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: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
71690  Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate 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  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 
Purpose:

The purpose of the programme is to broaden the knowledge gained at undergraduate level, in practice and to give a practical application of such knowledge. It will play a major role in preparing students for the CFP (Certificate in Financial Planning) examination.

The Financial Advisers and Investment Services (FAIS) Act will come into operation on 1 August 2004. This will require that all financial advisers in South Africa will have to formally register with the Financial Services Board (FSB) in order to continue as advisers. At the moment there are approximately 30 000 financial advisers active in South Africa. Only 2500 are Certified Financial Planners (CFPS). Although the FAIS Act provides for different levels of adviser (and therefore different levels of Qualification), there is no doubt that the need for the Certificate in Financial Planning Qualification (the highest level recognized by the FAIS Act) will increase significantly.

Rationale:

The rationale for this programme is:

To provide graduate students with the core knowledge and skills about financial planning as it has become clear that there is a need for a bridging course in financial planning to assist in the preparation for CFP (Certificate in Financial Planning) examinations.

To develop students' appreciation for economic principles underlying business processes and practices with special focus on financial planning.

To provide students with a foundation for the study and the interpretation of business processes and practices related to financial planning.

To improve the unacceptably low pass mark in the distance learning CFP examinations and to assist students to start preparing in a disciplined way well before the CFP examinations are due. Legislation will result in a more professional group of investment advisers in the years to come and the CFP qualification will become more important and popular than it is at the moment. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Any Bachelors degree obtained in a related field and substantial practical experience in the field of financial planning.

Recognition of prior learning:

Prospective students without an undergraduate degree, but with extensive practical experience, have the opportunity to enroll based on the completion of the National Certificate in Financial Planning (SAQA ID: 57695) at NQF Level 6.

Access to the Qualification:

Any Bachelors degree obtained in a related field and substantial practical experience in the field of financial planning. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
This Qualification is made up of a combination of learning outcomes from Core components, totalling 120 credits. 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. The successful student can undertake either independently or as a member of a team, the design of a tax plan for an individual or enterprise.

2. The successful student can either individually or as part of a team design an estate plan for individuals.

3. The successful student can individually or as part of a team formulates an investment plan for an individual or enterprise.

4. The successful student can either individually or as part of a team develops a retirement plan.

5. The successful student can draft either individually or as part of a team a complete insurance plan as well as a health plan for an individual or an enterprise.

6. The successful student can either individually or as part of a team formulates and implement a pension or provident fund for a group of individuals or a company.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

This Qualification addresses all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes. A student who obtains this Qualification can:
  • Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.
  • Work with others as a member of a team, group, organization, community.
  • Organize and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Collect, analyze, organize and critically evaluate information.
  • Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion.
  • Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Demonstrate and understand the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
  • Contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.
  • Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities.
  • Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts.
  • Explore education and career opportunities.
  • Develop entrepreneurial opportunities. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The student will present a plan spelling out the tax plan for a particular individual or institution. The plan presented will be judged in terms of all the elements that constitute such a plan and the extent toe which these elements take cognizance of the market, legislation and the practical situation.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The student will present a plan spelling out a complete estate planning for a particular individual. The plan presented will be judged in terms of all the elements that constitute such a plan and the extent toe which these elements take cognizance of the market, legislation and the practical situation.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • The student will formulate an investment plan that reflects the student's insight in the investment environment. The plan presented will be assessed in terms of the practicality, suitability, meeting of legal requirements and the present as well as the expected market situation.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The student will formulate and design a retirement plan that reflects the student's insight in retirement planning. The plan presented will be assessed in terms of the practicality, suitability, meeting of legal requirements and the present as well as the expected market situation.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • The student will formulate and design a health and insurance plan that reflects the student's insight. The plan presented will be assessed in terms of the practicality, suitability, meeting of legal requirements and the present as well as the expected market situation.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • The student will formulate and implement a pension or provident fund that meets the needs of the client and takes the regulatory environment into account.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Various components of the programme are designed to draw on knowledge gained in other courses and in practice to address a specific problem or design financial plans. A variety of procedures and methods are employed to undertake the assessments. These include written and oral presentations, tests, examinations, case studies, individual and group assignments. The study culminates in the design of various financial plans. It is compulsory for every student to undertake the compilation of various types of financial plans for prospective clients. The drafting of the plans requires that the student utilizes the knowledge and experience acquired from the study of all the subjects. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Name of programme or Qualification; University where offered:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Services; Chartered Institute of Technology, Singapore.
  • Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Personal Financial Planning; University of Waikato, New Zealand. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
  • Articulation during the programme: Credits for a BComm degree.
  • Articulation on completion: BComm Honours with additional work required. The possibility to proceed to an MPhil is under consideration. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The University of Stellenbosch has a system of external peer review and evaluation of departments. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department.

    A formal external appeal/re-mark system, however, does exist and will also apply to the proposed programme. In addition the programme curriculum and the manner in which it is represented and the manner in which student progress is evaluated, will on a regular basis be formally and independently evaluated by a professional body (The Board of the Financial Planning Institute), the Head Office of the International Institute as well as a peer committee appointed by the Senate of the University of Stellenbosch. 

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

    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. Stellenbosch University 


    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.