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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate: Business Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
88899  Higher Certificate: Business Studies 
ORIGINATOR
Nelson Mandela 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
Higher Certificate  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  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  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 Higher Certificate: Business Studies is to provide an exit qualification that exposes learners to one year of tertiary education in the fundamentals of Business and Economic Sciences, thereby making them more employable. On completion, learners will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental (entry-level) concepts and principles of business, accounting, personal finance, management, supply chain management, marketing and tourism and their application in real-life contexts and situations.

Rationale:
The percentage of learners who pass matric with a university exemption is usually low. This means a considerable number of learners leave school with a school leaver's Certificate that does not allow them entry into Degree or Diploma studies. At the same time these school leavers are poorly prepared for the job market. These learners are therefore in need of a first level tertiary qualification (NQF) that makes them (1) employable in the private or public sectors of the economy or (2) equips them to become self employed, or (3) prepares them and makes them eligible for entry into Diploma programmes.

This qualification creates an option for learners to venture into the next NQF Level available at Higher Institutions. Learners who successfully complete this Higher Certificate qualification and comply with all other admission requirements may proceed to the first year of any one of five Diploma qualifications offered by the Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences at NMMU: Economics, Logistics, Management, Marketing and Tourism Management. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is assumed that learners are competent in the Language of Learning and Teaching (LOLT).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Applicants who have not completed Grade 12, but who have worked in a relevant field and wish to further their education will be assessed individually according to the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) principles for admission to the qualification. RPL can also be used to grant learners credits towards the qualification.

Access to the Qualification:
  • National Senior Certificate.
  • National Certificate Vocational at NQF Level 4. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Higher Certificate: Business Studies consists of 10 compulsory modules, all at NQF Level 5, with 12 Credits each, totalling 120 Credits.
    Modules:
  • Fundamentals of Business Communications.
  • End User Computing.
  • Principles of Economics.
  • Numerical Skills for Business.
  • Fundamentals of Accounting.
  • Fundamentals of Personal Finance.
  • Fundamentals of Business Management.
  • Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management.
  • Fundamentals of Marketing.
  • Fundamentals of Tourism. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of the business sector and their application in real-life contexts.
    2. Communicate information coherently and reliably using basic conventions, writing skills.
    3. Apply given criteria pertaining to knowledge acquisition, to identify and address own task-specific learning needs in a given context.
    4. Explain the business organisation as a system within a wider context of society and the business world.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in the qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of office administration are applied.
  • Elementary procedures for financial management, including budgeting are used.
  • The association of the economic sector and the tourism sector is identified and discussed.
  • Basic computer skills are applied to process and save business data.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Communication tools are applied in a business environment to communicate information coherently to internal and external clients.
  • Basic conventions of professional discourse are applied appropriately in writing and orally.
  • Appropriate technology is applied in presentation skills.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • An academic text is read and integrated into learning activities to enhance knowledge in own studies.
  • Information and communications technology is used to further own learning.
  • Understanding of numerical and elementary statistical knowledge is applied in study material.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Basic and effective marketing and management processes that are beneficial to the organisation are discussed.
  • An appropriate level of responsibility shown to apply and utilise resources.
  • The business environment of a specific business is understood with an explanation given of how it influences the business.
  • Basic knowledge of accounting is applied interpret and allocate finances.

    Integrated Assessment:
    During the semester the focus of assessment in each module will be diagnostic and formative. Regular class quizzes and short written tests given aim to assess insight into and a clear understanding of fundamental concepts and concept frameworks, while in assignments and presentations learners will be required to integrate concepts through problem-solving and real-world applications.

    In the formal (summative) tests and examinations the focus will be on the demonstration of knowledge, skills and level-appropriate comprehension, integration and application of fundamental concepts and principles. Inter-module integrated assessment at this level will be incidental and will not be purposefully pursued. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Higher National Certificate in Business offered by Brighton School of Business and Management in the United Kingdom is a foundation course in Business and Management. It is a distance learning course that is highly regarded by employers in all business sectors. The qualification consist of 8 Units of essential business subjects, which gives learners a solid foundation of business skills and knowledge:
  • Business Environment.
  • Managing financial Resources and Decisions.
  • Organisations and Behaviour.
  • Marketing.
  • Business Decision Making.
  • Business Strategy.
  • Research Project.
  • Personal and Professional Development.

    The IT Sligo in Ireland offers a qualification that provides general business opportunities in the public and private sectors for learners who successfully complete the course. The qualification also provides a foundation for people interested in running their own business or advancing to further study. Learners can further their education by participating in a range of Diplomas and Degrees available in business qualifications.
    Modules:
  • Organisational behaviour.
  • Business mathematics.
  • Computer applications 1.
  • Financial accounting 1.
  • Computer applications 2.
  • Management accounting 1.
  • Introduction to modern business management/marketing 1.
  • Communications and interpersonal skills.
  • Marketing research and enterprise development.
  • Management 2.
  • Business law.
  • Economics.

    Conclusion:
    The aim of the Higher Certificate in Business Studies is to introduce learners to the business context, to prepare them for the job market and also to enable them to further their studies in the field. The two international qualifications used for comparison have a similar focus to that of Higher Certificate in Business Studies, thus indicating that this qualification compares favourably with international standards. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This Higher Certificate: Business Studies articulates vertically with an Advanced Certificate or a Diploma qualification within the same field at NQF Level 6. This articulation can be within the institution or with others offering similar qualifications. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Standard internal moderation procedures apply. A percentage from of all scripts will first be moderated internally by colleagues and then another selection of papers externally by appointed external moderators, as the Higher Certificate is an exit level qualification. The University's standard policy for the appointment of external examiners and moderators and handling of scripts for exit level examinations applies. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    For an applicant to register as an Assessor for this qualification, they should:
  • Hold at least a relevant qualification, one level higher than this qualification.
  • Have at least two years experience as an assessor in the subject matter and assessment.
  • Show competence in the planning and conducting of assessment of learning outcomes and in the design and development of assessment. 
    		•

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