Bachelor of Accounting

The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE)

The IIE Bachelor of Accounting (BAC) degree will provide candidates with a thorough theoretical grounding and knowledge in the key principles of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Finance, Auditing and Taxation. Thus, The IIE Bachelor of Accounting (BAC) degree is for students who intend to pursue a professional career in Accounting.

What is this Degree’s accreditation status?

The IIE Bachelor of Accounting degree is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and is registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) as a 422-credit qualification on level 7 (SAQA ID: 99284).

The IIE Bachelor of Accounting degree is also accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) as an undergraduate degree to prepare students for the Chartered Accountant qualification.

Who is this Bachelor’s degree aimed at?

If you enjoy working with numbers in the accounting context and like the thought of applying this in the business world, then consider studying this Degree. This is the Degree to study should you wish to become a Chartered Accountant or Professional Accountant.

The objective of The IIE Bachelor of Accounting degree is to qualify students in the field of accountancy and provide a stepping stone to a range of professional accounting qualifications. The degree is structured in accordance with the new HEQSF guidelines and will provide students with the knowledge, skills and applied competencies identified by professional Accounting bodies.

What professional qualifications can the Bachelor of Accounting articulate into?

The IIE Bachelor of Accounting degree was specifically designed to cover the core content of the educational component of the professional accounting frameworks. The design is intended to offer students the opportunity to gain access to further professional accounting qualifications through:

• The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA): To qualify as a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)), a student must complete a SAICA accredited Accounting degree followed by a Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA). On completion of this formal education a three-year training contract is served, and two additional exams set by SAICA are written, the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) and the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

• The South African Institute of Professional Accountants: To qualify as a Professional Accountant (SA) a student must complete a SAIPA accredited Accounting degree, obtain three years practical experience and pass the SAIPA Professional Evaluation examination.

• The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA): To qualify as a Certified Management Accountant, students must complete the CIMA professional qualification. BAC graduates may apply for exemptions from the Operational and Managerial levels of CIMA.

• The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): To qualify as a Chartered Certified Accountant, students must complete the ACCA professional qualification. BAC graduates may apply for subject exemptions from the Fundamentals level of ACCA.

What entry requirements will I need to study this Bachelor’s degree?

To be registered you must have satisfied the admission requirements as set out in the following links:

• Local entry requirements
• International entry requirements

What is The Teaching and Learning Strategy of IIE MSA, and how will it help prepare me for the 21st century working world?

At IIE MSA we are proud of and passionate about our shift away from the ‘traditional lecturing’ methodology to our blended-learning strategy – the MSABlend.

This blended-learning strategy extends learning beyond the confines of the classroom and creates opportunities for our students to work collaboratively, with peers and their educators, to construct their understanding of concepts. Student engagement is supported by the use of a learning management system (LMS) and the online learning materials that have been developed to underpin our teaching strategy.

Due to the MSABlend approach, you will be expected to spend time conducting your own research, study for assessments and work on assignments. To gain the most from the blended learning experience, IIE MSA’s Wireless classrooms and campuses, students are required to BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) such as mobile devices, netbooks, laptops or tablets, etc. so as to develop the necessary academic and digital literacies over the three years of this degree.

This student-focused approach compels our students to be accountable for their learning while developing the critical skills they will need to thrive in the rapidly changing 21st century work environment.

As such, academic life for our students is dynamic, challenging and relevant.

How is this qualification structured at IIE MSA?

The IIE Bachelor of Accounting degree is a three-year degree. The academic year runs from February to November. The modules are delivered on a full-time basis with lectures and tutorials being scheduled during the day from Monday to Friday.

The curriculum below is correct at the time of print. Please note that in line with academic practice, The IIE’s curriculum is reviewed annually thus changes may occur in module structure and sequence in order to ensure that the qualification remains relevant. The exit level outcomes of the programme do not change. Registered students receive an updated programme curriculum on an annual basis.

The IIE Bachelor of Accounting

YEAR 2:

Prerequisites/ co-requisites:

There are prerequisites for this programme that must be met in order to progress through the qualification.

