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 Accounting Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
49923  Bachelor of Accounting Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of Witwatersrand 
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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Level 6  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:
To provide learners with a first qualification which is geared towards the accounting professional qualification, and in particular to prepare the learner at the undergraduate level for entry to an Honours, together with the three-year qualification, would allow the learners to enter the accounting profession's qualifying examination.

Rationale: 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement.
Or
National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor's studies.
Or
National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor's studies. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
Total credits per NQF Level and per content type:
  • Fundamental: 120 credits, Level 5.
  • Core: 240 credits, level 6.

    Total: 360 credits, levels 5 and 6.

    Amendments to general rules and regulations are attached:
    The courses required for the qualification are all existing courses currently offered in the first three years of the present four-year Bachelor of Accountancy qualification as follows:
    Course code: Course name:
  • ACCN304: Auditing III.
  • ACCN226: Business Communications II (half course).
  • ACCN227: Business Information Systems II (half course).
  • STAT107: Business Statistics I (half course).
  • LAWS130: Commercial Law I.
  • LAWS209: Commercial Law II.
  • APPM107: Computational Mathematics I (half course).
  • ECON109: Economics I.
  • ECON216: Economics IIA (half course).
  • ACCN106: Financial Accounting I.
  • ACCN222: Financial Accounting II.
  • ACCN301: Financial Accounting III.
  • ACCN231: Management Accounting and Finance II (half course).
  • ACCN325: Management Accounting and Finance III.
  • ACCN302: Taxation III. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. The qualifying learner has an in-depth knowledge of a major discipline in more than one area.
    2. The qualifying learner is able to convert business records using formal and accepted accounting practices into management information.
    3. The qualifying learner is able to operate in both turbulent and stable economic environments and to respond effectively to uncertainties.
    4. The qualifying learner has the ability to access, process and communicate information appropriately and effectively.
    5. The qualifying learner is able to work effectively as an individual, in multicultural teams and in multidisciplinary environments.
    6. The qualifying learner is competent to engage in life-long learning through the exercise of fundamental learning skills and understands the requirement to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast the changing business, financial and policy environment which brings ever new methods, techniques, and competitive challenges.
    7. The qualifying learner is ethical and aware of the code of conduct adopted by the Institution and of the necessity to carry this code into the world of work.
    8. The qualifying learner, with a specialisation in Financial Accounting and other related subjects (such as Tax, Auditing and Management Accounting and Finance) is equipped to proceed to a post-graduate year of study to enable him or her to meet the requirements for entry to the professional qualifying examination of the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1:
  • The qualifying learner demonstrates specialist knowledge of a major discipline in more than one area.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2:
  • The qualifying learner is able to produce auditable statements to South African standards.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3:
    The qualifying learner is able to:
  • Understand the nature and functioning of diverse forms of enterprise and economic systems and is able to perform tasks necessary to the effective functioning of enterprises in varying circumstances.
  • Formulate and propose potential solutions to various economic, organisational, business and social problems.
  • Use multi-disciplinary approaches to conceptual thinking and problem-solving.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4:
    The qualifying learner is able to:
  • Access information using a spectrum of technologies, ranging from hand-written to auto-generated business records and electronic data bases.
  • Process and communicate information using technologies ranging from written reports to visual presentations.
  • Access, use and organise information knowledge in an ever-changing context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5:
    The qualifying learner:
  • Understands and uses skills to manage him/herself and exercises self discipline.
  • Can plan and initiate the successful completion of management supporting, management and administrative tasks individually or in collaboration.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6:
    The qualifying learner is able to:
  • Formulate and solve.
  • Propose potential solutions to convergent and divergent economic, organisational, business and social problems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 7:
  • The qualifying learner has shown in her/his behaviour/value system and in the conduct of her/his studies, that the importance of ethical and professional behaviour is understood and applied.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 8:
  • By qualifying with the proposed new BAccSci with accounting specialisations, followed by an HDipAcc or the proposed new BAccSci Honours, the learner is eligible to sit a further specialist examination and apply for registration with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to become a Chartered Accountant. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

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

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Commerce, Level 7

    Vertical articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Science, Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting, Level 8. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

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

    NOTES 
  • The qualification forms part of the programme to provide the four-year university qualification required for entry to the qualifying examination of the accountancy profession. Currently the University offers a four-year Bachelor of Accountancy that allows a graduate to enter the professional examination.
  • The new programme consists of the proposed three-year Bachelor of Accounting Science together with either the one-year Bachelor of Accounting Science with Honours (new degree to be introduced), or the one-year Higher Diploma in Accountancy (existing qualification).

    Duration:

    The duration of the qualification is 3 years full-time and not applicable for part-time.

    Viability
  • The University, through the Department of Accounting and more recently through the School of Accountancy has been educating prospective professional accountants (particularly prospective chartered accountants) since the early days of the University. More recently education has been provided at least in terms of the requirements of the professional accounting bodies in South African, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Public Accountants' and Auditors' Board.

    Qualifications in the discipline have been, and are offered at bachelor, honours, masters and doctoral level as well as post-graduate diploma level.
  • The proposed degree is at bachelor level, and, together with the proposed BAccSci Honours or the existing HDipAcc, replaces an existing four-year BAcc degree. 
    		•

    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 Witwatersrand 


    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.