Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Finance

Purpose

The qualification is intended to provide learners with the appropriate knowledge and skills in econometrics, corporate finance, portfolio management, international business finance and other related fields that are covered in electives in the qualification.

Rationale

The qualification aims to develop in learners a sound knowledge and understanding of the principles of Finance. It also aims to develop in learners the capacity for lifelong learning and an awareness of the social context in which they will be working, once they enter the Finance Industry. This will enable them to follow a successful career primarily in the financial services industry and in other private or public institutions where financial management skills are required. The qualification will provide qualification learners with the necessary grounding in both research methodology and the theoretical literature to allow them to successfully advance to a Master's Degree in Finance.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Commerce in Finance, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

Compulsory Modules 1, Level 8, 96 Credits

• Research Project in Finance, 32 Credits.
• Corporate Finance, 16 Credits.
• International Business Finance, 16 Credits.
• Portfolio Management, 16 Credits.
• Quantitative Methods in Finance, 16 Credits.

Elective Modules 1, Level 8, 32 Credits (Choose two)

• Industrial Economics, 16 Credits.
• Special Topics Economics, 16 Credits.
• Research Methodology in Economics, 16 Credits.
• Industrial Organisation, 16 Credits.
• International Trade, 16 Credits.
• Labour Economics, 16 Credits.
• Economics of Health Care, 16 Credits.
• Environmental Economics, 16 Credits.

1. Source and analyse economic data using relevant.
2. Apply theoretical knowledge of corporate finance to determine factors relevant to shareholder wealth and perform the necessary analyses to make sound financial management decisions.
3. Apply financial principles to appropriate address issues specific to transactions in the international business finance arena.
4. Apply theoretical models to investing in capital markets and managing investment portfolios.
5. Apply and appropriate research methodology to conduct research within the finance discipline.
6. Obtain, interpret and critically evaluate information, solve problems and make financial decisions.
7. Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

• Identify the key issues to be addressed in problems within the field of Finance, and solve such problems using critical and creative thinking.
• Collect, analyse, organise, and critically evaluate information of a financial nature.
• Communicate information relating to the field of Finance effectively, in both oral and written forms.

Integrated Assessment

Each module will be assessed through a final integrated examination, in addition to a range of oral and written, group and individual class assignments in order to give students the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies. The research project assesses the ability of students to integrate themes from different modules appropriately to a practical financial research problem. Learners obtain feedback on these assessments as a means of facilitating and encouraging learning improvements. The overall learning outcomes for the qualification entail a set of field-specific outcomes that are developed in parallel and field- or module-specific outcomes are assessed using a variety of means, as appropriate to the module in question. Seminar presentations, assignments and formal examinations are the key means of assessing learning outcomes. Written assessments, (ii) tests, (iii) graded presentations and (iv) final examinations (which themselves may involve a combination of essays and problem sets) are utilised as assessment methods.