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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Commerce in Law 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
93729  Bachelor of Commerce in Law 
ORIGINATOR
The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 
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 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  376  Not Applicable  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:
This Qualification is aimed at promoting access to higher education and equiping learners with appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes attuned to the demands of business and industry. Learners will gain a critical understanding of the interplay between the disciplines of modern business management, strategic financial planning and the governing rules of our law.

The qualification design reflects the logical progression of learning by introducing learners to the foundational and fundamental aspects of their learning areas in the first year and then progressing to the higher-order skills of analysing, interpreting and applying the principles and theories of focus areas in the second and third years of study.

This Bachelor of Commerce in Law is designed to develop the learner's ability to think and act strategically and professionally and to contribute meaningfully to the organisations they will be serving. Consequently, it facilitates the development of a well-rounded strategic business knowledge base in conjunction with substantial legal skills, knowledge and insight to allow for professional practice entry into a broad range of business enterprises as well as further studies in law or commerce.

Rationale:
The Bachelor of Commerce in Law provides learners with a basic grounding in the key disciplines of Economics, Business Management, Strategic Financial Planning, Financial Management and Law, to enable them to enter into a career in business which requires a good grounding in law. Alternatively, those who wish to pursue a career in law will do so with a sound foundation in business management and strategic financial planning.

The design for this Degree has been informed by a demand identified in industry as a business and law combination that will enable graduates to contribute to a business by providing legal direction and support within the context of the objectives to which modern businesses generally aspire. In keeping with the purpose of Bachelor Degrees, this qualification will therefore enable learners to apply a well-rounded strategic knowledge base to professional entry practice across a broad range of enterprise types and industries. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
  • RPL can be used to grant learners who do not initially meet the full entry requirements admission to the qualification.
  • Learners may apply for credits or exemptions for modules already passed in-house or at any other recognised institution.
  • The qualification may be achieved in part by the assessment of competencies acquired through informal and non-formal learning.

    The RPL process is be applied on a case-by-case basis, using a structured range of assessment tools, procedures and techniques, to assess the leaner's competences against the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. The Independent Institute of Education (IIE) RPL Policy and the IIE Academic Credit and Qualification Completion Policy guide this process.

    Entry Requirements:
    To gain access to this qualification, an applicant is required to have one of the following:
  • National Senior Certificate at NQF Level 4, granting entry to Degree studies.
  • Higher Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma in a related discipline.
  • Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption.
  • National Certificate (Vocational), at NQF Level 4, granting entry to Degree studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Bachelor of Commerce in Law comprises 28 compulsory modules, totalling 376 Credits, at the following NQF Levels:

    Modules at NQF Level 5:
  • Accounting 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Business Management 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Law of Persons 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Law of Enterprise Structures 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Accounting 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Business Management 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Family Law 1B, 12 Credits.

    Total Credits at NQF Level 5 = 84.

    Modules at NQF Level 6:
  • Economics 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Economics 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Law of Succession 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Business management 2A, 12 Credits.
  • Financial Management 1A, 18 Credits.
  • Financial Planning Law 2A, 14 Credits.
  • Insolvency Law 2A, 12 Credits.
  • Structure of SA Financial Markets 2A, 12 Credits.
  • Business management 2B, 12 Credits.
  • Financial Management 1B, 18 Credits.
  • Financial Planning Law 2B, 14 Credits.
  • Labour Law 2B, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to Taxation 2B, 12 Credits.

    Total Credits at NQF Level 6 = 172.

    Modules at NQF Level 7:
  • Business Management 3A, 18 Credits.
  • Law of Property 3A, 14 Credits.
  • Law of Contract 3A, 14 Credits.
  • E-Commerce Law 3A, 12 Credits.
  • Business Management 3B, 18 Credits.
  • Methods of Payment Law 3B, 14 Credits.
  • Corporate Governance 3B, 16 Credits.
  • Specific Contracts 3B, 14 Credits.

