ACCOUNTING

Welcome

The Nkuhlu Department of Accounting welcomes current and prospective students to the Home Page of this professional and dynamic department.  Please navigate through these pages to understand the programmes that we offer, the staff that deliver these programmes and the support that is offered to Accounting students at the University of Fort Hare.  We enjoy engaging with you and invite you to use the Contact Us details provided on this site.

Our name, our vision and mission

The Nkuhlu Department of Accounting is proudly named after Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, an alumnus of UFH and the first African to qualify as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa. Our history inspires us to be the leading access university for accounting studies in South Africa, to maintain our high academic standards, to embrace a culture of ethical behaviour and to humanise our pedagogy (i.e. to recognise the humanity of the people involved in the teaching and learning process).

We embody this vision through our core value of CARE-ing – being Committed, Accessible and Accountable, Responsible and Enthusiastically Excellent.

Our programmes

The programmes offered by the department are accredited by various professional bodies – the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA).  The accreditation by these professional bodies enhances the value of our qualifications and ensures that our graduates are sought after by employers in the market.

The Nkuhlu Department of Accounting of the University of Fort Hare currently offers 5 programmes:

1. Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
2. Advanced Diploma in Accounting (ADA)
3. Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA)
4. Bachelor of Commerce (General Accounting)
5. Bachelor of Commerce (Honours – Taxation)

Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Advanced Diploma in Accounting (ADA), Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA)

These qualifications offer students who are seeking to become responsible leaders who behave ethically and create sustainable value for a wide range of stakeholders within an organizational context, the opportunity to follow the Chartered Accountancy route to the SAICA designation as a Chartered Accountant (South Africa).

The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree is a 3 or 4-year degree – students are selected for the 3 or 4-year degree based on their Mathematics and English results obtained in Matric.  Accounting at school level is not a pre-requisite for our degrees.

After completing the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) undergraduate degree majoring in Accounting, Governance and Auditing, Management Accounting and Finance and Taxation, students may proceed to PGDA (a 1-year course) which allows them to write the qualifying examinations for SAICA (ITC – Initial Test of Competence). 

Students that obtained a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting qualification without gaining entrance to PGDA, may complete a one year advanced diploma (ADA) that is customized to strengthen and prepare students for the rigors of the PGDA programme.  ADA at UFH represents a unique opportunity to be part of an exciting and diverse group of students and staff on a bridging programme between their undergraduate qualification and the PGDA.

Bachelor of Commerce (General Accounting)

The General Accounting degree is designed to give students a broad understanding of accounting and provides a more practical business focus than the Accounting degree.  These students may choose to register with another accounting professional body such as ACCA or the South African Institute of Professional Accountants.    

Bachelor of Commerce (Honours – Taxation)

The honours degree in Taxation prepares students to become taxation specialists or to engage in Accounting related research.

Why you should study Accounting

During your Accounting studies you will learn technical competencies and skills while developing personal and professional attributes of self-management and self-regulation, problem solving and decision making, effective communication, ethical behavior, accountability, team work and management skills.  The technical knowledge and skills that you develop during the degree will set you on a path of life-long learning to keep ahead in an ever-changing global business environment.

A degree in Accounting is a great way to start your journey to becoming a responsible leader who creates value in a sustainable and professional way. The accountancy profession is a rewarding one, offering opportunities for personal growth while becoming a business manager or owner, a professional accountant, auditor, financial manager, tax consultant, financial director, chief executive officer and more!

Why you should study Accounting at the University of Fort Hare?

The key reason to study accounting at the Nkuhlu Department of Accounting is the quality of education you will receive.The University of Fort Hare is an established university with a proud history that provides high quality education of international standards. Students are able to study in a vibrant, equitable and sustainable environment.

The Department of Accounting is considered a “flagship” department of University of Fort Hare. We have a passionate, dedicated and forward-thinking team. The small class size facilitates maximum student interaction in lectures and tutorials and allows students plenty of time to consult with individual lecturers when they encounter difficulties.

We have a good Qualifying Examination pass rate since our accreditation by SAICA, achieving an overall passrate over 90% for the past 7 years.

Nkuhlu Department of Accounting

41 Church Street

East London

South Africa

Tel: 043- 704 7000