FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for

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1 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) (98205) / (CERTIFICATE IN THE THEORY OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING) and Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting (98354) Q : A : The Department of Management Accounting offers a number of postgraduate qualifications. What is the difference? From 202 the Department offered a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) (code 98205) with the modules MAC4863, MAC4864, MAC4865, MAC4866, and MAC4867. This program is accredited by CIMA. THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE POST GRADUATE QUALIFICATION FOR CANDIDATES WISHING TO PURSUE THE CIMA QUALIFICATION allowing students to gain access to the CIMA Strategic Level examinations. From 202 the Department also offered the degree Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting (code 98354) with the modules MAC486, MAC4863, MAC4866, HPMAC8, HRMAC82 and one of HMEMS80 or TAX480. This qualification includes a research component and is NOT accredited by CIMA. Both the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) and Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting are postgraduate qualifications and are on the same academic level (both NQF Exit Level: 8). Both the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) as well as the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting will allow you to enrol for a master s degree later on. The difference between the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) and Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting is that the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) is tailored to prepare students who would like to pursue the CIMA (professional) qualification, whereas the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting includes research methodology and proposal writing modules to help prepare students for master s degrees. Q 2: A 2: Q 3: A 3: I have completed my CIMA qualification / completed the Strategic Level at CIMA. Can I enrol for a master s degree and will I get credits for the modules passed at CIMA? Unfortunately you will not receive credits at Unisa for modules passed at CIMA as CIMA is not a registered university in South Africa where the qualification obtained at CIMA is a professional qualification. Which are the five modules of the CIMA-accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA)? MAC4863 (Enterprise Strategy) MAC4864 (Management Accounting Strategy) MAC4865 (Financial Strategy) MAC4866 (Information Strategy) MAC4867 (Performance Strategy)

2 Q 4: A 4: Q 5: A 5: Which are the six modules of the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting? HMEMS80 (Research Methodology) HPMAC8 (Honours Proposal in Management Accounting) HRMAC82 (Honours Report in Management Accounting) MAC486 (Advanced Management Accounting) MAC4863 (Enterprise Strategy) MAC4866 (Information Strategy) What are the admission requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA)? In order to register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) programme and obtain full accreditation from CIMA, a candidate needs to have the following modules or their equivalents, in addition to a B Com or equivalent qualification: Management Accounting III (that is, MAC370, MAC3702 and MAC3703) or their equivalents (codes prior to 204: ACN306Y, ACN3073 and ACN3084); Financial Accounting III (that is, FAC370, FAC3702, FAC3703 and FAC3704) or their equivalents, completed not longer than three (3) years before registering for the programme; as well as Business Management III (that is to MNG370 and MNG3702) or their equivalents (codes prior to 204: MNG30A and MNG302B). The approval of equivalent modules is at the discretion of the Chair of the Department. As broad guideline for approval, the COD will consider Management Accounting III and Business Management III from recognised universities, and Financial Accounting III from SAICA accredited B Com programmes, i.e. where the Financial Accounting III modules allow candidates from that institution to progress to the Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA) or similar postgraduate programmes required for admission to the SAICA qualifying exam. The requirement for the Financial Accounting III modules to be completed no longer than three (3) years before registering for this programme is part of Unisa's undertaking to uphold certain standards to retain its accreditation with CIMA. Q 6: A 6: I obtained a degree at a university where that degree is CIMA accredited. Do I meet the admission requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA)? CIMA accredited degrees obtained from other universities are accepted and these students will be able to enrol for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) if the admission requirements are met. Please note that this is based on the assumption that your B Com qualification consist of the required modules to comply with Unisa s requirements for entry into the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA). Students who have successfully obtained the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Management Accounting (code 98304) degree at Unisa, which is accredited with CIMA, will receive exemption for the Operational Level from CIMA. These students may enrol for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) and register for all five modules. Q 7: A 7: The qualification I obtained does not meet the admission requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management. What do I need to register for as pre-requisites to meet the registration requirements? Students with qualifications who do not fulfil the admission requirements have two options: Either register for all required modules for non-degree purposes, or Register for the new bridging course, Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences (selecting the Management Accounting (CIMA) stream #98230). This will provide students with another qualification instead of only completing modules for non-degree purposes.

