Bachelor of Economic Science

The purpose of the qualification is to empower qualifiers with the knowledge, specific skills and applied competence to enable them to pursue practical and rewarding careers in the local, national regional and global business and public sector economic environment.

The purpose of the qualification is also to provide South Africa with graduates competent in one or more of a range of specialisations: economics, computer science, statistics, actuarial science, finance, information systems, mathematics, insurance and risk management inter alia.

Further, the purpose of the qualification is to allow learners access to the more quantitative and mathematical approaches in specialist disciplines and to build a foundation for further specialisation.

Formally Accredited Learning and Other Qualities

The typical applicant has a qualification equivalent to Matriculation with full exemption, or other University-approved qualification, and with certain subjects achieved at particular levels of competence such that he/she has demonstrated competence and proficiency in English and a high level proficiency in Mathematics or quantitative skills - 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.

1. The qualifying learner has an in-depth knowledge of a major discipline in more than one area.
2. The qualifying learner is able to bring mathematical, numerical and statistical knowledge, analysis and methods to bear on actuarial and financial problems and/or economic and/or information management and/or computer science issues.
3. The qualifying learner is able to operate in both turbulent and stable economic environments and to respond effectively to uncertainties.
4. The qualifying learner has the ability to access, process and communicate information appropriately and effectively.
5. The qualifying learner is able to work effectively as an individual, in multicultural teams and in multidisciplinary environments.
6. The qualifying learner is competent to engage in life-long learning through the exercise of fundamental learning skills and understands the requirement to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast the changing business, financial and policy environment which brings ever new methods, techniques, and competitive challenges.
7. The qualifying learner is ethical and aware of the code of conduct adopted by the University and of the necessity to carry this code into the world of work.

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) 2 & 3.

b) "Working with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community" - see ELO 5.

c) "Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively" - see ELO 4 & 7.

d) "Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information" - see ELO 2, 3 & 4.

e) "Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion" - see ELO 1 & 4.

f) "Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others" - see ELO 4 & 7.

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 3 & 6.

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 1-7.
• (ii) "Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities" - see ELO 7; 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 3 & 5.
• (iv) "Exploring education and career opportunities" - see ELO 6.
• (v) "Developing entrepreneurial opportunities" - see ELO 2 & 3.

1. The qualifying learner demonstrates specialist knowledge of a major discipline in more than one area.
2. The qualifying learner is able to solve actuarial and financial problems and/or economic problems and/or information management problems and/or computer science problems.
3. The qualifying learner is able to:

• understand the nature and functioning of diverse forms of enterprise and economic systems and is able to perform tasks necessary to the effective functioning of enterprises in varying circumstances
• formulate and propose potential solutions to various economic, organisational, business and social problems
• use multi-disciplinary approaches to conceptual thinking and problem solving.

4. The qualifying learner is able to

• access information using a spectrum of technologies, ranging from hand-written and auto-generated business records, to electronic data bases
• process and communicate information using technologies ranging from written reports to visual presentations
• access, use and organise information knowledge in an ever-changing context.

5. The qualifying learner

• understands and uses skills to manage him/herself and exercises self discipline
• can plan and initiate the successful completion of management supporting, management and administrative tasks individually or in collaboration.

6. The qualifying learner is able to

• formulate and solve,
• and propose potential solutions to

convergent and divergent economic, organisational, business and social problems.

1. The qualifying learner has shown in her/his behaviour/value system and in the conduct of her/his studies, that the importance of ethical behaviour is understood and applied.

Integrated Assessment

During the course of study and particularly at the stage of final assessment, assessment practices include criteria pertaining to all the outcomes for the degree to ensure that these outcomes are integrated with one another.

The qualifying learner has demonstrated that he or she has achieved the exit level outcomes by passing all course requirements within a specified time duration for obtaining the qualification.