INPCf110 Competency Test

At IIE MSA, we recognise that some students have developed the core skills to succeed in basic computer skills, either through schooling activities, or personal experience. The module Introduction to Personal Computing (INPCf110) is a 5-credit module and is offered across many of The IIE’s academic programmes. We provide students with an opportunity to write a competency test for the Introduction to Personal Computing (INPCf110) module for 2020 which, if passed, will exempt the student from having to attend class and the mark obtained in the competency assessment will become the student’s mark for the module.

The competency test will take place prior to the commencement of the module. Students must register for the module in order to access the competency assessment. The test is completed online and will take place in a computer lab on campus. The assessment covers basic Microsoft Windows 10 functionality and Microsoft Office 2016 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).

Your results will be available immediately. If you do not pass the competency test you will be required to attend class and complete the module.

What about timetables?

Our full-time programmes are aimed at students wishing to dedicate themselves to full-time face-to-face studies for the duration of their qualification. This means that students are expected to be available throughout the day for class in the academic year depending on how the timetable is structured. Students may also be required to write assessments or submit coursework or assignments outside of normal class-time.

Students must understand that timetables remain subject to change throughout the year. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that timetable structures will remain the same during each year of your studies with us. In addition, where students are repeating modules, these modules may be offered in the evenings or on weekends. Students are required to attend classes in order to remain up to date with the academic programme. Students who would like to pursue part time employment opportunities outside of the academic programme must prioritise their studies and avoid committing to work schedules until after they have received their timetables and academic calendar from the institution.

What must I pass in order to graduate with this Bachelor’s degree?

In order to be awarded this qualification, you must have achieved a minimum final year mark of fifty percent (50%) for each module of the programme.

How long do I have to complete this qualification?

Students have a maximum of 6 years to complete this qualification.

With what qualification will I graduate?

You will graduate with The IIE Bachelor of Accounting degree conferred by The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE).

Career opportunities: what career areas can I pursue once I have completed this Bachelor’s degree?

This degree will open up an attractive range of career options; this degree is an ideal stepping stone to a diverse and exciting range of business related career opportunities. These opportunities include, but are not limited to becoming a –

• Chartered Accountant (CA(SA))
• Professional Accountant

• Certified Management Accountant
• Chartered Certified Accountant

Would it be possible to study further and obtain a postgraduate qualification once I have completed The IIE Bachelor of Accounting degree?

The IIE Bachelor of Accounting degree is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and is registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) at level 7 – the same level as other equivalent undergraduate degrees offered at other South African higher education institutions. As a result, the opportunity to apply for a postgraduate certificate/diploma or honours degree at The IIE or any other South African higher education institution does exist. However, different institutions sometimes have different requirements for admission to the programmes they offer. These requirements also change from time to time within institutions. For this reason, acceptance into various programmes are based on meeting all the institution-specific entrance requirements, the availability of space, as well as the applicants’ academic results.

Speak to your Student Advisor regarding these further study options.

After my degree, how can I study further?

If you intend pursuing a career as a Chartered Accountant, you may apply for the postgraduate CTA programme at a SAICA accredited university, subject to their admission requirements. Successful completion of the CTA programme will enable you to write the Initial Test of Competence set by SAICA.

If you intend pursuing a career as a Professional Accountant, you may apply to SAIPA to register for their professional examinations.

Call the IIE MSA campus to discuss your career options with one of our Student Advisors. Tel: +27 11 950 4009 or email enquiries@iiemsa.co.za

Disclaimer: Please note that this fact sheet is accurate at the time of publication. The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) reserves the right to alter any of the content prior to commencement of registration due to changes in regulation, policy, market requirements or any other valid reason.

British Accreditation Council

The IIE is not only accredited in South Africa but its dedication to providing quality education also led to it being accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) in 2014. The British Accreditation Council is an independent authority in the United Kingdom that accredits private providers globally, including Greece, Switzerland, Singapore, India, Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates. In 2017 The IIE had its accreditation status confirmed by the BAC as an Independent Higher Education Institution confirming our confidence in the international comparability of our standards.

“South African students need to know, when they select a private higher education institution, that the standards offered are equivalent to those of a public University. Our students get this from our extensive local accreditation and registration. The students also benefit from knowing that we meet international standards too. The IIE is accredited as an Independent Higher Education Institution by the British Accreditation Council. Locally and internationally we have demonstrated the quality of what we offer,” said Dr Coughlan, Director, The Independent Institute of Education.

IIE MSA students can be confident that their IIE learning experience meets international best practice standards.