Who should do this MCom [CM031ACC13]?
If you are aspiring to be a Chief Financial Officer, Audit Partner, Board Member, Regulator or Academic, this qualification will equip you with the skills that will both help prepare you for those roles and set you apart from others. This qualification focuses on real-world applications and enhances the skills required to achieve leadership in accounting, corporate financial analysis, and corporate governance decision making.
All course content also explores different philosophical and methodological approaches to research with a view to helping you understand the logic and rationale of different research perspectives. This enables you to undertake demanding investigations, collect, organise and analyse data, and effectively progress in the writing of your research dissertation. These are value-adding skills in all areas of business.
For an overview of the programme, view the interactive brochure below or download the PDF version.
Entrance requirements
A HEQSF level 8 qualification in Accounting/Finance or relevant work experience in Accounting/Finance or a CA(SA). Applicants may be required to present themselves for an interview. You can apply now by visiting this site.
Applications close on 31 October for the new intake.
The programme is part-time through coursework and a minor dissertation. There are three compulsory coursework modules that are presented over a one-week period each. The fourth compulsory course is presented in conjunction with each of the three courses as listed below.
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Week 1 - Corporate financial analysis
Students will be enabled to analyse a company effectively within its respective industry, market and macroeconomic environment. Key insights into monetary policy, financial analysis and both technical and fundamental analysis will be employed. Concurrently, an evaluation of the role of manager and investor sentiment on perceived company performance and financial statement presentation will be discussed.
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Week 2 - Financial and external reporting
Understanding how external reporting meets the needs of the public interest and contributes towards the reporting entity’s value creation process is the aim of this course. Students will be exposed to different types of reports and will be required to develop an understanding of the basis on which they are prepared, including critical analysis of their content.
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Week 3 - Corporate governance and risk management
This course equips students to identify and exploit opportunities while reducing risks (strategic, operational, financial, marketing, legal, environment, etc.) in pursuit of an entity’s overall objectives. Students will analyse the leadership process of the board or other governing body, analyse the role of the audit committee and review the role of the internal audit function.
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Weeks 1 to 3 - Research methodology
The aim of this course is to equip students with a range of skills to prepare them for writing their dissertations. During the course, students will write their research proposal, under the guidance of a supervisor, and present it to a panel of academics and students. In doing so, they will develop the skills to conceive a research idea and acknowledge earlier research in the field. The course will offer you guidance on how to undertake intricate investigations as well as enable you with the ability to collect, organise and analyse data. The research methodology seminars run concurrently with the coursework modules in weeks 1 to 3. However, you will be required to present their research proposal at one additional session and attend one other research proposal session
Duration
Students will register for and complete all compulsory coursework in year 1. The preferred option is to register concurrently for the research dissertation in year 1. As an exception, students may elect to register for the dissertation in year 2.
Prescribed curriculum structure
The minimum number of credits required is 180.
| Course code and name | NQF Credits | HEQSF Level |
|---|---|---|
| ACC5022H FRAG Research Methodology | 30 | 9 |
| ACC5023H Financial and External Reporting | 20 | 9 |
| ACC5020H Corporate Financial Analysis | 20 | 9 |
| ACC5025H Corporate Governance and Risk Management | 20 | 9 |
| ACC5050W Minor dissertation | 90 | 9 |
Assessment
Assessment will include individual and group work assignments (submissions and presentations). There are no separate written examinations.
Fees and funding
The approximate tuition fee for all compulsory courses and the dissertation component is R70 000. You can find the latest fee information (including fees for international students) in the UCT Student Fees Handbook. For funding information, you can contact the postgraduate centre and funding office: by emailing pgfunding@uct.ac.za.
For more information on the courses, please refer to Commerce Postgraduate Handbook