The Bachelor of Business Science specialising in Finance with Accounting is a four-year professional degree that combines advanced study in finance with a strong foundation in accounting. Finance is studied to fourth-year level and accounting to third-year level, alongside complementary disciplines including economics, statistics and law.

Finance is concerned with how capital is sourced, allocated and invested under uncertainty. It combines rigorous theory and quantitative analysis with judgement and an understanding of markets and human behaviour. Its close relationship with accounting makes this degree a particularly powerful combination, preparing graduates for careers across the financial and investment industries, banking, corporate finance, consulting and accounting.

For students wishing to pursue the CA(SA) designation, Business Science Finance with Accounting provides one of two undergraduate routes at UCT, alongside the three-year BCom specialising in Accounting: Chartered Accountant. The degree covers the required undergraduate SAICA curriculum, after which eligible students may progress to the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) and subsequently the SAICA professional examinations.

The degree is also affiliated with the CFA Institute, which offers the Chartered Financial Analyst professional qualification. This degree covers a substantial proportion of the curriculum relevant to the first level of the CFA examinations, providing a strong foundation for students interested in investment and financial careers.

A revised curriculum from 2027

The finance profession is changing rapidly. Advances in artificial intelligence and the increasing automation of routine analysis are changing the skills expected of finance professionals, placing greater emphasis on judgement, decision-making, technical depth and the ability to apply financial knowledge to complex real-world problems.

From 2027, the Finance with Accounting curriculum has therefore been revised to strengthen the specialist finance content of the degree while retaining its strong accounting foundation and professional pathways. The revised curriculum provides greater depth in finance, strengthens the application of technical knowledge to real-world problems, and further embeds professional skills such as strategic thinking, problem solving and collaborative decision-making.

View the revised Business Science Finance with Accounting curriculum from 2027. 

For more information on the courses, please refer to the Commerce Undergraduate Handbook.

For information on applying to UCT, admission requirements, National Benchmark Tests, and key dates, please consult UCT’s Undergraduate Prospectus.