The core BCom Accounting requirements are a National Senior Certificate with a bachelor’s pass, Mathematics (usually level 5, 60%, or higher at contact universities), English at the level the faculty sets, and an Admission Point Score (APS) that at the universities checked here ranges from 32 to 34. Chartered accountancy (CA) streams sit at the top of that range, while distance and extended programmes offer lower-entry routes.
A BCom in Accounting is a three-year bachelor’s degree at NQF level 7 that covers financial accounting, management accounting, auditing and tax alongside core commerce subjects. It qualifies you for accounting and finance roles, and a professionally accredited version is the first step towards becoming a chartered accountant.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- School certificate: an NSC endorsed for bachelor’s degree study, or an equivalent qualification.
- Mathematics: usually level 5 (60–69%) or level 6 (70–79%) for CA streams. Mathematical Literacy is not accepted by the contact universities listed below.
- English: level 4 or 5, depending on the university.
- APS: 32 at UKZN and 34 for the University of Pretoria’s BCom Accounting Sciences for 2027.
- Space: meeting the minimum makes you eligible, not guaranteed a place. Popular programmes rank applicants and the effective cut-off is often higher.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Every BCom Accounting programme starts from the national minimum for degree study. Under the Department of Higher Education and Training’s admission policy, a bachelor’s pass means an NSC with at least 50% (achievement level 4) in four subjects from the designated 20-credit subject list, plus at least 30% in the university’s language of teaching. Accounting, Mathematics, Economics and Business Studies are all on that list.
Universities then add their own programme requirements on top. Published examples:
- University of Pretoria, BCom Accounting Sciences (2027 intake): English level 5, Mathematics level 6 and an APS of 34. The degree is followed by a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences, and together they meet the education requirements for the CA(SA) qualification. See UP’s programme page.
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, BCom Accounting: Mathematics level 5, English and Life Orientation level 4, and at least 32 NSC points, over three years. See UKZN’s programme page.
- Unisa, Bachelor of Accounting Sciences: an NSC with degree endorsement, at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning, and either at least 50% in Mathematics or 60% in Mathematical Literacy. See Unisa’s qualification page.
The difference between these is the professional route. A CA stream is endorsed by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and has stricter entry and progression rules. A general BCom in Accounting is still a full degree, but may need extra study later if you decide to qualify as a CA.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Mathematics is the subject that decides eligibility. SAICA’s guidance for school learners says a CA-stream BCom needs Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy, at level 5 or better, and that Accounting as a school subject helps but is not required. If you chose Mathematical Literacy in Grade 10, a contact CA stream is effectively closed, but Unisa’s 60% Mathematical Literacy route and higher certificate routes remain open.
APS is calculated differently at each university: each converts your NSC results to points on its own scale and decides how Life Orientation counts. UP, for example, excludes Life Orientation from its APS. Always calculate your score using the method of the university you are applying to, not a generic calculator.
If your Mathematics mark is just short, look at extended programmes. UKZN’s extended four-year BCom Accounting streams applicants with Mathematics level 4 instead of level 5 into a foundation year before the mainstream degree. Unisa also accepts a Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences, an Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences or a Diploma in Accounting as alternative entry to its accounting sciences degrees.
BCom management accounting requirements follow the same pattern. Unisa’s Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Management Accounting, for example, uses the same Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy and language thresholds as its other accounting sciences degrees.
Documents and Application Requirements
You apply directly to each university, or through a central applications office where the university uses one. Typical documents are:
- A certified copy of your South African ID, or a passport for international applicants.
- Your final Grade 11 results if you are still in Grade 12, or your final NSC or equivalent results if you have finished school. UP states that it ranks Grade 12 applicants on their final Grade 11 results.
- Proof of payment of the application fee, where the university charges one.
- If your school-leaving certificate was not issued by Umalusi, whatever the university’s rules for international qualifications require. UP publishes a separate prospectus for these applicants.
- Academic records from your previous institution if you are transferring.
Closing dates differ widely and fall in the year before you start. UP’s closing date for 2027 entry was 30 June 2026, and UKZN lists 30 September on its BCom Accounting page. Check the current date on the university’s own site, and track your application on its student portal after you submit.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Contact universities with high demand rank applicants on academic results and admit as many as space allows. UP states that meeting its minimums does not guarantee admission, and that offers must be accepted by 30 September and kept by meeting the requirements in your final exams.
Admission is the first hurdle, not the last. CA streams can set progression rules, such as minimum marks in core accounting modules, so read the faculty yearbook for the programme before you accept. If you miss a CA stream, ask whether the university allows transfer into it from a general BCom on first-year results.
If you are aiming for CA(SA), check that the specific programme is SAICA-endorsed before you accept an offer. UP describes the route after its degree as the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences, SAICA’s Initial Assessment of Competence, then a three-year traineeship with professional exams. The full path is set out on our chartered accountant requirements page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BCom Accounting?
A three-year undergraduate degree at NQF level 7 that combines financial and management accounting, auditing and tax with business and economics modules. SAICA-endorsed versions form the first step towards the CA(SA) designation.
What are the requirements for BCom Accounting?
A bachelor’s pass, Mathematics (level 5 or higher at contact universities), English at the faculty’s required level, and the university’s APS. For 2027, UP requires an APS of 34 with Mathematics level 6; UKZN requires 32 with Mathematics level 5.
Can I study a BCom in Accounting with Mathematical Literacy?
Not at UP or UKZN, which both require Mathematics, and SAICA says CA streams need Mathematics. Unisa accepts 60% in Mathematical Literacy for its Bachelor of Accounting Sciences degrees.
What are the BCom management accounting requirements?
They follow the same pattern as other accounting degrees: a bachelor’s pass, Mathematics at the required level and the university’s APS. Unisa’s management accounting degree needs 50% in Mathematics or 60% in Mathematical Literacy.
Do I need Accounting as a school subject?
No. SAICA says it is helpful but not necessary. Mathematics is the subject universities insist on.
What if my Mathematics mark is too low?
Consider an extended programme, such as UKZN’s four-year BCom Accounting, which accepts Mathematics level 4, or a higher certificate or diploma in accounting that gives access to a degree later.
Entry requirements, APS scores and closing dates change for each intake. Confirm the current figures with the university’s faculty of economic and management sciences before you apply, and check SAICA if you are planning the CA(SA) route. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.