Program Overview

University of Cape Town Program Information

The University of Cape Town offers various programs through its Faculty of Commerce, including undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Faculty of Commerce

The Faculty of Commerce is composed of several departments, including:

• College of Accounting
• Finance and Tax
• School of Economics
• Education Development Unit (EDU)
• Information Systems
• School of Management Studies
  • Actuarial Science
  • Applied Management (Postgraduate Diplomas)
  • Marketing
  • Industrial and Organisational Psychology
  • Professional Communication
• The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance
• Commerce IT (IT support)

College of Accounting

The College of Accounting offers several programs, including:

• Undergraduate Programmes
  • BCom General Accounting
  • BCom Chartered Accountant
  • Advanced Diploma in Accounting
  • BCom Accounting with Law
  • Learn Accounting
• Postgraduate Programmes
  • BCom Honours in Accounting
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA)
    • PGDA entrance requirements for UCT students
    • Entrance requirements for applicants transferring to the PGDA from other universities
  • MCom in Financial Analysis, Reporting and Governance
  • PhD in Accounting (by dissertation)
  • Professional Programmes (APC & IAC)

Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA)

The Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) is a one-year program accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). Completing the PGDA allows candidates to write SAICA's Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC).

Program Structure

The program is only offered on a full-time study basis and includes the following courses:

• ACC4023W Financial Reporting IV (36 NQF credits, NQF level 8)
• ACC4025W Governance, Audit & Assurance III (36 NQF credits, NQF level 8)
• ACC4020W Managerial Accounting and Finance II (36 NQF credits, NQF level 8)
• ACC4002W Taxation III (36 NQF credits, NQF level 8)

Entry Requirements

The entrance criteria for the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) include:

• Category 1: UCT Applicants
• Category 2: Applicants from other universities Graduation in one of the following undergraduate programs is an entrance requirement to the PGDA:
• BCom specialising in Financial Accounting: Chartered Accountant
• BBusSc specialising in Finance with Accounting
• Advanced Diploma in Accounting (a one-year, full-time program that replicates the final year of the BCom Financial Accounting: Chartered Accountant degree, aimed at graduates of other programs who meet the requirements for the prescribed courses)

Research Areas

The College of Accounting is involved in various research areas, including:

• Publications
• Behavioural Finance and Accounting (BFA)
• Accounting Education Research and Scholarship