IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting - (Online)

Admission requirements

Minimum Admission Requirements:

FIRST ATTEMPT STUDENTS

• Students from a SAICA accredited undergraduate degree: Applicants with a SAICA-endorsed undergraduate degree must have completed all 4 core 3rd year subjects - Auditing, Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Finance and Taxation - in the year immediately preceding the year in which they are admitted into the PGDip (Accounting), OR A successfully completed accountancy bridging programme and completed all 4 core subjects - Auditing, Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Finance and Taxation - in the year immediately preceding the year in which they are admitted into the PGDip (Accounting).

REPEAT ATTEMPT STUDENTS

• Students who have unsuccessfully attempted their PGDip (Accounting) or equivalent once, in the year preceding registration for PGDip (Accounting) at either The IIE or any other higher education provider, will be admitted into The IIE’s PGDip (Accounting) programme on condition that their  overall average for their first attempt of PGDip (Accounting) or equivalent was at least 40%. Students who have unsuccessfully attempted their PGDip (Accounting) or equivalent  two times or more at either The IIE or any other higher education provider, will not be admitted into The IIE’s PGDip (Accounting) programme.

• For International qualifications: A SAQA Evaluation Certificate with NQF L7 equivalence in an appropriate field.
• Senate Discretionary Admission Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Where candidates do not satisfy the formal admission requirements for this qualification, The IIE may consider an admission application in terms of the Qualification Completion, Credit Accumulation and Transfer, Articulation and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy (IIE010). If applicant does not meet minimum admission requirements and there is no alternative (such as completion of NQP modules) but they have relevant experience, the following must be requested to consider admission via RPL:
  1. Certificates for all formal (Accredited Higher Education qualifications) and/or informal qualifications/modules (SLP’s, Microcredentials etc). SAQA certificates must be provided for any international qualifications.
  2. CV to determine whether the following are related to the qualification that the applicant is applying for:
     1. Formal (Accredited Higher Education qualifications) and/or informal qualifications/modules (SLP’s, Microcredentials etc)
     2. Relevant work experience

Please note, requirements for entry to this qualification are correct at the time of publication, however, these may change

Curriculum

Full time

Year 1 – Year long modules

• Financial Accounting 4
  Financial Accounting 4 focuses on the application of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) at an advanced level for companies and complex groups.
• Taxation 4
  Taxation 4 focuses on the taxes and duties levied in terms of the Income Tax Act, the Estate Duty Act, and the Value-Added Tax Act.
• Management Accounting & Finance 4 
  Management Accounting and Finance 4 aims to provide tools that support analytical reasoning that contribute to effective management and decision making in the context of real-world scenarios. The module draws on a broad understanding of the economy, strategy and risk management.
• Auditing 4
  Auditing 4 aims to provide a thorough knowledge and understanding of the external audit process, corporate governance and company-related legislation. The curriculum focuses on the audit process, computer auditing, the Code of Professional Conduct, the Auditing Professions Act, the Companies Act, corporate governance and sustainable businesses.

Articulation options

The IIE Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting is endorsed by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and successful completion qualifies students to write the Initial  Assessment of Competence (IAC), the first of SAICA’s two professional exams.

For alternative articulation options within our other schools please contact your campus for further information.

Study further with our pathways

The path to becoming a Chartered Accountant

1. Complete a 1-year SAICA endorsed Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting.

2. Complete a 3-year training contract with an accredited training provider (usually an audit firm).

3. At the beginning of the training contract, the first SAICA professional exams is written, the Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC).

4. At the end of the 2nd year of the training contract, the second of the SAICA professional exams is written, the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

Accreditation

The IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting is endorsed by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)and accredited by the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and is registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) as a 120-credit qualification on level 8 (SAQA ID: 88609).

Career opportunities

The Chartered Account designation will open up career opportunities in a diverse and exciting range of business-related careers, including:

• Public practice
• Consulting in Taxation, Management Accounting, International Financial Reporting Standards and Auditing
• Finance and Management functions, including Financial Manager (FM), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Academia (teaching and learning, research and community-based involvement).

Teaching and Learning strategy

This section should include the teaching and learning strategy, curricula updates, LMS information and anything else specific to the qualification. Where modules are presented via distance mode of delivery – discuss the requirements and assessments

On-Campus written examination venue information

This qualification is aimed at students who wish to complete full-time face-to-face studies for the duration of their qualification. This means that students are expected to be available throughout the day for class in the academic year depending on how the timetable is structured. Students may also be required to write assessments or submit coursework or assignments outside of normal class time including the Continuous Evaluation (CE) assessments which will be completed as written unseen tests on a Saturday. Students who would like to pursue part time employment opportunities outside of the academic programme must prioritise their studies and avoid committing to work schedules until after they have received their timetables and academic calendar from the institution. Students must also note that timetables remain subject to change throughout the academic year.

The IIE’s distance (online) delivery mode provides you with the agility of studying towards a tertiary qualification asynchronously, at different times from different locations. Distance students need to commit to approximately 20-25 hours a week for distance engagement (most of which is after hours) with material and assessments to succeed.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect:

• A sequenced online learning environment that allows you the ability to manage your learning experiences flexibly and autonomously.
• A learner guide designed to lead you through the module material and learning outcomes, empowering you to effectively pace your learning in preparation for assessments.
• Our Learning Management System is designed to break up your learning units into manageable sections which include various activities to support learning.
• Module expert online lecturers that facilitate module teaching and learning support through various technology enhanced mediums.
• Online Success Navigators provide administrative and operational guidance and support throughout your academic journey.
• A professionally registered Student Wellness Manager/Counsellor available for short-term, primary counselling services. Additionally, the Student Wellness Manager/Counsellor hosts various webinars and virtual talks on topics that promote a balanced lifestyle as you pursue your academic goals.

Device and connectivity specifications required for online study

• Reliable internet connection (we recommend 5-10 GB of data per month and an internet speed of at least 0.15 Mbps).
• Desktop PC or laptop with at least an i3 processor and 4GB RAM memory.
• Windows 8 or macOS 10.15 (Microsoft Office 365 is available as a free download for Emeris students), and Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge Chromium or Firefox.
• A working webcam and microphone.
• An uninterrupted power supply is also highly recommended.
• Exams are written at an exam centre and in some instances online. These details will be specified in your programme assessment schedule.