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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Bachelor of Commerce in Economics 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
93854  Bachelor of Commerce in Economics 
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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  361  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2030-06-30  

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is threefold: to promote access to higher education, to qualify learners for careers in the business/economics field and to provide a platform for further business management or economics studies.

The Degree is structured in accordance with the HEQSF guidelines and will provide a graduate with the knowledge, skills and applied competencies sought in modern businesses to inform and support business sustainability and growth, and to provide strategic direction from an economics perspective. Graduates will also be well-prepared with the insight and skills that are relevant to further specialised study in support of the principle of life-long learning. The qualification design presents a combination of skills and competencies.

This qualification is designed to facilitate critical learning through exposure to, and application of, business management and economics practices. The qualification design thus reflects the logical progression of learning by introducing learners to foundational and fundamental aspects of their learning areas in the first year before progressing to the higher-order skills of analysing, interpreting and applying the principles and theories of the focus areas in the second and third years of study.

Graduates will gain a critical understanding of the relationship between the disciplines of business management and economics in the business world. Consequently, graduates will be able to contribute to basic enquiry which informs strategic thinking and business management practices against a background and knowledge base of the South African business and economic environment.

This Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Degree is designed to ensure that graduates are positioned to think and act strategically and professionally in the context of the corporate and governmental environment in order to contribute widely and meaningfully to the organisations or businesses that employ them. The qualification design thus facilitates the development of a well-rounded strategic thinking along with a solid business and economic knowledge base.

Rationale:
This qualification will serve the primary purpose of a Bachelor's Degree by providing "a well-rounded, broad education that equips graduates with the knowledge base, theory and methodology of disciplines and fields of study, and to enable them to demonstrate initiative and responsibility in an academic or professional context. The general Bachelor's Degree emphasises general principles and theory as preparation for entry into general employment or for postgraduate studies.

The design for this Degree has been informed by requirements for a Degree of this nature identified by industry. The BCom Degree specialising in Economics has historically been well-regarded and graduates are consistently in demand in industry. The qualifying learner will be able to make a valuable contribution to the organisation or business that employs them, particularly in terms of their ability to support and manage business sustainability by identifying the critical success factors of a specific business and working with management teams to formulate and deploy strategies to grow a sustainable business. Graduates will be able to source, evaluate and interpret information that is necessary to guide sound business decision making, based on the effects and impact of various economic factors in relevant industries.

The learner will be acutely aware of economic challenges facing consumers and businesses/organisations and will be able to apply themselves creatively to strategic direction and support which aim to achieve business objectives. The strategic thinking and planning content in the qualification, combined with the strong economic focus, adds considerable value in terms of employability prospects. In keeping with the purpose of Bachelor's 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, government and industries.

Career opportunities for graduates of this degree exist in/as:
  • General management.
  • Banking and Insurance.
  • Business management.
  • Business consulting.
  • Financial consulting.
  • Corporate advising.
  • Business strategy planning.

    This qualification will adequately prepare graduates to continue their business studies at NQF Level 8. Graduates may pursue an Honours Degree within the field of economics and management sciences at any one of a number of institutions. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Learners can achieve this qualification in part through Recognition of Prior Learning. The institution's RPL Policy and the Academic Credit and Qualification Completion Policy guide this process.

    Skills, knowledge and experience in respect of competencies acquired through informal and non-formal learning are assessed in the RPL process. All RPL submissions are managed by an academic committee under the supervision of the Academic Manager and Registrar. RPL can therefore be for access into the qualification and the granting of credits.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum admission requirement is a:
  • Senior Certificate with matriculation endorsement.
    Or
  • National Senior Certificate granting access to Degree studies.
    Or
  • National Certificate (Vocational) granting access to Degree studies.
    Or
  • An Advanced Certificate or Diploma or Advanced Diploma in a cognate discipline. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises 28 modules at NQF Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 361 Credits.

    Compulsory modules at NQF Level 5:
  • Accounting 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Business Management 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Accounting 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Business management 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Applied Communication Techniques 1, 9 Credits.
  • Marketing 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Quantitative Techniques 1 A, 6 Credits.
  • Marketing 1B, 12 Credits.

    8 Modules totalling: 87 Credits.

    Compulsory modules at NQF Level 6:
  • Economics 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Economics 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Quantitative Techniques 1B, 6 Credits.
  • Business Management 2A, 12 Credits.
  • Business Management 2B, 12 Credits.
  • Microeconomics 2A, 18 Credits.
  • Macroeconomics 2B, 18 Credits.
  • Structure of SA Financial Markets, 12 Credits.
  • Economic Indicators, 12 Credits.

    Optional Modules at NQF Level 6 (choose 2):
  • Financial Management 1A, 18 Credits.
  • Financial Management 1B, 18 Credits.
    Or
  • Marketing 2A, 18 Credits.
  • Marketing 2B, 18 Credits.

