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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Commerce: Agribusiness Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
16535  Master of Commerce: Agribusiness Management 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  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  400  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 091/21  2021-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 
The purpose of the qualification is to prepare students at an advance level for a management or research career in the fields of economics and business applied to the agricultural and agribusiness sector. This course targets specifically those that have to operate at management level in agricultural related institutions.

It creates an opportunity for specialisation over and above the skills acquired in the B Com degree. In comparison to the B Com level which is more a generalised approach, the M Com courses emphasises specialisation in two of the core areas offered by this department, viz. Agribusiness and agricultural and rural finance. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Matriculation certificate
First degree: B Com (Agribusiness Management) or any B Com degree with majors in economics, business, management, marketing or financial management
Honours degree: Any B Com (Hons) degree
Other:
Learners can be admitted to the M Com programme in agribusiness management having obtained a B Com or B Com Hons degree in agricultural economics. In case of the Honours degree the learner could be exempted from some of the course credits and will only have to do a thesis. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
M Com (Agribusiness Management)

Learning outcomes:
1. A M Com (Agribusiness management) graduate is able to identify, analyse and provide solutions to problems and issues in the agribusiness and food sector at a strategic level. An advance theoretical and applied understanding of the principles of economic theory and business management and how it relates to the agricultural and food sector will be achieved, within specific areas of specialisation namely agribusiness, agricultural and rural finance.

B Com (Hons) (Agribusiness Management)

2. The B Com (Hons) (Agribusiness management) graduate has an advance theoretical understanding of the principles of economic theory and business management and how it relates to the agricultural and food sector. This is achieved through course work within specific areas of specialisation such as agribusiness and the food sector, agricultural and rural finance and agricultural policy.

Critical cross-field outcomes:
  • Be able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team on agribusiness and food management.
  • Demonstrate the ability to do problem-solving research in the agribusiness and agricultural sector.
  • Demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate a research problem, formulate a hypothesis, do a literature study and execute field-level research and write a scientific report independently. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.
  • Problem solving ability through financial and economic applications in natural and biological resources
  • Advanced understanding of economic theory relevant to areas of specialisation.
  • Be able to strategically apply the principles of business management as it relates to the agricultural and food sector.
  • Advanced quantitative and analytical skills as it relates to economic and financial applications.
  • Advanced knowledge of farm and agribusiness and food sector management, agricultural marketing, agricultural and rural finance.
  • Knowledge of food and fibre supply chain management in agriculture.
  • Ability to negotiate and plan strategically.
  • In-depth knowledge of financial management and business management.
  • Knowledge of research methodology and the ability to apply it successfully.

    2.
  • Theoretical basis for problem solving in natural and biological resources.
  • Advanced understanding of economic theory relevant to agribusiness and agricultural finance.
  • Advanced quantitative and analytical skills as it relates to economic and financial applications.
  • Advanced knowledge of farm and food and agribusiness management, agricultural and food marketing, agricultural and rural finance.
  • Knowledge of agribusiness institutions and systems.

    Integrated assessment:
    Simulations
    Written examinations
    Oral examinations
    Other:
    Assignments and exercises for course work
    Full Masters thesis on approved research topic 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Related qualifications:
    D Com (Agribusiness Management)

    D Com (Agribusiness Management) serves as an entry point to the related qualification 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Memoranda
  • External examiners 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    At least Ph D in agricultural economics

    Career experience required:
    Should have published in the field of agricultural economics and also has some university experience or experience as agricultural economist in agribusiness, farming or banks.

    Other criteria:
    Trained as an assessor 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    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. University of Pretoria 


    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.