Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting

• To educate students in the knowledge, skills and attitudes relating to accounting, business and related disciplines.
• To prepare students to embark on further accounting studies with the intention of acquiring a professional accounting qualification.
• To enable graduates to contribute to the accounting, financial and managerial function of large and small enterprises.
• To provide a broad understanding of the theoretical approaches to specific core disciplines in commerce, as well as the integrated application of this knowledge to the world of work.
• To prepare students to embark on research in the field of Accountancy.

Matriculation exemption (or equivalent) with the prescribed number of matric credit points, and a pass in higher grade or 60 percent in Standard grade in Mathematics, or equivalent examination, or completion of at least four modules in the Faculty's Advanced Certificate in Business Studies. Learners who meet the prescribed number of matric credit points but who do not meet the Mathematics requirement may be admitted on condition that they complete Quantitative Management 1. Quantitative Management 1 must be completed prior to completing Mathematics C.

As noted in 8.1 above, applicants who do not meet the Faculty's requirements for automatic admission may enrol for the Faculty's Advanced Certificate in Business Studies. Completion of this Certificate, or completion of at least four modules in this Certificate, will allow entry to the programme with credits in the modules passed.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the framework used for the preparation of financial statements.
• Prepare financial statements and consolidated financial statements of different entities.
• Prepare financial statements and accounting entries with respect to acquisitions, mergers or other changes in ownership. Devise schemes of business combination and reconstruction, and prepare financial statements and accounting entries relating to revenue after such change. Explain the relationship between managerial accounting, financial management and financial reporting in the context of the corporate mission and objectives.

Preparation of financial statements and the underlying accounting entries in a manner, which recognises the basic objectives of financial statements; complies with generally accepted accounting practice and complies with the Companies Act. Preparation of group financial statements and various non-statutory reports.

The ability to analyse and interpret the financial statements of an entity.

Integrated assessment

The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.

Within the Bachelor of Commerce, each field of specialization requires several written assignments, which are designed as integrated assessments in order to develop the ability to integrate themes across core disciplines and the ability to apply knowledge to the world of work.