3 Take note that students with a BTech degree in Accounting Sciences qualify for admission to the Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences, subject to fulfilling the pre-requisites for the selected modules. Students with qualifications older than five years who qualify for admission are also encouraged to enrol for the Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences, subject to fulfilling the pre-requisites for the selected modules. This is due to the fact that the PQM (program qualification mix) of qualifications at universities are revised every few years and thus this changes what is included in the various qualifications as well as what is covered in the individual modules. Q 8: A 8: Q 9: A 9: I am a B Com/ B Compt Accounting student. I do not have Business Management at third year level. Can I still register? Students with B Com degrees who fulfil the Financial Accounting and Management Accounting requirements, but who have not yet passed Business Management at third year level, will be allowed to register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) under the following circumstances: They may not register for MAC4863 (Enterprise Strategy) and MAC4867 (Performance Strategy), but will be allowed to register for the other three postgraduate modules. The Department of Business Management will allow them to register for MNG260 (formerly MNG206) (if needed), MNG370 and MNG3702 (codes prior to 204: MNG30A and MNG302B) in the same year for non-degree purposes. They will be allowed to register for Enterprise Strategy and Performance Strategy as soon as they have passed the undergraduate Business Management modules required for admission. I am a B Tech student/ I have Financial Accounting at third year level, but my Financial Accounting III does not allow me to register for CTA/CA studies. Can I still register? Students with B Com degrees who fulfil the Management Accounting and Business Management requirements, but who have not yet passed Financial Accounting at third year level, or students who have passed Financial Accounting III but not from a SAICA accredited programme as mentioned above, will be allowed to register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) under the following circumstances: They may not register for MAC4865 (Financial Strategy) and MAC4867 (Performance Strategy), but will be allowed to register for the other three postgraduate modules. The Department of Financial Accounting will allow them to register for FAC370, FAC3702, FAC3703 and FAC3704 for non-degree purposes. They will be allowed to register for Financial Strategy and Performance Strategy as soon as they have passed the undergraduate Financial Accounting modules required for admission. Note: B Tech students should also consider registering for the new bridging course, Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences (selecting the Management Accounting (CIMA) stream #98230) as this will provide them with the pre-requisites to allow them to register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA). Q 0: Why is Unisa so strict about Financial Accounting III? Why must Financial Accounting III be from a CA/SAICA accredited programme? A 0: This is a CIMA requirement. CIMA will not grant exemption from F and F2 unless they are 00% satisfied that the candidate has complied with their standards. Candidates who, for some reason, manage to obtain the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) without complying with the admission requirements, should not expect exemption from the CIMA F2 paper.

4 Q : A : How does the CIMA (ACMA and GCMA) route differ from the SAICA (CA) route? Refer to the diagram below showing the two routes. Note that years were allocated to the specific Unisa qualifications to compare the minimum time taken when studying through Unisa. Years CIMA route SAICA route Years Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in 3 3 Management Accounting (98304) Financial Accounting (98302) CTMA Certificate in the Theory of Management Accounting Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (98205) CTA Level Certificate in the Theory of Accounting Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences (9823) CTA Level 2 Certificate in the Theory of Accounting Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Accounting Sciences (98255) CIMA s Strategic Level ITC (Initial Test of Competence) (previously QE) Strategic Case Study (previously T4 Case study) APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) (previously QE2 / PPE) Work based practical experience Formal Articles / Trainee Accountant 3 = ACMA and CGMA = CA(SA) Q 2: A 2: Do I have to study through Unisa to obtain the CIMA qualification? What are the options? Students can study directly with CIMA and complete the qualification. Students are welcome to send the relevant information and copies of their qualifications / academic records to [email protected]. CIMA will do a pre-assessment of exemptions and provide feedback within a few weeks. Students who decide to enrol for and successfully obtain the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Management Accounting (code 98304) qualification will be exempted from CIMA s Operational Level and gain direct access to the Management Level. Students who enrol for and successfully obtain the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) (code 98205) qualification will be exempted from CIMA s Operational and Management Levels and gain direct access to the Strategic Level exams. This is due to Unisa s accreditation with CIMA.

5 Q 3: A 3: Is it not better to start writing the CIMA Operational and Management Level papers straight away instead of first doing the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA)? We do not recommend this route for two reasons: Firstly, a postgraduate university qualification on your CV will definitely make you more marketable in the South African job market, as employers attach a high value to a postgraduate qualification. Students will probably take the same amount of time to complete the Unisa modules as the CIMA modules. Secondly, your chances of eventually passing CIMA are much higher as this qualification has been specifically designed to cover the content of CIMA s Strategic Level. Students also receive additional study material to assist them with the learning process. Q 4: A 4: Q 5: A 5: Q 6: A 6: Do I have to pass all the modules in one sitting to obtain the right to write the CIMA Strategic Level papers? No, you may pass the modules on a piece meal basis, which is what we in fact recommend, especially if you still need some non-degree undergraduate modules to complete. The Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting (CTMA) is a one () year qualification which has to be completed in a maximum of three (3) years. How much does it cost to register? Please refer to the Unisa webpage and follow the appropriate links under Study and then Register. When is the deadline for applications / registration? Please refer to the Unisa webpage and follow the appropriate links under Study and then Apply or Register. All prospective Unisa students as well as existing Unisa students intending to register for an Accounting Studies qualification in 205 must apply for admission online via the Unisa website between 4 August 204 and 9 September 204. Applications will be followed by registering for the relevant module. CIMA programmes lecturers Department of Management Accounting UNISA [email protected] Mr. J Moolman (02) MAC4867 Mr. DJP Scott (02) MAC4866 Mrs. TM Askham (02) MAC4863 Mr. LA Jonker (02) MAC4865 Prof. WJ Coetzee (02) MAC4864 Mrs. SB Dulamo (02) Secretary You can also contact the College of Accounting Sciences student information hub using the relevant addresses: Postgraduate enquiries: [email protected] Undergraduate enquiries: [email protected] CTA enquiries: [email protected] You are also welcome to contact the College of Accounting Sciences student information hub at (02) CIMA has introduced the updated 205 CIMA Professional Qualification Syllabus. To find out more about the 205 syllabus, visit