UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

ACCOUNTING

Hone your ability to perform a wide range of accountancy and taxation tasks

Duration

9 weeks, excluding
orientation

Effort

7–10 hours per week,
entirely online

Learning Format

Weekly modules,
flexible learning

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH:

1

The practical bookkeeping skills to manage the finance-related aspects of any business.

2

The ability to prepare budgets and implement effective internal control and credit management systems.

3

An understanding of business tax, and the expertise to assess and bolster the financial stability of a company.

4

A digital certificate from Africa’s leading university1 as validation of your accounting-related skills.

1QS Top Universities (Jan, 2023).

COURSE CURRICULUM

Module 1
The Fundamentals of Accounting: Part 1

An introductory “crash course” on the basic principles of accounting.

Module 2
The Fundamentals of Accounting: Part 2

Expand your understanding of various fundamental accounting principles.

Module 3
Drafting Financial Statements: Part 1

An introduction to drafting financial statements.

Module 4
Drafting Financial Statements: Part 2

A continuation of the concept of drafting financial statements.

Module 5
Drafting Budgets

Learn the definition and purpose of budgeting.

Module 6
Measuring and Evaluating Financial Performance

Discover how a firm measures and evaluates financial performance.

Module 7
Internal Control and Accounting Systems

Discover the important role that internal controls play in a business.

Module 8
Business Tax

Learn about the various taxes that are applicable to businesses.

Module 9
Credit Management and Control

Discover the importance and impact of legislation on the credit control function.

Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.

COURSE CONVENORS

Mariam Bardien

Chartered Accountant (SA) Senior Lecturer, College of Accounting, UCT

Bardien has been a lecturer in the financial reporting section within the College of Accounting since 2015. She has extensive experience in second- and third-year accounting courses, and has a passion for teaching and learning. She is a contributor to the Financial Accounting: IFRS Principles textbook, both commissioned and published by Oxford University Press. She holds a master’s in higher education studies, with accounting education as her area of research, as well as a bachelor of commerce specialising in accounting, and a postgraduate diploma in accounting from UCT.

Shelly Herbert

Chartered Accountant (SA) and Senior Lecturer, College of Accounting, UCT

Herbert has served as a lecturer at the College of Accounting since 2009. She is currently the course convenor for the accounting honours programme, and lectures on both the postgraduate diploma in public sector accounting and on second- and third-year financial reporting courses. She is a co-author of the Financial Accounting: IFRS Principles and Financial Accounting: Groups textbooks, both commissioned and published by Oxford University Press. Herbert holds a Master of Commerce degree in financial accounting, as well as a bachelor of commerce (honours) and postgraduate diploma in accounting from UCT.

AN ONLINE EDUCATION THAT SETS YOU APART

This UCT course is presented in collaboration with GetSmarter, part of edX. GetSmarter collaborates with the world's leading universities to select, design, and deliver premium online short courses through a people-mediated model with a data-driven focus on learning gain.

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Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities and institutions, entirely online and in your own time.

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Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.

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Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.

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