In response to the growing demand for skilled business graduates both in South Africa and abroad, we have designed a comprehensive programme that produces graduates who have the requisite knowledge and practical skills to move seamlessly from the classroom to the boardroom.

Once you have completed the Bachelor of Commerce (General) degree you will have:

• the management and leadership knowledge and skills to operate in the local and international business environment
• a firm grasp of the essential elements of an effective operations strategy in a business environment
• a sound understanding of economic theory and the managerial and business implications thereof
• the necessary skills to conduct research within the business environment.

If you would like to specialise in an area within commerce, you might want to look at other related programmes, namely Banking, Banking and Investment Management, Credit, Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, Investment Management, Marketing Management, Short-term Insurance, Taxation and Compliance and Risk Management.

DESCRIPTION AND PROGRAMME PURPOSE

The current drive to expand the South African economy, along with current global developments, requires the development of people with general business management skills who can be accommodated in any economic sector.

The Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree provides students with a wide range of managerial skills in all main areas of commerce and industry. This option provides a strong foundation in general business principles and the required accounting, marketing, economic, and quantitative skills. You will develop strong teamwork, critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. A sense of global citizenship is imparted through international case studies and crosscultural analysis. Additional electives are available for people who have a need for knowledge in a specific area, too.

The purpose of the BCom degree is to provide a broad but solid educational foundation to students in the field of commerce, including various key discipline areas such as business management, accounting and economics. The qualification has been designed to provide the knowledge base, practical competence and application skills that would enable students either to enter the labour market or to pursue further studies in this field. Students who complete this option should be able to enrol for any postgraduate qualification in business administration and/or management (for example, a postgraduate diploma in business administration) or in a specialised subject field completed in the third year. The BCom degree appears on the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s (FSCA) list of recognised qualifications for FAIS Fit and Proper purposes.

WHO SHOULD ENROL

The BCom (General) degree provides a strong platform for a wide range of career opportunities in all branches of commerce and industry, including financial services, information technology, retail, manufacturing, tourism, transport and business consulting.

The programme covers a broad spectrum of subjects, which offer graduates wide opportunities. A combination of foundation skills derived from the compulsory modules, core skills built in the second and third year of study, as well as the critical thinking skills and professional business knowledge learned, will ensure that students adapt effectively in the ever-changing business environment.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

Successful completion of this qualification should enable the student to:

1. Demonstrate awareness of the management and leadership competences necessary to operate in the local or international business environment.
2. Demonstrate awareness of the essential components of an effective operations strategy in a business environment.
3. Demonstrate awareness of essential economic theory and its managerial and business implications.
4. Conduct business research with appropriate supervision in a business environment.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

MAJOR: GENERAL: MINIMUM 381 CREDITS

In the table below, the "Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3" columns correspond with the complexity of the coursework and progression of the academic levels. These labels align with international BCom standards. The columns do not represent the time it takes for a student to complete the qualification at Milpark. Students have a minimum of four (4) years, and a maximum of nine (9) years, to complete the qualification. This allows for flexibility on the learning journey, at a pace that enables students the best possible opportunity for successful outcomes.

The admission criteria for the Bachelor in Commerce degree are as follows:

If the candidate matriculated in 2007 or earlier Candidates who matriculated in 2007 or earlier require:

1. A Senior Certificate with matriculation endorsement/exemption for degree studies. Candidates who have a Senior Certificate but who do not meet the matriculation endorsement/exemption requirements stated above, may apply to Universities South Africa (USAF), for mature age exemption (https://mb.usaf.ac.za/).and

2. A symbol of E or higher for Mathematics on HG, or a symbol of D or higher for Mathematics on SG. Candidates who do not meet the Mathematics requirement may be offered admission on condition that they successfully complete the BCom bridging programme, if they have achieved at least a symbol of E on HG or a C on SG in any two of the following subjects:

• Economics
• Business Economics
• Accounting
• Physical Science or Physics/Chemistry
• Natural Science or Biology.

If the candidate matriculated in 2008 or later

Candidates who matriculated in 2008 or later require:

1. A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a minimum of 50% in four NSC 20-credit subjects, including English as the language of instruction at Milpark Education, as certified by Umalusi. Candidates who have a National Senior Certificate (NSC) but who do not meet the matriculation endorsement/exemption requirements stated above, may apply to Universities South Africa (USAF), for mature age exemption (https://mb.usaf.ac.za/). and

2. A symbol of E or higher for Mathematics on HG, or a symbol of D or higher for Mathematics on SG. Candidates who do not meet the Mathematics requirement may be offered admission on condition that they successfully complete the BCom bridging programme, if they have achieved at least a symbol of E on HG or a C on SG in any two of the following subjects:

• Economics
• Business Economics
• Accounting
• Physical Science or Physics/Chemistry
• Natural Science or Biology.

If the candidate matriculated in 2008 or later

Candidates who matriculated in 2008 or later require:

1. A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a minimum of 50% in four NSC 20-credit subjects, including English as the language of instruction at Milpark Education, as certified by Umalusi. Candidates who have a National Senior Certificate (NSC) but who do not meet the matriculation endorsement/exemption requirements stated above, may apply to Universities South Africa (USAF), for mature age exemption (https://mb.usaf.ac.za/). and

2. A minimum mark of 50% for Mathematics or 70% for Mathematics Literacy. Candidates who do not meet the Mathematics requirement but who have achieved a minimum mark of 50% or higher in any two of the following subjects may be offered admission on condition that they successfully complete the bridging programme:

• Economics
• Business Economics
• Accounting
• Physical Science or Physics/Chemistry
• Natural Science or Biology.

Candidates who have completed a relevant Higher Certificate (NQF 5) or Diploma (NQF 6) in the field of business or commerce, may also be admitted to the BCom degree.

Other certificates

Any applicant who has a certificate other than a South African National Senior Certificate has to provide:

• a SAQA Certificate of Equivalence, if they want to enrol for a Higher Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Diploma or Postgraduate qualification (www.saqa.org.za)
• or a USAF Exemption Certificate, if they want to enrol for a Bachelor’s degree (https://mb.usaf.ac.za/).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applications

Milpark admits a small number of students onto its programme via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Applicants interested in applying via RPL will be considered individually by the relevant Dean.

Downloads

Information Pack

BCom Overview

Undergraduate Prospectus

Fees & Funding

Textbooks 

Timetable