Financial management courses requirements depend on what you want: a short learning programme, a degree, or a professional designation. The entry level runs from a Grade 12 certificate for a short programme to a Mathematics pass of 60% or more for the chartered accountant route. This page separates the routes so you can see which one fits.
For a short programme, the Unisa Programme in Financial Management (71277) needs an NSC, Grade 12/matric or an equivalent NQF level 4 qualification.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Unisa Programme in Financial Management: NSC, Grade 12 or an equivalent NQF level 4 qualification. It takes about twelve months, may be spread over two years, and is presented in English (Unisa Programme in Financial Management (71277))
- ACCA Foundations in Accountancy: no academic requirements. If you have no formal qualifications, ACCA advises starting at the ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) (ACCA Foundations in Accountancy page)
- CA(SA) route: a Level 5 Mathematics pass and an NSC with matriculation exemption for a CA-stream BCom (SAICA learner page)
- SAIPA Professional Accountant (SA): a BCom or equivalent from a SAIPA-accredited institution, practical experience and the Professional Evaluation (SAIPA Professional Accountant (SA) page)
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Short programmes such as the Unisa programme are aimed at entrepreneurs, managers, accountants, bookkeepers and employees in financial services. They do not need a degree.
The chartered accountant route is the most demanding. SAICA describes a SAICA-endorsed BCom of three years, then a postgraduate diploma in accounting or an honours equivalent of at least one year at a SAICA-endorsed university, then a three-year training contract. You also write two qualifying exams, the ITC and the APC. SAICA puts the total at about seven years (SAICA learner page).
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
For a CA-stream BCom, SAICA asks for a Level 5 pass in Mathematics and an NSC with matriculation exemption. This means pure Mathematics at 60% or more, not Mathematical Literacy. Accounting as a school subject is not compulsory.
Institutions set their own APS for degrees, so check the programme page of the university you plan to apply to. For the Unisa short programme and ACCA Foundations, the requirements in the list above are the only ones stated.
Documents and Application Requirements
Have your NSC or equivalent NQF level 4 certificate ready for a Unisa short programme. Unisa does not list the fee on the programme page and asks you to request a study fee quotation, so ask for it before you register.
For ACCA, apply through ACCA. For SAICA and SAIPA, the qualification must come from an accredited or endorsed institution, so check the institution’s status with the body before you enrol.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
SAIPA requires a BCom or equivalent from a SAIPA-accredited institution with core subjects: Financial Accounting 3, Taxation 1, Auditing 1 or Internal Auditing 2, Corporate Law 1 or Commercial Law 2, and Management Accounting. For practical experience it accepts a three-year learnership at a SAIPA accredited training centre, six years of verifiable experience, or a training programme from another accredited body. Then you write the Professional Evaluation, a five-hour written assessment that SAIPA lists for June or November (SAIPA Professional Accountant (SA) page).
Confirm the current exam dates and routes with SAIPA and SAICA, since both bodies update their pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for financial management courses?
It depends on the course. The Unisa Programme in Financial Management needs a Grade 12/NSC or NQF level 4 equivalent. ACCA Foundations in Accountancy has no academic requirement. The CA(SA) route needs pure Mathematics at 60% or more and a SAICA-endorsed BCom.
Which comes first, the degree or the designation?
The degree comes first. For CA(SA), the endorsed BCom and postgraduate diploma come before the training contract and exams. For SAIPA, you need the BCom or equivalent, practical experience and then the Professional Evaluation.
Is Mathematical Literacy enough?
Not for the CA(SA) route, which asks for pure Mathematics at 60% or more. It is not a requirement for the Unisa short programme or ACCA Foundations as listed above. For a BCom at a particular university, check that university’s subject requirements.
Do I need practical experience?
For a designation, yes. CA(SA) has a three-year training contract. SAIPA accepts a three-year learnership, six years of verifiable experience or a training programme from another accredited body. The Unisa programme and ACCA Foundations list no experience requirement.
What does the Unisa programme cost?
Unisa does not publish a fee on the programme page. Request a study fee quotation from Unisa.
Confirm current requirements with Unisa, SAICA, SAIPA or ACCA, depending on your route. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.