Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Accounting Sciences

Qualification code: 98255
NQF level: 8
Total credits: 120
SAQA ID: 85107
APS/AS: 55
Rules:
Candidates should note that during their studies they would be required to have access to a computer with a webcam, and the internet. This qualification may be obtained on a piece meal basis, but only students who pass all the modules in one academic year will be awarded a Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA) which will allow them to sit for the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants' SAICA's Initial Test of Competence (ITC). Students who have failed both FAC/ZFA/NFA4863 and FAC/ZFA/NFA 4864 will be required to register for FAC/ZFA/NFA 4866 and CAS4801 from the 2024 academic year onwards. Students who have already passed FAC/ZFA/NFA4863 and FAC/ZFA/NFA4864 before 2024 will be credited with these modules. Students who have passed and obtained credits for either FAC/ZFA/NFA 4863 or FAC/ZFA/NFA 4864 in 2023 \will be required to register for FAC/ZFA/NFA 4866 in 2024. They may elect to register for CAS4801.
Purpose statement:
The purpose of this qualification is to enable qualifying students to be certified as "Competent in the Theory of Accountancy" which is the admission requirement for part one of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants' (SAICA's) Qualifying Examination. This qualification is endorsed by the SAICA. Its composition is based on the learning outcomes provided by SAICA and the syllabi of the Qualifying Examinations, in order to become a Chartered Accountant. It is in line with those of other SAICA recognised South African Universities.
This qualification will be presented using both online and distance learning modes.

Who can register?

  • Applicants (new applicants & Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online. Unisa reserves the right to not process and / or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification. 
  • Re-registering students may register for the 2024 academic year once the registration period opens.

Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.


How to choose your modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a certain amount of time in order to graduate.

  • Co-requisite: Module A is a co-requisite for Module B. You want to register for Module B, but have not yet passed Module A. You must then register for both Modules A and B simultaneously. You may NOT cancel your registration for Module A unless Module B is also cancelled.

  • Pre-requisite: If Module A is a pre-requisite for Module B, you must pass Module A before you may register for Module B.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits / modules per academic year and / or semester: 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.

The maximum number of credits do not include supplementary and / or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately

  • 6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
  • 4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Click here for more information on managing your studies.

Curriculum for this qualification

While you are deciding on the modules for which you will be registering, write down the module names and codes so that you have something to refer to when completing your registration.

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
AUE4862 - Applied Auditing
CAS4801 - Capstone in Applied Accounting Sciences
FAC4866 - Applied Financial Accounting
MAC4862 - Applied Management Accounting
TAX4862 - Applied Taxation
Group B. Zimbabwean Students must register for the following modules:
ZAU4862 - Applied Auditing (Zimbabwean Students Only)
ZCA4801 - Capstone in Applied Accounting Sciences (Zim students only)
ZFA4866 - Applied Financial Accounting (Zim students only)
ZMA4862 - Applied Management Accounting (Zimbabwean students only)
Group C. Namibian Students must register for the following modules:
NAU4862 - Applied Auditing (Namibian Students Only)
NCA4801 - Capstone in Applied Accounting Sciences (Namibian students only)
NFA4866 - Applied Financial Accounting (Zim students only)
NMA4862 - Applied Management Accounting (Namibian Students Only)
NTA4862 - Applied Taxation (Namibian Students Only)