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: 

Bachelor of Commerce Honours 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
9851  Bachelor of Commerce Honours 
ORIGINATOR
University of Witwatersrand 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours 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  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 
The purpose of the qualification is to enhance the employability of the learner in the commerce sector in the area of specialisation studied; these areas include accounting, auditing, economics, economic history, finance, human resources, industrial economics, information systems, insurance, management, marketing, real estate, and tax.

The purpose of the qualification is also to take the next step on an academic path and to intensify the specialisation in a specific discipline. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Formally Accredited Learning and Other Qualities:
The typical applicant has an appropriate discipline specific qualification such as a Bachelor of Commerce of the University, attained at a level of performance indicating an ability to handle more advanced conceptual thinking, problem solving and writing tasks. At least 120 credits must have been acquired in the specific discipline of specialisation to be pursued at the Honours level - consult the application information for the year of study for which application is being made.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

Applicants who fall outside of the normal admissions process who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that they have a qualification or experiential- or work based learning which has taken the learner to an equivalent level of a qualification specified above (under Formally Accredited Learning), may be considered for admission and/or for the recognition of prior accredited and/or prior experiential learning. Applicants who, after such assessment, are deemed to have sufficient potential but are in need of further academic development, may be required to broaden their curriculum to include preliminary programmes prior to admission or parallel programmes after admission. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. The qualifying learner has a knowledge of a major discipline with a wide overview of the academic reach of that discipline.

2. The qualifying learner demonstrates that s/he is able to undertake and complete a substantial piece of work integrating knowledge and make use of research methods.

3. The qualifying learner is able to operate in both turbulent and stable economic environments and to respond effectively to uncertainties.

4. The qualifying learner has the ability to access, process and communicate information appropriately and effectively.

5. The qualifying learner is able to work effectively as an individual, in multicultural teams and in multidisciplinary environments.

6. The qualifying learner is competent to engage in life-long learning through the exercise of fundamental learning skills and understands the requirement to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast the changing business, financial and policy environment which brings ever new methods, techniques, and competitive challenges.

7. The qualifying learner is ethical and aware of the code of conduct adopted by the University and of the necessity to carry this code into the world of work.

8. The qualifying learner, with a specialisation in Accounting and other related subjects (such as Tax, Internal Auditing and Managerial Accounting) is equipped to sit a further specialist examination and apply for registration with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to become an Associate General Accountant.

Critical Cross-field Outcomes:

a) "Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made" - see Exit Level Outcomes (ELO) 2 & 3.

b) "Working with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community" - see ELO 5.

c) "Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively" - see ELO 4 & 7.

d) "Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information" - see ELO 2, 3 & 4.

e) "Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion" - see ELO 1 & 4.

f) "Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others" - see ELO 4 & 7.

g) "Demonstrating an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts does not exist in isolation" - see ELO 3 & 6.

h) "Contributing 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:
  • (i) "Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively" - see ELO 1-8.
  • (ii) "Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities" - see ELO 7; note also that learners act in accordance with the code of conduct of the University and, where relevant, that of the professional discipline being studied.
  • (iii) "Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts" - see ELO 3 & 5.
  • (iv) "Exploring education and career opportunities" - see ELO 6 & 8.
  • (v) "Developing entrepreneurial opportunities" - see ELO 2 & 3. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1. The qualifying learner demonstrates advanced knowledge of a major discipline.

    2. The qualifying learner is able to plan and execute a research project.

    3. The qualifying learner is able to:
  • understand the nature and functioning of diverse forms of enterprise and economic systems and is able to perform tasks necessary to the effective functioning of enterprises in varying circumstances
  • formulate and propose potential solutions to various economic, organisational, business and social problems
  • use multi-disciplinary approaches to conceptual thinking and problem solving.

    4. The qualifying learner is able to:
  • access information using a spectrum of technologies, ranging from hand-written and auto-generated business records, to electronic data bases
  • process and communicate information using technologies ranging from written reports to visual presentations
  • access, use and organise information knowledge in an ever-changing context.

    5. The qualifying learner:
  • understands and uses skills to manage him/herself and exercises self discipline
  • can plan and initiate the successful completion of management supporting, management and administrative tasks individually or in collaboration.

    6. The qualifying learner is able to:
  • formulate and solve,
  • and propose potential solutions to
    convergent and divergent economic, organisational, business and social problems.

    7. The qualifying learner has shown in her/his behaviour/value system and in the conduct of her/his studies, that the importance of ethical behaviour is understood and applied.

    8. By qualifying with a BComHons, with these specialisations, the learner is eligible to sit a further specialist examination and apply for registration with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to become an Associate General Accountant.

    Integrated Assessment:

    The integrated assessment is achieved through the writing and examination of a research project. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This section specifies with which other qualifications of the University the qualification was designed to articulate, i.e. formal articulation; therefore the qualification can articulate informally with equivalent qualifications offered by the University, or with other qualifications offered nationally and internationally.

    Entry to the qualification:
    The qualification of Bachelor of Commerce of the University, or other University-approved qualification.

    Articulation during the qualification:
    No formal articulation.

    On completion of the qualification:
    The BComHons qualification articulates vertically with the eligibility to apply to enter a Masters degree of the University within the learner's selected specialist discipline. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal University requirements govern how and by whom moderation is performed. For example, external examiners are appointed on an annual basis. Such moderation seeks, inter alia, to ensure that, where appropriate, our graduates will be able to comply with professional and statutory requirements. Further, whether an academic entity has a professional orientation or not, the University ensures that its activities are moderated by internal and external review quinquennially. The moderating body for qualifications of the University is the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council on Higher Education, currently represented by the Interim Higher Education Quality Committee. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Internal University quality requirements govern how and by whom assessment may be performed to ensure that assessors have the competence required to assess a qualification of this nature. Once the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council on Higher Education is constituted and ready to pronounce on issues of quality, the University will respond to the HEQC guidance on the registration of assessors. In the interim, the academic staff of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, are regarded as registered assessors since SAQA has registered the institution as a public higher education provider. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 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. University of Witwatersrand 


    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.