    Total Credits at NQF Level 7 = 120. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate well-rounded and systematic knowledge of the structure of the South African legal system and the relationship between the various sub-disciplines of law that comprise our legal system.
    2. Identify and evaluate the basic principles and norms of the modern South African Private and Mercantile Law.
    3. Engage with advanced legal texts pertaining to legislation, court precedent and academic articles to source, identify and select appropriate and relevant information to support and inform statements, recommendations and decisions related to legal and corporate financial position.
    4. Interpret, analyse and solve questions of law of an advanced nature, including legal problems encountered in financial planning.
    5. Articulate, contextualise and communicate a legal conundrum and its likely solution in a professional and academically appropriate manner. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The relationship between the various sub-disciplines of the South African legal system is understood.
  • The ability and insight to identify a legal issue as falling predominantly within a particular sub-discipline of the South African law is displayed.
  • The legal principles and norms applying in an identified sub-discipline are identified and understood.
  • The insight and ability to apply the legal norms of a particular sub-discipline to a question of law is demonstrated.
  • The relationship between the three central disciplines for this Degree, namely Law, Financial Planning and Business Management are identified and interrogated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • A critical understanding of the relationship between Mercantile Law, Private Law and the other branches of the SA legal system is demonstrated.
  • Knowledge of the basic principles, language and terminology of the major areas of Private and Mercantile Law is covered and displayed.
  • Knowledge of advanced principles, language and terminology of selected areas of Private and Mercantile Law, including the principles and norms of Financial Planning Law is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Knowledge, insight and competencies required to solve legal questions and problems commonly encountered in the legal and business environments are displayed.
  • Relevant case law, legislation and other legal texts are critically analysed and practically applied.
  • Legal text is appropriately classified according to its origin and the hierarchy of authoritative South African sources of law.
  • The relevant sources where our law may be found: both electronic and hardcopy collections of legislation, precedent and academic texts are identified, explored and utilised.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • A thorough knowledge of the common law, statutory law (legislation) and case law pertaining to relevant areas of private and mercantile law is demonstrated.
  • The ability to correctly analyse the legal problem, identify the relevant area of law applicable, understand the legal question, locate the resources, do the research and develop a cogent and articulate response is displayed.
  • The law is applied in conjunction with the relevant considerations of financial planning and business management.
  • The ability to coherently, cogently and in clear language articulate - both verbally and in writing - a legal question and its likely solution is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • A basic independent inquiry into any field of the South African Private and Mercantile Law is conducted.
  • A legal question or problem is confronted and correctly analysed, the applicable area of law identified, the legal question understood, the resources identified, the research done and a cogent and articulate response developed.
  • The ability to apply the law in conjunction with the relevant considerations of Financial Planning and Business Management is displayed.
  • The ability to coherently, cogently and in clear language articulate - both verbally and in writing - a legal question and its likely solution is demonstrated.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative assessment:
    Learning and assessment are integrated. Continuing formative assessment is required so that learners are given feedback on their progress in the achievement of learning outcomes. The scheme of work includes assignments based on the learning material and learners are given feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited numbers of outcomes.

    Summative assessment:
    Summative assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Such judgement must include integrated assessments which test the learner's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes as a whole. Examinations, projects, reports or equivalent assessments, such as a portfolio of evidence, assess a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed. Summative assessment also tests the learner's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module.

    Integrated assessments will be designed to achieve:
  • An integration of the achievement of Exit Level Outcomes in a way which demonstrates that the purpose of the qualification as a whole has been achieved.
  • The evaluation of learner performance which can provide evidence of applied competence.
  • Criterion-referenced assessment which is clearly explained to, and understood by, the learners and which can be applied in the recognition of prior learning. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    International comparisons are somewhat problematic in that Roman-Dutch law survives, apart from in South Africa, in only a handful of other countries, including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, East Timor and Guyana. In addition, this proposed qualification has a distinctive emphasis on Financial Planning Law which is not widely offered in other countries.

    Countries that operate on the basis of an NQF include the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Comparison for this Degree was therefore made with Commerce qualifications majoring in law in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. A direct comparison as possible of the title, exit level outcomes and assessment criteria was undertaken with each.

    The Bachelor of Commerce in Law aligns well with the following international offerings:
    Bachelor of Commerce: Business Law Degree offered by the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
    This three-year full time qualification prepares learners for the demands of the business world by focusing on the development of professional skills and acquiring knowledge of business structures and financial investments. It combines a common set of core and fundamental modules, i.e. Management, Law of Contract, Property Law, Business and Enterprise Law and Taxation.

    Bachelor of Commerce: Commercial Law offered the University of Curtin (Perth, Australia):
    The three-year full time qualification prepares learners for the demands of the business world by combining theoretical and applied learning. It combines a common set of core and fundamental modules, i.e. Management, Law of Contract, Property Law, Entrepreneurial Law and Taxation.

    Business-and-Law undergraduate Degree offered by the Warwick University, United Kingdom:
    This Degree is aimed at giving learners a firm grounding in the disciplines of law and business studies. It helps them to develop a critical understanding of both the legal framework of business activity and the economic and commercial context in which law operates. Particular emphasis is laid upon the many areas of overlapping interest between the two disciplines, for example, the structure of companies and other forms of business organisation, competition law and the regulation of markets, consumer law, finance and financial markets, taxation, and international perspectives on law and business. Learners are given a wide variety of options, including a foreign language. In order to practice in the field of law, the learners would need to convert their commerce Degree into a comparable law Degree by pursuing further studies.

    Bachelor's Degree in Business Law and Taxation offered by Monash University (An Australian university with sites of delivery in India, South Africa and Malaysia):
    This Degree is a commerce-based qualification with a major in Business Law and Taxation to provide learners with an understanding of the legal environment of business. Employment prospects include working in legal compliance and in areas such as marketing, trade practices, corporations, employment and taxation. The taxation units offered provide the basis for a career as a tax agent and tax adviser. Learners who have enrolled for the Degree in business law and taxation tend to specialise in business studies instead of law.

    Conclusion:
    It is submitted that the proposed IIE Bachelor of Commerce in Law compares favourably with similar Degrees offered by overseas universities as a flexible business-and-law Degree suited to the demands of the global business environment. All these qualifications are aimed at developing the learners' critical understanding of the business activities as well as the economic and commercial contexts in which law operates. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification articulates horizontally with any related:
  • Bachelor of Commerce Degree at NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Law Degree at NQF Level 7.

    This qualification articulates vertically with any related:
  • Bachelor Honours Degree in Commerce or Law at NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce or Law at NQF 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 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. The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 


    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.