The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) is a professional accounting body that was established in 1984. SAICA is widely recognised and one of the leading accounting institutes. The main aim is to provide support, guidance and services to all chartered accountant’s throughout their professional lives. SAICA is responsible for monitoring the programmes that lead to the qualification of Chartered Accountants in South Africa.

An associate degree is much like any other academic program and also known as an undergraduate degree. This degree is awarded to students once completing the 2 year program at any community colleges, technical or vocational institutions. The duration of the course may vary depending on the pace of study and it is half the workload of a bachelor’s degree. It is one of the fastest and effective ways of getting students into the job market. It aims to provide students with the basic academic skills, knowledge and technical abilities that are required for a specific career field. An associate degree can either be used as a stepping stone towards a  bachelor’s degree or it may just be a qualification on its own.

Often matrics will experience difficulty finding placement in public universities as there are not enough spaces, however they do not have to fret as there are various alternatives available for further education and training. 

Starting college and being a first year student can be an exciting yet an undeniably overwhelming experience. The feeling of fear surrounded by excitement and anticipation is most commonly expected by many first year students. Many students adjust relatively well while others find it difficult to adjust being on their own in a completely new environment. 

Choosing a qualification for your tertiary studies can be difficult, especially after schooling was interrupted by the pandemic this year. CEO of Boston City Campus provides advice on how to navigate through this.