UNISA College of Accounting Sciences Entry Requirements

UNISA College of Accounting Sciences Entry Requirements

Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the minimum admission requirements for your chosen qualification and college. Meeting these minimum requirements does not, however, mean that your application will automatically be accepted, as each application will be considered individually.

If you don’t meet the minimum admission requirements…
If you don’t meet the minimum admission requirements for your qualification of choice, you might want to consider starting with a relevant lower-level qualification (eg a higher certificate or diploma) and then continuing with the degree on completion of your lower-level qualification. Work through the admission requirements for each level of qualification (eg degree, diploma and higher certificate) to determine whether you will be able to apply for a lower-level qualification related to your interests. Remember to keep in mind your career vision and goals, and how any qualification will contribute to these.
Extended bachelor degrees (4-year programme)

Minimum requirements Language requirement Mathematics requirement Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with degree endorsement At least 50% in the language of teaching and learning At least 50% in Mathematics Applicants who do not meet the Mathematics requirement of the 3-year programme, but who have achieved 50% or more, but less than 60%, will be placed in this extended programme. The programme will require students to complete the following modules before they can commence with the 3-year programme:


  • FAC1500 – Basic Accounting
  • FBN1501 – Business Numerical Skills A
  • FBN1502 – Business Numerical Skills B
  • FEC1501 – Understanding the Economy
  • ENG1513 – Foundations in English for University Study
A Senior Certificate (SC) with matriculation exemption from the Matriculation Board A D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning At least a D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in Mathematics Applicants who do not meet the Mathematics requirement of the 3-year programme, but who have achieved 50% or more, but less than 60%, will be placed in this extended programme. The programme will require students to complete the following modules before they can commence with the 3-year programme:

  • FAC1500 – Basic Accounting
  • FBN1501 – Business Numerical Skills A
  • FBN1502 – Business Numerical Skills B
  • FEC1501 – Understanding the Economy
  • ENG1513 – Foundations in English for University Study
Applicants who do not comply with the above requirements for admission to the extended bachelor degree curriculum should consider applying for the Diploma in Accounting Sciences, the Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences or the Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences.

Bachelor degrees (3-year programme)

Minimum requirements Language requirement Mathematics requirement Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with degree endorsement At least 50% in the language of teaching and learning At least 60% in Mathematics
Applicants who do not meet the requirements, but who have achieved 50% or more, but less than 60%, will be placed in the extended programme (see below).		  None
A Senior Certificate (SC) with matriculation exemption from the Matriculation Board A D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning At least a C symbol on HG or a B symbol on SG in Mathematics  None
or
An appropriate Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences
or
An appropriate Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences
or
An appropriate Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences
or
An appropriate Diploma in Accounting or Accounting Sciences
Applicants who do not meet the minimum Mathematics requirement indicated above, but who have a mark of 50% or more, but less than 60% (D symbol on HG), should still apply for this bachelor degree. Once you have applied, you will be redirected through the selection process to the extended bachelor degree programme (4 years) (listed above).

Diplomas

Minimum requirements Language requirement Mathematics requirement Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with diploma endorsement At least 50% in the language of teaching and learning At least 40% in Mathematics None
A Senior Certificate (SC) A D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning An E symbol on HG or a D symbol on SG in Mathematics None
or
A Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences
or
A Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences
or
An Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences
Applicants who do not comply with the above requirements should consider applying for a lower-level qualification for which they meet the statutory and additional requirements.

Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences

Minimum requirements Language requirement Mathematics requirement Additional requirements
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) At least 30% in the language of teaching and learning None None
A Senior Certificate (SC) At least an F symbol on HG or an E symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning None None
A National Senior Certificate (Vocational) (NSV) level 4 At least 40% in the language of teaching and learning None None

Identifying other study options if you don’t meet the admission requirements for your qualification of choice
It may be that you do not meet the admission requirements for any qualification at Unisa. You now need to explore options to help you meet the admission requirements for your chosen qualification, or you could reconsider your career goals and how you will plan your career.

Applying for credits from other higher education institutions

Unisa may recognise previous learning from previous formal education. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Not all credits achieved at other institutions will count towards a Unisa qualification. Your request for exemption(s) will only be considered once we have received your completed DSAR04 form and a certified copy of an official academic record, a conduct certificate and, in some cases, the syllabus. In the case of international qualifications, SAQA evaluation and the syllabus are required. NB: No exemptions will be finalised on an academic record during the application period.
You must meet the admission requirements for the qualification for which you are applying for credits and/or exemptions. A maximum of 50% of the prescribed credits may be awarded in the form of credits and exemptions. No exemptions will be granted for Unisa’s signature modules. Unisa reserves the right to grant and/or decline applications for exemptions or credit transfers.

I wrote matric before 2009. Do I qualify?

If you do NOT hold a Senior Certificate with an endorsement indicating that you have been exempted from the matriculation requirement, please refer to the documents below to ascertain whether or not you are eligible to apply for admission to undergraduate degree studies (not applicable to students who wrote the National Senior Certificate examinations from 2008):