Postgraduate Diploma in Finance, Banking and Investment Management

The purpose of the programme is to enhance the knowledge of management of the learner within the specific field selected, to develop a thorough knowledge of relevant theory, and to develop the skills needed to apply the theory.

Learners should possess an undergraduate degree, or have a relevant professional qualification with relevant work experience to the satisfaction of the Senate of the University of Natal.

(If applicable) Appropriate professional qualification, practical experience, or other recognised university qualification as acceptable to Senate can be recognised for admission.

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the underlying disciplines and functions of Financial Management, Bank Management, Investment Portfolio Management, and related tax issues, and gained a holistic view of financial institutions, their environment and functioning.
• The modules in the qualification re-enforce the interconnectedness of the various Finance disciplines and practice within the institutional financial environment.
• Learners will be sensitised to moral and social responsibility issues as these effect the Financial and Investment Management and will gain knowledge of the legal and institutional environment.
• The learner's capacity to contribute to organisational and managerial effectiveness will have been increased by the development of their general understanding of Financial Management.
• The learner will gain experience of teamwork by being required to participate in team assignments.

• Demonstrate critical thinking as applied to business situations, and can make connections across disciplines.
• The learner will be required to demonstrate knowledge of Finance Banking and Investment Management practice and the interconnectedness across disciplines by preparing case studies and participating in business simulations.
• The learner will be required to develop relevant plans and to conduct relevant research by producing written reports, and to be competent to deliver verbal presentations.
• Learners will be required to prepare a research report on a relevant Finance, Banking or Investment Management topic or problem and this will act as an integrative module.

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.

A research paper in the last two semesters of the programmes provides the learner with an opportunity to develop research skills and integrate the theoretical and applied fields covered in the coursework of the Diploma.