Bachelor of Accounting Science vs BCom in Accounting: Understanding the Differences

Students who want to pursue careers in commerce often face tough choices when considering an undergraduate programme as their launch pad for a successful career.

Lots opt for the most popular courses available. But doing this means that when you graduate, so will many others … leaving you competing fiercely with them for jobs, and without any distinct advantages to put you ahead of them in the interview queue.

A BCom is a generalist qualification

While both a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and a Bachelor of Accounting Science (BCompt) are three-year qualifications, the BCom is a generalist degree. It lays sound foundations in business, with accounting as a major, as well as a business specialism such as marketing or human resource management.

A BCompt is a specialised degree

The BCompt, however, is a specialised accounting degree that incorporates business only in as far as is needed to provide a context for accounting. This programme develops professional knowledge, skills, and applied competencies in the fields of accounting, auditing, management accounting and taxation. It is a stepping stone towards becoming a professional accountant.

Many who opt for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) will simply have to settle for any entry-level position when they graduate.

The journey to becoming a chartered accountant

An elite corps of BCompt students set their sights somewhat higher. While a Bachelor of Accounting Science will help you qualify for various accounting designations with different professional bodies, if you want to go on to become a chartered accountant – the crème de la crème of professional certifications – you will need to go on to complete a postgraduate diploma in accounting to prepare for the Certificate in Theory of Accounting (CTA) exam.

You cover most of the groundwork for this in your BCompt; the fourth year of study will help you polish application of what you have learnt to enable you to complete the CTA exam. Thereafter you will be eligible for a three-year learnership with a registered training office. During this period, you must complete two qualifying examinations: the Initial Test of Competence and the Assessment of Professional Competence. Once you have completed the initial test and a 20-month internship with an accredited training office, will be able to sit the Assessment of Professional Competence. Once you have passed that, you will be eligible to register with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants as a chartered accountant, and the accounting science jobs open to you thereafter are likely to carry very attractive salaries. Then there’s also the possibility of starting up your own financial or advisory practice.

Other accounting science job opportunities

You might also consider using your Bachelor of Accounting Science to become a tax specialist, auditor, financial advisor or manager, a fund manager, a consultant, a financial analyst, or certified financial officer.

Compare typical curricula for the BCompt and the BCom

A typical curriculum for each programme is outlined below so you can compare them.

Bachelor of Accounting Science (BCompt)			Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Financial accounting	Financial accounting	Financial accounting	Accounting	Accounting	Accounting
Business management	Auditing	Auditing	Business management	Business management	Business management
Economics	Taxation	Taxation	Economics	Entrepreneurship	Entrepreneurship
Business communication	Management accounting	Cost and management accounting	Human resource or marketing management	Economics, or human resource or marketing management	Economics, or human resource or marketing management
Mathematics	Statistical analysis	Risk and financial management	Statistics	Commercial law
Commercial law	Company law	Corporate governance
Computer skills	Accounting in a computerised environment
Business ethics

The Bachelor of Accounting Science offered by Regenesys also emphasises, in the teaching and learning process, the development of Regenesys graduate attributes – professional values – so highly desired by top organisations. They are the soft skills that make it easy to work with others, and which help to balance the technical skills that are the basis of your qualification.

Regenesys Graduate Attributes

Where to find more about the BCompt

Want to know more about the Bachelor of Accounting Science? Click here.

Please rate this article

2.5 / 5. 23

Dr Sheela Samson

PhD, MBA, MCom, MSc, BComSenior Facilitator | Regenesys Business School

Bachelor of Accounting Science vs BCom in Accounting: Understanding the Differences | Regenesys (2024)

IN THIS ARTICLE: