Are you interested in a career in financial planning? Does the field of financial management appeal to you? Or do you simply want to learn more about the principles of financial planning as applied within the broader field of commerce? Then the Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Financial Planning is for you.
Offered via Distance Learning (DL) and Distance Learning Online (DLO) - Click here to find out more about our Ways to study
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Over the past decade, the financial services industry has become increasingly regulated as have the educational requirements for those offering financial advice to the public. To become a registered Financial Planner® you will need to first complete a postgraduate diploma approved by the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI) and will then need to write the FPI’s professional competency exam. Milpark Education’s BCom with a major in Financial Planning is approved by the FPI - providing a broad overview of the various aspects of commerce as well as equipping the student with the requisite knowledge and skills to operate responsibly and successfully as a financial planner both in South Africa and abroad.
Once you have completed the Bachelor of Commerce (with a major in Financial Planning) you will:
Financial planning has emerged as an exciting career path in South Africa over the past 15 years. This is partly due to the fact that the financial services industry has become highly regulated, and that minimum educational standards are prescribed to those who provide advice to the public. Furthermore, it has become an established and growing profession supported by the opportunity to achieve an internationally recognised designation, namely that of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, offered in South Africa by the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI).
In order to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, the educational requirement is a relevant postgraduate diploma. This Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree will allow graduates access to postgraduate studies in financial planning.
The degree will provide a solid basis in all areas of financial planning to enable graduates to operate responsibly and successfully in this highly regulated environment.
Milpark is a Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI)-accredited education provider and the BCom with Financial Panning as a major is an approved programme. The Milpark BCom with a major in Financial Planning addresses the academic qualification requirements for the designation of FINANCIAL SERVICES ADVISORTM/ FSATM professional awarded by the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa. On completion of this qualification, students will be eligible to apply to the FPI to write its professional competency exam for the FSATM professional designation.
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 will enable students either to enter the labour market or to pursue further studies in this field.
The BCom appears on the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s (FSCA) list of recognised qualifications for FAIS Fit and Proper purposes.
The programme would be suitable for:
Successful completion of this qualification should enable the student to:
Kindly note that there is an overview factsheet available that provides information on all the different BCom majors offered by Milpark.
MAJOR: FINANCIAL PLANNING: 405 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.
| Semester 1 | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory (all) | Induction to Business Studies* Business Numeracy* Principles of Microeconomics Principles of Accounting Introduction to Business Management Risk Planning** |
Intermediate Macroeconomics Legal Aspects of Financial Planning** |
General Management International Economics Advanced Investment Planning ** Retirement Planning** |
| Semester 2 | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| Compulsory (all) | Principles of Macroeconomics Applied Financial Accounting Business Law Retirement and Investment Planning** |
Marketing Management Practice Management and Leadership Taxation Corporate Financial Planning** |
Estate Planning** Case Study** |
| Total credits per year | 174 | 110 | 121 |
| * Please note that Induction to Business Studies and Business Numeracy are only offered via Distance Learning Online (DLO) and should be completed in the first semester of study. ** Denotes specialist modules relating to major. NOTE: specialist modules relating to your chosen major will be on offer via distance learning and DLO only. Also note that INVP01-7 and RETP01-7 are offered in Semester 1 only, while ESTP01-7 and CSTU01-7 are offered in Semester 2 only. All other Level 3 modules must have been passed or enrolled for before registering for CSTU01-7. |
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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 beoffered 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:
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:
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.
Any applicant who has a certificate other than a South African National Senior Certificate has to provide:
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.
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Distance Learning Online (DLO) |
Distance Learning (DL) |
| Cycle 1 | Semester 1 |
| Close of Registration: 17 February 2025 | Close of Admission/application: 10 February 2025 |
| Close of Registration: 17 February 2025 |
| Cycle 2 | Semester 2 |
| Close of Registration: 21 July 2025 | Close of Admission/application: 14 July 2025 |
| Close of Registration: 21 July 2025 |
Now that you've completed your BCom in Financial Planning, why not continue on your learning journey with us and apply for your Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning or one of our other Postgraduate Diplomas on offer?