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: 

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Accounting 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
16948  Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Accounting 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
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  Level 7  NQF Level 08  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 
Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods to practice as a general accountant with specialized knowledge of accounting, management accounting, taxation and auditing expected of Associate General Accountant (AGA), Commercial and Financial Accountant (CFA) or Intermediate qualification towards CA (SA).
Responding to the needs of the community
Responding to business and industry needs
In life-long learning and the appreciation of the value of education and society
Qualifiers will demonstrate knowledge, skills and applied competence in the field of study that provide opportunities for continued personal growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Learners who register for this qualification can:
  • Learn from predominantly written material
  • Communicate what they have learnt comprehensively in the medium of instruction
  • Learn and take responsibility for their own progress

    Recognition of prior learning

    The qualification recognises formal and non-formal prior learning (incorporating experiential learning) at a Higher Education and Training Certificate Level 6 in Commerce with a specialized focus on accounting or a functional equivalent. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The planned combination of learning outcomes are integrated with critical cross-field outcomes for this Qualification:

    Practical Competency:
    The demonstrated ability/skill to achieve the major Skills/Applied Competency of the qualification.

    Foundational Competency:
    The demonstrated understanding, by the Learner, of the embedded knowledge that underpins the end result/outcome.

    Reflective Competency:
    The demonstrated ability/skill to integrate or connect our performances and to reflect on, evaluate and adopt the above competencies.

    To successfully complete the qualification the learner will have to demonstrate his/her learning via module specific learning outcomes as well as critical cross-field learning outcomes.

    Module specific outcomes will include capabilities relating to module knowledge and the understanding thereof within a management leadership context and capabilities relating to integrated knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines within the management leadership field.

    Critical cross-field outcomes will include those specified in the learning outcomes for approved modules in the certificate and as appropriate to the learner's field of practice.
    Preparing corporate reports in compliance with General Accepted Accounting Practice.
    Demonstrating and applying theoretical and practical knowledge of auditing.
    Demonstrating knowledge of the Income Tax Act, Estate Duty Act and VAT Act in order to calculate tax liability.
    Demonstrating knowledge of cost methods and corporate financial management and to interpret cost and management information.

    The learner will be able to analyse and apply the basic principles relevant to the following:
    Prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP and applicable legislation.
    Prepare group statements by incorporating holding companies, subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures.
    Interpret General Accepted Auditing Practice.
    Demonstrate knowledge of corporate law and ethical code of accountants and auditors.
    Apply knowledge to facilitate the audit process.
    Calculate personal income tax and estate duty.
    Calculate corporate income tax and secondary tax.
    Interpret and calculate Value Added Tax.
    Interpretation of tax laws and court cases.
    Apply and interpret different cost methods and management techniques.
    Calculate cost of capital and to analyse investing and financing decisions.
    Analyse financial statements and determine business valuations including amalgamations, take-overs and reconstructions.
    Communicate financial and control information. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    A learner should provide evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills and attitude) by means of the following:
    Financial statements drawn up according to set standards.
    An audit programme compiled for statutory audits.
    Management report on improvements on internal control.
    Calculation of the tax liability in respect of:
  • Personal tax
  • Corporate tax
  • VAT
  • Estate duty
  • Donations tax
    Other taxes, e.g. Stamp duty
    Estate planning
    Tax planning
    Management Accounts
    Cost reports
    Cost volume analysis
    Budgets
    Investment decisions
    Finance decisions
    Business valuations
    Analysis of financial statements 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Vertical: It gives access to postgraduate studies at Masters level and qualifying examination towards CA (SA).
    Horizontal: It gives access to psotgraduate studies. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • A system of external peer review and evaluation of departments including evaluation of the standards and assessment practices per Department.
  • Qualifications: The minimum academic and workplace experience requirements at a level above the level of moderation.
  • Appropriate professional criteria will be drafted in the case of workplace assessment
  • Mentorship: All junior and new members of staff are mentored by senior members as they work together in teams. All assessment done by external assessors is quality controlled by internal staff.
  • Any moderation criteria as determined by the ETQA. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The academic staff of the University of the Free State complies with standards set by Senate and will exercise their assessment within the approved quality assurance system of the University. Assessors will also meet all criteria as stipulated by the relevant ETQA.

    Assessors are:
  • Subject matter specialists
  • Registered with the awarding body
  • Accredited by the awarding body after achieving competency against Unit Standards of competence for Assessors
  • To be administrated, advised and coached by an Internal Verifier 
    		•

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

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.
     
    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 the Free State 


    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.