director of Marketing, Organisation and Methods Analyst, Business Development Officer and Organisational Risk Manager, for example. The context of the qualification revolves around its contribution to national educational objectives, human capital development, research promotion, and the enhancement of career opportunities for individuals. It plays a crucial role in preparing learners to succeed in the competitive and evolving business landscape of a developing country that is attempting to resolve dichotomies in the economy. The qualification features a versatile curriculum, allowing learners to choose from a variety of majors while emphasising the enhancement of research, technical, and strategic thinking abilities. Essentially, the qualification is designed to enable individuals to explore the evolving realm of Commerce, which operates under distinct patterns. Upon completion, learners will be equipped to navigate new technological advancements, evaluate the feasibility of business ventures, and advocate for sustainability efforts. At its core, the qualification recognises the importance of adopting business practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of our planet. This involves understanding that both individuals and businesses must prioritise ethical conduct. By instilling these values and skills, the qualification aims to empower learners to drive positive change and foster responsible business practices in today's interconnected world. The attributes associated with learners of the qualification include: Successful completion of this qualification will distinguish learners as they will have a solid understanding of the contemporary business landscape and the essential elements for achieving success within it. Rationale: The demand for a fresh and innovative Bachelor of Commerce Honours qualification, distinct from existing offerings, arises from the necessity to address the evolving landscape of Commerce. Such a qualification would focus on emerging developments in the field, ensuring learners are equipped with the skills and insights needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. By nurturing a deep understanding of responsible technologies and their impact on the sustainability of future businesses, this qualification aims to produce learners who are uniquely positioned to meet the demands of both industry and society, making them highly sought after. South Africa is in dire need of an educated workforce that can participate in growing the economy. Business opportunities in South Africa, as a developing country, are plentiful. Many entry-level jobs in Commerce today require an undergraduate degree, but to progress further on the career ladder, individuals need to study further and achieve at least a first postgraduate qualification. In many cases, these postgraduate studies are embarked upon part-time, but there are also learners who can afford to study full-time, directly following on from the relevant undergraduate qualification. While existing offerings might allow individuals to add generic business and/or commerce skills to their portfolio, more qualifications are needed to build scarce skills for South Africa's employment landscape, like managing in an e-commerce environment, setting up platform businesses, participating in growing companies that design new technological advances, especially considering the global drive for sustainability. Especially important will be to understand market forces and trends linked to South Africa's second economy to create further employment opportunities. This qualification will produce learners who have the knowledge and the skills to embark on those business ventures, but who are also global citizens and have a passion for commercializing business ideas for the common good. The qualification offers all learners an opportunity to enhance their existing foundation by acquiring valuable, contemporary skills essential in today's dynamic Commerce landscape. Additionally, it serves as an articulation pathway for learners. This qualification will ensure that various industries contributing to South Africa's economy have access to highly qualified individuals prepared to address the next phase of their careers, thereby cultivating a pipeline of skilled learners for the nation's workforce. Given the rapidly evolving commercial landscape in South Africa and globally, the need for new and updated qualifications is evident to remain competitive. Emerging trends such as e-commerce, omnichannel retailing, cybersecurity (in the Contemporary Commerce Challenges Module), fintech (in the Contemporary Commerce Challenges Module), artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics (in the Contemporary Commerce Challenges Module) underscore the importance of equipping individuals with insights into these contemporary issues. By completing a qualification that offers exposure to these latest trends and that fosters a deep understanding of their commercial implications, individuals can contribute to the success of businesses, ultimately benefiting the South African economy and society. The proposed qualification offers BCom learners an opportunity to enhance their existing foundation by acquiring valuable, contemporary skills essential in today's dynamic Commerce landscape. By equipping learners with these skills, the qualification not only enhances their individual career prospects but also contributes to their personal and professional development. Additionally, serving as an articulation pathway for the institution's own cohorts of BCom learners, the qualification facilitates seamless progression within the institution, ensuring continuity and coherence in education. Beyond the individual learner, the qualification has broader implications for society and the economy. It addresses the pressing need for highly qualified individuals in various industries, thereby bolstering the workforce and fostering economic growth. By producing learners equipped to tackle the evolving challenges of the commercial landscape, the qualification cultivates a pool of talent capable of driving innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness within businesses. Consequently, this benefits society by promoting economic prosperity, job creation, and social development. Furthermore, the qualification's focus on contemporary issues such as e-commerce, cybersecurity (in the Contemporary Commerce Challenges Module), fintech (in the Contemporary Commerce Challenges Module), and robotics (in the Contemporary Commerce Challenges Module), ensures that learners are well-prepared to navigate emerging trends and contribute meaningfully to industry advancements. This not only benefits individual learners by enhancing their marketability but also strengthens the economy by fostering a workforce adept at leveraging new technologies and driving sectoral growth. In summary, the qualification provides benefits to learners by enhancing their skills and career opportunities, while also benefiting society and the economy by supplying highly qualified professionals, fostering innovation, and promoting economic development. The qualification has been tailored with the needs of potential learners in mind, resulting in submission to the CHE for both distance learning (DL) and contact learning (CL) modes. While some may wish to pursue the qualification immediately after completing their relevant undergraduate degree, others may already be employed in the industry and thus prefer the flexibility of distance learning. This qualification targets individuals holding a BCom qualification who aspire to advance their careers and become highly sought-after candidates in today's dynamic business landscape. Given the specific majors that the institution suggests for this qualification, learners would be able to operate in the following areas, building on the existing BCom undergraduate qualification: Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Economics, Finance, Risk Management, Project Management, and International Business. It is envisaged that other majors may be added to the qualification in the future, based on the rapid pace of development in the field of commerce. The curriculum for specific modules could be linked to those qualifications, or the industry body or association would ideally agree to endorse the new qualification. Industry bodies/associations and/or their designations and qualifications that were consulted in putting this qualification together include: Given the specific majors that the institution suggests for this new BCom Honours qualification, learners would be able to operate in the following areas, building on the existing BCom undergraduate qualification: Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Economics, Finance, Risk Management, Project Management, Digital Marketing, and International Business, now. Other elective streams could be added to the qualification later. Specific occupations/professions per major would be as follows: The qualification is commonly situated under the broader domain of business or commerce-related disciplines. Within this academic trajectory, learners pursue qualifications with a range of specialisations or majors, encompassing areas like Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, and more. This educational pathway furnishes learners with a holistic grasp of general business or commerce principles and their practical implementation, spanning topics such as business strategy, research methodologies, finance, and related subjects, while also affording them the opportunity to explore specific areas of interest in greater depth. |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
RPL for access: RPL for exemption from modules: Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: Or |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 8, totalling 120 Credits.
Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 8, 60 Credits: Elective modules at Level 8, 60 Credits (Select three modules in each stream): General Stream: OR Economics Stream: OR Finance Stream: OR Risk Management Stream: OR Project Management Stream: OR International Business Stream: OR Digital Marketing Stream: OR Business Innovation Stream: |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Analyse and critically evaluate contemporary business concepts, demonstrating advanced proficiency in application and understanding the intricacies of balancing commercial viability with ethical principles and sustainable development.
2. Conduct research, employing methodologies and analysis techniques to produce contributions that are relevant to the digitally transformed business world. 3. Evaluate and devise adept organisational strategies for dynamic commercial environments, showing strategic management competencies. 4. Execute and present findings of a comprehensive capstone project, integrating knowledge from diverse disciplines to address real-world business challenges effectively. 5. Apply in-depth knowledge to analyse and solve complex problems relevant to the chosen elective major, demonstrating specialised expertise relevant to a specific area of commerce. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7: INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT Assessment practices must be fair, transparent, valid and reliable and should ensure that the learner is not disadvantaged in any way. Integrated assessment provides the opportunity for learners to demonstrate that they can integrate concepts, actions and ideas achieved across a range of unit standards and contexts. Integrated assessment must evaluate the quality of competence attained by the learner. The assessment strategies used must ensure that all Specific Outcomes, Essential Embedded Knowledge and Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are assessed. The assessment of the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes should be integrated with the assessment of the Specific Outcomes. The learner who has provided the required evidence for all the exit-level outcomes of the qualification will be assessed as competent and awarded the qualification. This will ensure that learning and competence are not achieved only by the building blocks of the unit standards but also the integration and application of the fundamental, core and elective building blocks to a particular context, i.e. the exit level outcomes. Formative Assessments: Summative Assessments: |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| The Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree compares very well with the Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree offered in the following countries.
Country: Ireland Institution: The Cork University Business School Qualification Title: Bachelor of Commerce Honours. Duration: 4 Years Credits: 240 Entry requirements: Purpose: This four-year qualification is designed to help learners gain the theoretical and practical skills required for the employment market in business. Teaching and academic guidance will be provided by experienced staff; learners will have opportunities to interact with businesses and learn in real workplace scenarios, and learners also have the option to benefit from experiencing college life in other countries through the Study Abroad Programme. Similarities: Differences: Country: India Institution: Delhi University Qualification Title: BCom Honours Entry Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (Commerce-based courses) Duration: Credits: 148 Purpose A BCom Hons qualification will assist learners to understand various systems, policy framework and strategies needed to administer the rapid changes in an organization's globally oriented environment, like equipping learners with an understanding of the financial system, its constituents, the principles on which it operates, inter-linkages and regulatory concerns, apart from exposure to different functional domains of management. Similarities Difference BCom Hons qualification in Delhi University, even though named BCOM Honours, is a more extensive qualification, and more like our undergraduate BCom. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification provides opportunities for horizontal and vertical articulation options.
Horizontal articulation: Vertical articulation: |
| MODERATION OPTIONS |
| N/A |
| CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
| N/A |
| NOTES |
| N/A |
| 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. |
| 1. | Stadio (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. |