Post Graduate Diploma in Management Accounting

The duration of this qualification is one year and the NQF level is 8. Students completing the B Compt (Management Accounting) degree will be admitted to the Postgraduate Diploma. CIMA accreditation granted for these qualifications is the following: Students completing these qualifications from 2011 until 2015 (first students will qualify for this one-year course in November 2011*) will be exempted from the Management level of CIMA. This exemption will be allowed to students from the intake of 2011 until 2015 and the graduation cohorts will be from 2013 until 2017. These students will be allowed into the Strategic Level of CIMA. (This can only start in January 2012 as the students will only have completed this qualification by November 2011.) This accreditation is valid until 2017. UNISA and CIMA will constantly liaise to extend the accreditation. CIMA allows any student who has qualified to be assessed by CIMA in any one of the three management level courses (E2, P2 and F2). The graduate can choose to write any one of the three courses (obviously the course the graduate is more likely to pass) and CIMA will then award the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting to the successful student. In other words, on completion of the Postgraduate Diploma at UNISA and one exam at CIMA a student will then also receive a qualification from CIMA. * Exemptions for students with prior qualifications from other universities will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Further information
Information on the CIMA qualification Website: www.cimaglobal.com Information on UNISA qualifications and exemptions with CIMA CIMA website: CIMA exemptions: http://www. cimaglobal.com/Study-with-us/Exemptions/ Contact person at UNISA: Prof AJ Pienaar, CIMA programme coordinator (012) 429 4641 or email:pienaaj@unisa.ac.za Exemptions for students with prior qualifications from other universities will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Obtaining a professional qualification with

UNISA & CIMA

UNISA constantly strives to provide students with relevant, quality qualifications that will enhance their careers. As from 2011, UNISA students will have access to the sought-after Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification at various levels through UNISA. Becoming an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (ACMA) results in a professional qualification, which is considered to be one of the most relevant accounting professional qualifications today for business globally. This prestigious professional qualification is widely recognised internationally, and is sought after by employers globally.

qualifications allow for entry at diploma level, undergraduate level and postgraduate level, with the opportunity for stepby-step progress at UNISA in preparation for the CIMA strategic level examinations. These qualifications, which are offered by the Department of Management Accounting at UNISA, comprise the following: Diploma in Accounting Sciences; B Compt ( Management Accounting) Post Graduate Diploma in Management Accounting.

In other words, on completion of this UNISA diploma and one exam with CIMA, a student will also receive a qualification from CIMA.

B Compt (Management Accounting)

The duration of the degree is three years. The B Com (Management Accounting) degree will change its name to B Compt (Management Accounting) when it starts in 2012 with the first intake. Students completing the Diploma in Accounting Sciences will be admitted and will receive credit for 15 modules of the required 30 modules. CIMA accreditation granted for these degrees is the following: Students completing these degrees from 2012 until 2014 (when the first students qualify) will be exempted from the Operational level of CIMA and obviously the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (C1-5). This exemption will be allowed to students from the intake of 2012 until 2015 and the graduation cohorts will be from 2014 until 2018.These students will be allowed into the Management level of CIMA. (This can only start in January 2015 as the students will only have completed these degrees by the end of 2014.) This accreditation is valid until 2018. UNISA and CIMA will constantly liaise to extend the accreditation. CIMA allows any student who has qualified in these degrees to be assessed in any one of the three Operational level courses offered by CIMA (E1, P1, F1). The graduate can choose to write any one of the three courses (obviously the course the graduate is more likely to pass) and the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting will then be awarded to the successful student.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

CIMA is a professional body based in the United Kingdom that offers training for a qualification in Management Accounting and related subjects focused on accounting for business. CIMA is the largest management accounting body in the world and offers ongoing support for its members. Full membership of CIMA can be accessed on one of two levels Associate (ACMA) or Fellow (FCMA).

Diploma in Accounting Sciences

The duration of the diploma is three years and the National Qualification Framework (NQF) level is 6. Progress towards bachelor degree programmes in the School of Accounting Sciences will allow the student accumulated credits for up to 15 modules of the diploma when applying for admission to the degree programme. This diploma will commence in January 2012. CIMA accreditation granted for this diploma is the following: The first students who complete this three-year diploma course (those are students who will enrol in 2012) in 2014, will be exempted from the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (C1-5). This exemption will be allowed to students from the intake of 2012 until 2015 and the graduation cohorts will be from 2014 until 2018. These students will then be allowed to start the Operational level of CIMA. This can only start in January 2015. This accreditation is valid for diploma holders until 2018. UNISA and CIMA will constantly liaise to extend the accreditation. CIMA allows any student who has this diploma to be assessed for any one of the five certificate courses offered by CIMA. The diploma holder can then choose to write any one of the five courses (obviously the course the holder is more likely to pass) and CIMA will then award their Business Certificate in Accounting to this successful student.

Career opportunities as a CIMA member

Most accounting qualifications provide training for private practice, concentrating on audit and tax issues. CIMA, however, prepares you for a career in business: CIMA-trained people work in industry, commerce, management consultancies and banks, as well as notfor-profit and public-sector organisations. Many of the 172 000 CIMA members worldwide have prestigious, high paying positions. Training as a chartered management accountant can accelerate your career, and is a proven path to business success at all levels.

UNISA qualifications as a gateway to the CIMA professional qualification

Three qualifications that are to be offered by UNISA from 2011/2012 have been accredited with CIMA. This means that once you have obtained any one of these UNISA qualifications, you will qualify for exemption from specified exam papers at CIMA, and you may qualify for partial credit towards a CIMA qualification. These three

In other words, on completion of one of this degree at UNISA and one exam at CIMA, the student will then receive a qualification from CIMA.