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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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Diploma in Accounting 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
84346  Diploma in Accounting 
ORIGINATOR
ICESA City Campus - Durban 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Diploma (Min 360)  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  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 replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
60049  Diploma: Accounting  Level 5  NQF Level 06  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

In the growing need for accounting personnel, this qualification aims to produce graduates who are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to enter the financial industry.

Rationale:

The qualification provides the knowledge required to start a career in the accounting field. The qualification has been designed to give learners an in-depth knowledge of the business sector and the skills required to build a successful career.

This qualification is linked to various fields which are shown to suffer a shortage of skills on the National Scarce Skills' list. These include:
  • Trainee Accountants
  • Accountant Clerks
  • Bookkeepers
  • Purchasing Officers 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that upon admission into this programme a student is competent in Mathematics, Accounting and communication in English at NQF Level 4.

    It is also assumed that the learner entering into this qualification has analytical, co-ordinating and problem-solving skills.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Recognition of Prior Learning can be used to:
  • Grant admission to learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements.
  • Grant credits to the learners towards the achievement of the qualification.

    Access to the Qualification:

    For entry to the qualification, the learner must be in possession of a National Senior Certificate with a pass in English, Mathematics and Accounting. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Diploma: Accounting has a total of 360 credits.

    All the modules are compulsory.

    Modules at NQF Level 5 (30 credits):
  • Business Communication, 15 credits.
  • End User Computing, 15 credits.

    Modules at NQF Level 6 (270 credits):
  • Financial Accounting I, 25 credits.
  • Information Systems I, 20 credits.
  • Economics, 20 credits.
  • Quantitative Techniques, 20 credits.
  • Commercial Law I, 15 credits.
  • Financial Accounting II, 25 credits.
  • Information Systems II, 20 credits.
  • Commercial Law II, 20 credits.
  • Cost and Management Accounting, 15 credits.
  • Auditing I, 15 credits.
  • Corporate Business Administration, 15 credits.
  • Accounting Software, 15 credits.
  • Auditing II, 15 credits.
  • Experiential Learning I, 30 credits.

    Modules at NQF Level 7 (60 credits):
  • Financial Accounting III, 30 credits.
  • Financial Management, 30 credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Explain the South African legal system in terms of accounting and auditing.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of the differences between financial accounting, management accounting, taxation and auditing.
    3. Present information using information technology skills.
    4. Present and communicate information coherently and reliably.
    5. Analyse and synthesise information related to the discipline.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in the qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following set of assessment criteria are used to assess competence against the individual modules and the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification:
  • Explain the communication process and any barriers to communication.
  • Indicate the different types of accounting law in terms of the South African Legal System.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of marketing plans and ethical marketing.
  • Demonstrate and apply an understanding of ethics as an integral part of accounting practice.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic economic problems.
  • Interpret the microeconomic aspect of the economy.
  • Illustrate how money market equilibrium operates.
  • Explain the operation of the economy as a whole and macroeconomics.
  • Analyse the globalisation effects on the local economy.
  • Display knowledge of the needs for and basic concepts of accounting information.
  • Apply the double entry principle.
  • Identify the need for subsidiary journals and be able to prepare them.
  • Perform a bank reconciliation.
  • Record and calculate depreciation on assets.
  • Prepare financial statements.
  • Distinguish between various types of companies.
  • Prepare financial statements for different companies.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of internal auditing processes.
  • Interpret graphs.
  • Analyse and interpret financial statements.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of risk measurement.
  • Explain the procedure for meetings.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Assessments are done on a continuous basis, to allow for the students to be assessed on small portions of their work. Students are only permitted access to final examinations if they meet the stipulated requirements. There are written and practical assessments in the form of tests and examinations and assignments and presentations. Internal moderation occurs for every assessment. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Qualification is directly comparable with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Diploma in Management Accounting which is accessed by learners in more than 130 countries.

    It also compares favourably with the equivalent qualification offered by The Manchester Business School in the United Kingdom. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Vertical Articulation:

    The Diploma articulates vertically with:
  • Bachelor of Commerce, NQF Level 7.

    Horizontal Articulation:

    This Diploma articulates horizontally with other financial qualifications at NQF Level 6 in commerce such as:
  • Cost and management accounting.
  • Financial management.
  • Auditing. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant Quality Council.
  • Internal and external moderation must be conducted by moderators appointed by the provider and accredited through the relevant Quality Council.
  • Both internal and external moderators must be in possession of an appropriate qualification, as well as relevant expertise and current experience. 
    		•

    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 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    This qualification replaces qualification 60049, "Diploma: Accounting", Level 5, 360 credits. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. ICESA City Campus - Durban 


    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.