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: 

Master of Commerce 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
9861  Master of Commerce 
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
Master's 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  180  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  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 combine the development of specialised skills and knowledge, with research mastery, by following one of two routes:
A. M.Com (by dissertation), i.e. by research only, and
B. M.Com (by coursework and research report).

The qualifying M.Com graduate is competent in research and can apply specialised knowledge, tools and techniques in advanced discipline-based research and problem-solving. The qualifying learner has reached the educational requirements towards employment as a specialist and is capable of applying specialist knowledge and applying specialist tools and techniques to problems in the practice or research of commerce. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Formally Accredited Learning:
The typical applicant has a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours or Bachelor of Economic Science with Honours of this University, or an equivalent University-approved qualification. The Honours qualification should be in an appropriate discipline and the applicant should have completed the degree at a level of achievement that would give the candidate a reasonable chance of reaching the specified outcomes in order to meet the requirements for registration for an M.Com - 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 completes a dissertation or research report.

2. The qualifying learner is competent to apply specialist knowledge to business, commerce, management and tax problems.

3. The qualifying learner is competent to perform high order problem solving techniques.

4. The qualifying learner is competent to apply specialised financial and business methods, tools and techniques of analysis.

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) 1, 2, 3 & 4.

b) "Working with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community" - see ELO 1, 2 & 3.

c) "Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively" - see ELO 1 & 2.

d) "Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information" - see ELO 1 & 3.

e) "Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion" - see ELO 1 & 2.

f) "Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others" - see ELO 1 & 4.

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 1 & 3.

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 & 3.
  • (ii) "Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities" - see ELO 1, 2 & 3; 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 1 & 3.
  • (iv) "Exploring education and career opportunities" - see ELO 1 & 2.
  • (v) "Developing entrepreneurial opportunities" - see ELO 1 & 2. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1. The qualifying learner:
  • identifies and formulates a research problem
  • performs a critical and relevant literature survey
  • executes and critically reviews research using an effective methodology in order to demonstrate research mastery
  • assesses the significance of research findings
  • writes the dissertation or research report in acceptable structure, style and language.

    2. The qualifying learner demonstrates:
  • both knowledge and application of that knowledge in a specialised field
  • competence in a specialisation which includes
  • ability to work with others in a team
  • showing initiative, and management of himself or herself in an effective and responsible manner
  • effective communication in any medium
  • ability to engage in lifelong learning and to hold lifelong learning as a professional value
  • ability to apply for registration with a relevant institute in a specific profession.

    3. The qualifying learner demonstrates:
  • the ability to select, apply, evaluate and/or develop the most appropriate specialised approach to the solution of problems
  • an understanding of the world as a set of related systems
  • application of diverse knowledge to development of appropriate solutions of problems, recognising wide-ranging factors including financial, environmental, health, social and technological aspects

    4. The qualifying learner demonstrates:
  • the ability to select, apply, evaluate and/or develop the most appropriate specialised techniques to the solution of problems
  • use of specialist business tools and techniques effectively and critically.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Research reports or dissertations serve as the medium for integrated assessment. Assessment is undertaken on a continuous basis, incorporating seminar presentations and papers, coursework assignments and tasks, as well as reports on research plans. Such methods assess students' progress towards the professional and academic competencies set out in the exit level outcomes listed above. The assessment instruments are designed to integrate practical, theoretical and reflexive competence. Furthermore in order to pass a course, and, finally, in order to qualify, the learner must demonstrate the specialised knowledge acquired. 
    		•

    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:
    Bachelor of Economic Science with Honours or Bachelor of Commerce with Honours of the University, or equivalent University-approved qualification.

    Articulation during the qualification:
    If the learner is studying for an M.Com by dissertation, the learner may be allowed to convert to a Doctor of Philosophy degree before completion of the M.Com.

    On completion of the qualification:
    At exit level, the qualification articulates with the a Doctor of Philosophy degree. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal University requirements govern how and by whom moderation is performed. For example, external examiners are appointed. 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.