Welcome to Business Management Department virtual home at the University of Zululand.

The mission of the department is to produce globally competitive graduates and to develop a platform which connects stakeholders of the Department of Business Management through academic excellence and high research standards.

The Business Management Department at the Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law has diverse offerings in terms of a management department. The department offers national certificate in Marketing, diploma of Cooperative Management, diploma in Transport Management, diploma in Logistics Management and majors in banking, human resource management and general management. There is a general attitude by the department’s leadership to focus on quality courses as well as relevant ones. It is to this end that the department has added Strategic Marketing and Strategic Management as third level courses. Also, the Department of Business Management has always been a major contributor to all programs within the Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law by having the largest proportion of students in the faculty. Furthermore, the department continues to service programs at all other faculties at the University of Zululand. Therefore, this department is perceived as the biggest contributor to student output within the Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law.

The Business Management department also offers post-graduate courses such as an Honours, Masters and PhD in Business Management. The graduates from the department are found in career fields ranging from banking to marketing at multi-national companies. Business Management has done extremely well in formulating a competitive program offering and is looking forward to continuing with this process by ensuring that courses are relevant and competitive.

The staff is very professional, friendly and accessible at all times, always ready to mentor and couch our students.

Purpose and Rationale

The 4-Year Bachelor of Commerce Extended Degree is an alternative access programme, i.e. in providing alternative access in the fields of Accounting, Economics, Business Management and Human Resource Management. Students are given foundational provision covering relevant academic skills together with subject-related themes, required to facilitate learning in the regular modules of Bachelor of Commerce degree programmes. It is designed to develop competencies of students in language and numeracy and at the same time giving additional support by way of small group tutorials/lectures, for students to cope with the regular BCom modules. The combination of foundational modules enables students to develop a comprehensive perspective and effective strategies for adjusting to, and meeting the demands of, the higher education environment with the aim of being successful in the chosen Bachelor of Commerce programme.

BCom 4-Year Extended Degree: General Information

BCom 4-Year Extended: Business Management and Accounting (2FEGMA)

Academic Structure:

BCom: 4-Year Extended: Business Management and Economics (2FEGME)

Academic Structure:

BCom: 4-Year Extended: Business Management and Insurance (2FEGMI)

(No students will be registered for this qualification  in 2020)

Academic Structure:

BCom: 4-Year Extended: Banking and Business Management (2FEGBM)

Academic Structure:

BCom: 4-Year Extended: HR Management and Business Management (2FEGHB)

Purpose and rationale of the qualification

• Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of general principles and theories of business and their application in business and commerce.
• Demonstrate technical and communication skills and knowledge that are appropriate in the area(s) of their chosen specialisation.
• Display a continuing professional approach to work, community responsibilities and personal development.
• Solve problems in business and commerce.
• Work effectively as an individual, in teams and in organisations to create the opportunity to develop as a leader in a multi-disciplinary environment.

BCom degree: General information

BCom: Business Management and Accounting (2DEGMA)

Academic Structure:

BCom: Business Management and Economics (2DEGME)

Academic Structure:

BCom: Business Management and Insurance (2DEGMI)

BCom: Banking and Business Management (2DEGBM)

BCom: HR Management and Business Management (2DEGHM)

Academic Structure:

POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATIONS

All qualifications in FCAL are accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

General Admission Requirements

Prospective postgraduate students are advised to consult the University’s Manual for Postgraduate Studies carefully. On completing a baccalaureus degree students are not automatically admitted to the postgraduate programmes of the Faculty. Admission and registration for postgraduate programmes take place in accordance with the General Rules and meeting the specific entrance requirements of the different qualifications. The entrance requirements of the different qualifications may also differ. Entry into postgraduate studies will be subject to satisfactory performance at undergraduate level and the recommendation of the relevant department head and subsequent ratification by the Faculty Board of Commerce, Administration and Law.

Submissions and Deadlines

Students must make sure of the official deadlines for submitting examination documents, i.e. research projects, dissertations and theses. These dates are determined annually. A student who submits his examination documents after the prescribed deadline will most probably not receive his degree at the next graduate ceremony and he/she will have to wait for the next graduation ceremony. The implication of this negligence will be that the student will have to register and pay class fees for another year.

Bachelor of Commerce Honours: Business Management (CHON03)

This qualification is currently offered in 2023.

The purpose of the B. Com Honours in Business Management is to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge and training so that they can develop these skills into competencies within the business and/or public domain, which will ultimately fulfil the requirements of the National Development Plan in terms of skills development. A graduate ought to be able to make decisions by assessing relevant information in a manner that provides an optimal solution within a changing business environment.

On completion of this programme, students will be able to:

• Analyse and apply management principles and theories.
• Solve financial management problems
• Examine how the Human Resources procedures and policies are applied to enhance the human capital needs of the organisation.
• Apply relevant employment legislation and industrial relations processes to various work contexts.
• Develop a business plan and the present this plan to financial institutions for financial planning purposes.
• Implement a research design to solve a financial problem
• Interpret and communicate business research findings
• Develop a strategic marketing blueprint for an organisation by designing marketing strategies for specific marketing objectives.

 Exit-level outcomes:

A qualified student will be able to:

1. Analyse and apply management principles and theories.
2. Solve financial management problems
3. Apply HR procedures and policies to enhance the human capital needs of the organisation.
4. Apply relevant employment legislation and industrial relations processes to various work contexts.
5. Develop a business plan and present this plan to financial institutions for financial planning purposes.
6. Implement a research design to solve a business problem
7. Intrepet and communicate business research findings

 BCom Honours (Business Management): General Information

Academic Structure:  BCom Honours (Business Management)

Master of Commerce: Business Management (CMAS03)

This qualification has the new intake for 2023.

Master of Commerce: Business Management: General Information

DOCTORAL QUALIFICATIONS

The degree of Doctor follows a Master’s degree in the field of Economics, Business Management, Public Administration and Law. A potential student should possess a applicable Master’s degree on NQF level 9. Students accessing this qualification should demonstrate their ability to originate, plan, complete and report on original scientific work independently. Students should show insight into subject discipline and the field of research. Students should be able to apply research methodology and communicate in written or oral forms on the research process, results and findings. Students should be able to reflect on research finding and applications.

The Doctoral qualification is of at least two years’ duration, the candidate works under an approved supervisor and the thesis is based on original research. The Departments must specifically approve of the field of study, the research topic, methodology and problem statement before the candidate may register. Students have to submit and defend their proposal for the thesis to a postgraduate committee. The student and the supervisor meet regularly to schedule a work programme and to set deadlines.

Purpose and Rationale of the Qualification

A relevant, problem-based, unique, original and executable topic on a highly advanced academic level within the discipline should be researched independently and reported on scientifically in the form of a thesis. The thesis would constitute a contribution to knowledge of and insight into the subject discipline as well as the field of research

Doctor of Commerce: Business Management (CPHD03)

Teach out date (last enrolment):  31 December 2019

No new intake for 2023

Doctor of Commerce (Business Management) General Information