Unisa has introduced a one-year CTA programme to fast-track selected CA(SA) students
The College of Accounting Sciences (CAS) at the University of South Africa (Unisa) is shaping the futures of accountancy students. CAS aspires to success and the innovation and sustainable transformation of the accounting sciences profession in South Africa.
It is in this spirit of innovation that CAS has introduced a one-year CTA programme, which will commence in 2016. This new one-year programme will be offered in parallel with the existing two-year CTA programme and has been designed as a fast-track opportunity for selected students studying towards the highly prestigious CA(SA) professional qualification. (Further information regarding the one-year CTA programme can be found on the dedicated CTA web page www.unisa.ac.za/CAS/CTA.)
The admission requirements of the one-year CTA programme are stricter than those of the existing two-year programme. These requirements are as follows:
- A SAICA-endorsed bachelor’s degree, or a SAICA-endorsed bridging qualification (at NQF level 7), completed by the end of 2015. Such a qualification may not be older than three years.
- All final-year modules linked with such a qualification must have been completed within one academic year or a maximum of three consecutive semesters by the end of 2015, with no outstanding results.
All prospective students (including existing Unisa students) intending to register for the one-year CTA programme in 2016 must apply online via the Unisa website http://applications.unisa.ac.za during the dedicated application period (15 September – 13 November 2015). This will be the only available application process. This process will enable applicants to upload supporting documents and to pay the nominal application fee. Unfortunately, no late applications will be accepted. Only those candidates who have applied successfully during this period will be allowed to register for this programme.
Students who are currently studying towards a CTA qualification at other institutions are also encouraged to apply for admission to the Unisa CTA programme during the 2015 application period, should the possibility exist that they will have to further their studies at Unisa during 2016.
CAS supports students through more than 200 highly qualified academic staff members within the two schools (Accountancy and Applied Accountancy) and six academic departments. Under the leadership of the Executive Dean, Professor Elmarie Sadler, and a dedicated management team, CAS strives toward excellence in accounting education, research, and student support. In 2015, CAS increased the scope of its integrated learning support-programme for CTA students. This now comprises a comprehensive set of teaching and learning tools, including study schools, technology-enhanced learning, email and telephone support, consultation sessions by appointment, and life coaching. The study school programme offers contact sessions in April and August at major centres throughout the country.
Students are also provided at regular intervals with screen-casts that deal with all major topics and problematic areas in the syllabus, and which can be downloaded onto a smartphone device.
CAS is also proud to be part of the Thuthuka programme, a SAICA-FASSET support programme that offers face-to-face classes at Pretoria and Durban venues to approximately 400 African students. CAS, within a longstanding value-driven institutional tradition, is extending its role in the transformation of the accounting profession by increasing the number of black chartered accountants in the country.
With the introduction of the one-year CTA programme, as well as the extended integrated learning support-programme for CTA students, CAS wishes to make success possible for more students.
At present, every third CA(SA) is a Unisa alumnus. Unisa offers students who may otherwise not have had the opportunity, quality education across the globe.
