Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting

The Milpark (Incorporating CA Connect) SAICA accredited PGDA/CTA is designed for graduates who would like to study further at a postgraduate level with the goal of ultimately qualifying as a Chartered Accountant CA(SA).

Successful completion grants entrance to SAICA’s IAC (first board exam to qualify as a Chartered Accountant).

Enhance students’ employability and entrepreneurial ability.
Strengthen, deepen and synthesise students’ knowledge of accounting disciplines.
Prepare students for a career as proficient Chartered Accountants.

Flexible learning that fits around your work and life.
A structured weekly journey with easy-to-follow schedules.
Lecturers available for guidance during the day and after hours.
An engaging and supportive community walking the learning journey with you.
Choice to write assessments online or at one of our many venues across South Africa and Namibia.
A full or half workload option to help with the management of work, studies and life.

Accreditations

Programme Structure

Compulsory Modules

Financial Reporting
Taxation
Management Accounting & Finance
Corporate Governance & Auditing

To complete the PGDA/CTA, all four modules need to be passed. Furthermore, to progress to SAICA’s IAC, all four modules need to be passed in the same exam sitting.

Available learning modes

How Does Our Online PGDA/CTA Work?

A one-year programme (full workload), with the option to complete over two years (half workload).
If you can’t dedicate to a full workload, you have the option to complete the programme over two years on a half workload.

Full Workload

Committing to a consistent 40 hours of study each week.
Registering and completing all four modules in one academic period.
Paying for all four modules at the start of the programme, or through a payment agreement.

Half Workload

During HWL1, you register (and pay) for Management Accounting & Finance, and Corporate Governance & Auditing. Upon successful completion of both of those modules, you progress to year two.

(If you do not pass both modules in year one, in the next year you either repeat HWL1 or may elect to register for the full workload.)

During HWL2, you register for all four modules, but only pay for Financial Reporting and Taxation. You will engage fully with Financial Reporting and Taxation during HWL2.

For Management Accounting & Finance and Corporate Governance & Auditing:

You’ll have access to material and support to stay up to date with them; and
It is recommended, but not required, that you write tests in these modules during the year.

At the end of the year, you’ll write final exams for all four modules, and you will need to pass all four modules in a single academic period to qualify for SAICA's IAC.

Immersive Online Learning

IO Learning is a guided, flexible digital experience designed to foster deeper learning and meaningful connection. Through scheduled sessions, interactive content, and collaborative activities, students engage in a human-centred environment that blends structure with flexibility. Advanced online tools, small-group collaboration, and personalised feedback create a rich, engaging, and connected learning journey.

Minimum Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirement for the PGDA/CTA is a SAICA-accredited Bachelor of Commerce degree or SAICA-accredited bridging programme, with a gap from the year of completion of no greater than last three years.

For example, a student wishing to start the PGDA/CTA in February 2025 should have completed their SAICA-accredited undergraduate degree or bridging programme no later than the end of 2021.

Generally, any gaps in study longer than three years result in students struggling if they enter the PGDip (Accounting) directly, and we therefore require that such students first complete our six-month Bridging programme before advancing to the PGDip (Accounting).

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not lead to automatic acceptance. A limited number of students are enrolled each year according to an analysis of their academic history and propensity for success (refer to the factors considered), as well as the institution’s enrolment plan and the available capacity in respect of teaching infrastructure and human resources.

Students will be selected based on a combination of the following criteria:

Average mark across major NQF 7 modules in the undergraduate degree – the higher the marks, the better.
Time taken to complete the undergraduate degree – the shorter the time taken, the better.
Any academic inactivity in accounting-related studies – ideally, students should have no gaps in study and they should be up to date with the latest legislation.
Average mark across modules if previously attempted a PGDip (Accounting)/CTA programme – generally, having attempted a CTA before is an advantage if the average was above 36%.
In certain cases, admission to the PGDA/CTA may be granted through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Before applying for RPL, please review the minimum requirements here.

Other / International certificates
Given the requirement for students to have completed a SAICA-accredited qualification to gain entrance to the PGDip (Accounting), it is not expected that students with foreign qualifications will be eligible for this programme.

Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting

Next start date: 1 February 2027

Duration:
1 Year

NQF:
Level 8

Credits:
120

SAQA ID:
108930

Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting

Programme Downloads

Professional Accounting

Frequently Asked Questions

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What resources can I expect from Milpark’s online learning?

The resource benefits of our online learning are as follows:

Enjoy a series of bite-sized video lectures covering every concept;
Test your knowledge with quizzes and practice questions;
Review past tests and exams with comprehensive feedback videos;
Participate in one-on-one live online discussions;
Join weekly live group sessions for each subject;
Benefit from mentorship from lecturers and past students; and
Limited spaces ensure we provide excellent support.

How does the online PGDA/CTA work?

A one-year programme (full workload), with the option to complete over two years (half workload).
If you can’t dedicate to a full workload, you have the option to complete the programme over two years on a half workload.

How does it work if I choose to do the PGDA/CTA over two years?

Year One (HWL1)

During HWL1, you register (and pay) for Management Accounting & Finance, and Corporate Governance & Auditing. Upon successful completion of both of those modules, you progress to year two.

(If you do not pass both modules in year one, in the next year you either repeat HWL1 or may elect to register for the full workload.)

Year Two (HWL2)

During HWL2, you register for all four modules, but only pay for Financial Reporting and Taxation. You will engage fully with Financial Reporting and Taxation during HWL2.

For Management Accounting & Finance and Corporate Governance & Auditing:

you’ll have access to material and support to stay up to date with them; and
it is recommended, but not required, that you write tests in these modules during the year.

At the end of the year, you’ll write final exams for all four modules, and you will need to pass all four modules in a single academic period to qualify for SAICA’s IAC.

Is the BCom Accounting right for me?

It’s ideal if you want to:

Qualify as a CA(SA) with SAICA;
Enter the accounting industry with professional accreditations like ACCA, CIMA or SAIPA; and
Start your own business with strong financial and business skills.

It prepares you for various business roles:

Operational
Strategic
Future executive

It’s perfect for those who:

Have a strong inclination for numbers;
Are interested in the accounting world; and
Want to be part of a supportive online community committed to your success.

Get in Contact

We would like to help, select the option that suits your needs and we will get back within 24 hours.