    11 Modules totalling: 150 Credits.

    Compulsory modules at NQF Level 7:
  • Business Management 3A, 18 Credits.
  • Business Management 3B, 18 Credits.
  • Introduction to Research, 10 Credits.
  • Public Economics, 12 Credits.
  • International Trade, 12 Credits.
  • International Finance, 12 Credits.
  • Research Practice, 15 Credits.
  • Monetary Economics, 12 Credits.
  • Econometrics, 15 Credits.

    9 Modules totalling 124 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Communicate information reliably, appropriately and coherently using generally accepted academic and professional business conventions and formats.
    2. Demonstrate the ability to identify and assess the impact of various factors on business continuity and prosperity objectives.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to identify and evaluate business opportunities and propose strategies to leverage growth prospects.
    4. Demonstrate an ability to take informed ethical business decisions, drawing on appropriate ethical values and approaches, within a business environment.
    5. Demonstrate an ability to apply a range of methods to resolve problems or introduce change within a business environment. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Written and oral language conventions are used to demonstrate effective communication skills in different contexts.
  • The use of different styles of writing is demonstrated by adjusting conventions to genre and purpose.
  • Appropriate and correct use of grammar, syntax and punctuation is demonstrated to produce professional writing required in a business environment.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of financial management and strategy is demonstrated through the application of the concepts, facts and theories of financial- and business management.
  • The ability to establish competitive advantage within the broader South African and International business and economic environment is demonstrated.
  • Structured and systematic processes to support the economic and financial well-being of the organisation/business are developed and applied.
  • A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of fiscal policy, monetary policy and the South African financial markets and system is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • The ability to identify critical business success factors and the potential impact of various factors on business success and continuity is demonstrated.
  • The ability to evaluate and interpret the financial statements of a business entity to establish its financial position to enable sound business decision-making is demonstrated.
  • The ability to evaluate the financial status and working capital position of a business entity to support strategic decision-making is demonstrated.
  • Business prospects and opportunities are identified and evaluated and strategies to leverage opportunities are proposed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The ability to evaluate business opportunities and propositions in order to make informed decisions is demonstrated.
  • A critical awareness of the issues surrounding ethical business conduct and governance in practice is demonstrated.
  • The ability to function as part of a team, provide ethical business leadership and business patterns and statistics as the basis for good business decisions to ensure the economic well-being of the organisation is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • The ability to contextualise economic, business and market trends to assess the potential impact that a variety of economic, political, environmental and societal opportunities and concerns may have on an organisation/business is demonstrated, globally, regionally and locally is demonstrated.
  • Business challenges are identified and assessed and strategy changes to manage risk proposed.
  • Information needed to support sound decision-making in business is sourced, evaluated and interpreted.
  • The ability to manage information and knowledge in an organisation is demonstrated.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Learning and assessment are integrated with both formative and summative assessment utilised.

    Continual 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 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 
    Benchmarking for this qualification was done by comparison with qualifications and outcomes for a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) and/or Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Economics, in higher education institutions in Australia, New Zealand and England. A direct comparison of the title, exit level outcomes and assessment criteria was undertaken with each.

    The BCom in Economics shows a fair degree of similarity to a BCom majoring in Economics at Melbourne University in Australia and BCom majoring in Economics at the University of Otago in New Zealand. It is more loosely mapped to the BA (Honours) in Economics at the University of Nottingham in England.

    The BCom in Economics compares favourably with the three-year full time qualifications offered at the University of Melbourne and entitled BCom majoring in Economics, which also consists of core modules focussing on accounting, business management, quantitative modelling, finance, marketing and business communication. The major subject of economics broaches topics including macroeconomics, microeconomics and international economics, which compares well with the local BCom in Economics with its similar focus on accounting, business management, communication and economics.

    The qualification offered at Otago University in New Zealand focuses very similarly on marketing, business, accounting, finance, quantitative analysis for business and economic streams such as macroeconomics and microeconomics.

    The local BCom in Economics also compared favourably to the qualification at the University of Nottingham in England in terms of level and content in that: its focus on microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. The qualification is flexible in terms of allowing enrolled learners to choose non-compulsory modules in a wide range of subjects, such as marketing, accounting, philosophy etc. Depending on a learner's choice, this Degree could be modelled to reflect the local BCom in Economics quite closely.

    Conclusion:
    In terms of topics covered, the level of difficulty and balance between theory and practice, this BCom in Economics compares favourably with those offered internationally. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification will have both horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities.

    Learners wishing to change their undergraduate Bachelor's Degree can horizontally articulate with the Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management or with any other relevant Bachelor of Commerce Degree at NQF Level 7.

    Learners that complete this Degree can vertically articulate into a Bachelor of Commerce (Hon) Degree in Economics, or any other relevant Bachelor of Commerce (Hon) Degree 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.