Bachelor Of Commerce (Major In Investment Management)

Information

DESCRIPTION AND PROGRAMME PURPOSE

The investment management industry is characterised by job qualification requirements that are relatively high. For example, in most cases, applicants need to be in possession of at least a degree in some combination with a designation called the CFA^® designation (Chartered Financial Analyst^®, which consists of three levels) in order to enter the working environment. The programme curriculum on this BCom stream offers some investment-specific modules, which are partially based on the Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) from the CFA^® programme¹. Most modules offered on this qualification are highly technical in content, and require a substantial amount of practice and engagement in order to successfully pass them.

The purpose of the Bachelor of Commerce (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 degree, with a major in Investment Management, will provide a solid basis to enable graduates to operate at an entry level position in the investment management environment. It will also function as articulation into a BCom Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in Investment Management, Portfolio Management and/or Finance, which most investment management companies require for a further career in the sector.

The BCom degree appears on the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s (FSCA) list of recognised qualifications for FAIS Fit and Proper purposes.

¹ CFA® is a registered trademark owned by the CFA Institute. This programme is not affiliated with, sponsored, or approved by the CFA Institute

WHO SHOULD ENROL

The programme would be suitable for:

An employed person who wants to enhance his or her knowledge of the core areas of competence related to investment management.
A person employed in a junior position in the investment management or administration industry.
A person who wants to gain the relevant specialised knowledge of the different areas of investment management and analytical/research skills required to pursue a career in that field.
A person wanting to complete a degree which appears on the Financial Services Board’s list of recognised qualifications for FAIS Fit and Proper purposes

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

Successful completion of this qualification should enable the student to:

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

Kindly note that there is an overview factsheet available that provides information on all the different BCom majors offered by Milpark.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

MAJOR: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT: 396 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	Business Statistics Intermediate Macroeconomics Financial Management 1 Equities**	General Management International Economics Financial Management 2 Fixed Income**
Semester 2	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Compulsory (all)	Business Mathematics Principles of Macroeconomics Applied Financial Accounting Business Law	Marketing Management Practice Management and Leadership Introduction to Global Financial Statement Analysis and Reporting Ethics and Risk Management in the Investment Industry	Monetary Economics Investment Management** Business Research Methods
Total credits per year	134	139	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 in year 1. ** NOTE: specialist modules relating to your chosen major will be on offer via distance learning only

The admission criteria for the Bachelor of 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 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:

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.

Distance Learning Online (DLO)	Distance Learning (DL)
Cycle 1	Semester 1
Close of Registration: 12 January 2024	Close of Admission/application: 2 February 2024
	Close of Registration: 19 February 2024