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: 

Diploma: Accounting 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
60049  Diploma: Accounting 
ORIGINATOR
ICESA City Campus - Durban 
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 Diploma  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 5  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 0480/09  2009-07-01  2011-09-07 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2012-09-07   2016-09-07  

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 is replaced by: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
84346  Diploma in Accounting  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

The purpose of this qualification is to produce graduates who will be extremely marketable in the highly competitive fields of finance and general management.

Rationale:

The qualification provides an exciting career opportunity in the accounting field. The curriculum has been designed to give learners an in-depth knowledge of the business sector and the skills required to build a successful career. Many careers are linked to the Diploma in Accounting, some of which are as follows:
  • Marketing Assistant.
  • Credit Controller.
  • Legal Secretary.
  • Financial Analyst.
  • Bookkeeper.
  • Accountant. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that the learner entering into this qualification has analytical, mathematical and co-ordinating skills. Practical and problem solving skills are also assumed to be in place.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    In case of appropriate prior learning or experience, learners can apply to be assessed up to 40% of complete outcomes. Learners will have to prove competence in the outcomes indicated by them. The assessment of these learners will also be externally moderated to ensure academic quality and credibility.

    Access to the Qualification:

    For entry to the qualification, the learner must have passed grade 12 with a pass in English, pass in Maths and/or Accounting and/or Recognition of Prior Learning. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Diploma in Accounting is a 3 year qualification and is offered at NQF Level 5 and has a total of 360 credits.

    Learning components; Number of Credits allocated; NQF Level:

    Fundamentals:
  • Communication; 20 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Marketing; 20 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Commercial Law; 15 credits; NQF Level 5.

    Core:
  • Accounting; 30 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Information Systems; 20 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Economics; 20 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Management Principles and Policies; 15 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Cost and Management Accounting; 20 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Internal Auditing; 20 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Quantitative Techniques; 20 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Financial Management; 25 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Corporate Business Administration; 20 credits; NQF Level 5.
  • Experiential Learning; 25 credits; NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Interpret the South African legal system, its operation and the basic concepts of law.

    2. Analyse economic issues and techniques of economic analysis.

    3. Differentiate the advantages of computerization, criteria for computerization and components of a system.

    4. Identify the various forms of communication and their purpose.

    5. Determine the need for accounting information and comprehend general accounting terms and basic concepts.

    6. Apply marketing principles and concepts.

    7. Illustrate internal auditing procedures.

    8. Differentiate between cost accounting and financial accounting.

    9. Recognise the importance of business management.

    10. Understand financial management.

    11. Prepare financial statements.

    12. Demonstrate ability to collect and present numerical data. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria:

    1. Explain the communication process and any barriers to communication.
    2. Indicate the different types of law in terms of the South African Legal System.
    3. Demonstrate knowledge of marketing plans and ethical marketing.

    Specific Associated Assessment Criteria:

    1. Demonstrate knowledge of basic economic problems.
    2. Interpret the microeconomic aspect of the economy.
    3. Illustrate how money market equilibrium operates.
    4. Explain the operation of the economy as a whole and macroeconomics.
    5. Analyse the globalisation effects on the local economy.
    6. Display knowledge of the needs and basic concepts of accounting information.
    7. Apply the double entry principle.
    8. Identify the need for subsidiary journals and be able to prepare them.
    9. Perform a bank reconciliation.
    10. Record and calculate depreciation on assets.
    11. Prepare financial statements.
    12. Distinguish between various types of companies.
    13. Prepare financial statements for different companies.
    14. Demonstrate knowledge of internal auditing processes.
    15. Interpret graphs.
    16. Analyse and interpret financial statements.
    17. Demonstrate an understanding of risk measurement.
    18. Illustrate the procedure for meetings.

    Formative Assessment:
  • Tests.
  • Assignments.
  • Presentations.
  • Experiential Learning.

    Summative Assessment:
  • Examinations.

    Integrated Assessment:

    A balanced approach is used where trainers collect evidence not only by means of formal testing and observation but also by means of an experiential learning period where students are placed in industry for a period of 3 to 6 months. The learners are then assessed by the employer and the trainer with regards to on-site training and practice. To attain a qualification and thus be credited for experiential, a learner has to meet all stipulated requirements as per policy. If the learner is not successful in the experiential learning component of the course, he/she will be replaced within the industry for further practical training and on-site supervision. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is in line with similar international qualifications namely:
  • The Manchester Business School. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Vertical Articulation: The completion of the Diploma provides vertical access to B.Comm degree that is offered by UNISA.

    Horizontal Articulation: The completion of this diploma provides horizontal access to other financial qualifications in commerce such as:
  • Cost and management accounting.
  • Financial management.
  • Auditing. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Moderation includes both internal and external moderation. All assignments and tests are internally moderated. Faculty Advisory Board members will be appointed from various educational institutions and industry. Some have also been appointed to serve as external moderators. 

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

    NOTES 
    This qualification has been replaced by qualification 84346, which is "Diploma: Accounting", Level 6, 360 credits. 

    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. ICESA City Campus - Durban 
    2. ICESA City Campus - Pietermaritzburg 


    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.