Where to Study Forensic Accounting in SA?

Mortymoose

Mortymoose

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FirstBornMoose is leaving the roost next year and has applied to Potch to study for Forensic Accounting, she however is also applying to UCT and Stellenbosch to study Accounting if Potch falls through,

I am not too happy with her getting into either due to all the politics down south these days and believe a student goes to varsity to study, not to boycott classes and burn down statues and buildings.

What I want to know from anyone in the field, is there another private place/ way to study forensic accounting ?

I thank you...
 
I think she should first get the basics (the advanced basics - tertiary level) of accounting under her knee before attempting something like auditing and forensic accounting.

Even a clever high school graduate moose needs the basics first.
 
To have any chance of getting into a forensics div he/she would need to be on CA track. The potch course isn't unless you add additional modules...which would be pretty rough.

The other thing is nobody is going to put someone straight into forensics...you need at least 3 years experience with "normal" stuff before you have any chance of figuring out fraud-y stuff.

Mortymoose said:
is there another private place/ way to study forensic accounting ?
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You're not going to get around studying at one of the major varsities...not if you want to walk away with a decent education. Given a choice I'd rather go with the UCT one 1st, then stellies and potch last.

I wouldn't worry too much about the statue stuff...not going to a big varsity is a much bigger risk i.t.o. career & future.

And finally is FirstBornMoose aware that this direction is likely to include death threats somewhere in his/her future? You are by definition dealing with somewhat shady characters...and pi.ssing them off if you're doing your job right. Unless you don't want to go into a forensics div of a big 4...in which case why bother studying forensics at all? Thats not to say everyone in forensics sleeps with a gun under their pillow...but the element is definitely there and very real...

Leonidas said:
I think she should first get the basics (the advanced basics - tertiary level) of accounting under her knee before attempting something like auditing and forensic accounting.
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Auditing is done in parallel with accounting by pretty much all the major varsities. Unless he/she is shooting for bookkeeper which presumably isn't the case. :)
 
There are 3 streams to forensic auditors. 1 the traditional auditor route i.e. CA. 2 Law - Lawyers. 3. Internal Auditor route. Streams 1 & 3 will generally do a forensic course at a university to get their legal knowledge up to par. Professional Designation is the Certified Forensics Examiner CFE. AFCE Iis the body. But without becoming 1 of the 3. I don't think you would be able to go straight into forensics without having the basics down.

CA for the most career options.
 
Well the FirstBornMoose got accepted to Potch last week and now she has also just been accepted to Stellies, Stellies is only accounting, whereas Potch offers Forensic Accounting..... so she is of to Potch next year.... thanks!
 
I studied forensic investigation and criminal justice at UKZN (Course was originally called forensic auditing and criminal justice, but they changed the name). I then finished that and rounding up my bachelor of accounting sciences in internal auditing degree. After this i want to look at doing my Bcom in law. Best bet for the junior is to start an accounting degree or auditing degree and work from there. Im in my late 20's FYI so she has more than enough time.
 
As far as I know Forensic Accounting is post graduate work Chartered Accountants do. She should first become a CA and then she can further educate her in a specialty. (I'm talking under correction though.)

May I ask why are you sending her to the PUK when both Wits and Tuks business schools are world class?
What I want to know from anyone in the field, is there another private place/ way to study forensic accounting ?
Click to expand...

The closest we get to this is private insitutions that provide lessons for UNISA degrees, but you are still a regular UNISA student with these types of programs, you just pay someone for classes.
 
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Leonidas said:
Hopefully the academic standard of the degrees at NWU in the Northern province isn't comparable to the standard of political and administrative governance in that area.
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yeah you have to look at the pass rate for those who make it out of the post grad programme and pass the board, I think UCT has one of the highest, or atleast it did
 
To add to this old tale...

FirstBornMoose angot accepted to Pretoria, Potch and Stellenbosch and heard nothing from UCT. (I assume her application caught fire)

In her infinite wisdom she has already turned down Pretoria and is at loggerheads with her folks, as she wants to go to Potch as they are the only university that offer the exact course.

Logistically it is a nightmare for us and we would have preferred if she had gone to Stellenbosch and done her BCom first and then branched off into forensic accounting......

What also concerns me, I have heard that the quality of the lectures and the degree obtained from Potch is not as Worthy as one that was earned at Stellies. It was also pointed out to me by some folk that lessons in Potch are in Afrikaans , but translated for non Afrikaans speakers. I was further informed that finance terms in Afrikaans are even harder.

FirstBornMoose is fluent in the Afrikaans language and has yet to turn down Stellies.

She has been accepted at Res in Potch also.....

No matter what her choice is, I guess we shall have to support her..... but Lo' and Behold , if a year down the line she wishes to switch Uni's......

:erm:
 
Mortymoose said:
To add to this old tale...

FirstBornMoose angot accepted to Pretoria, Potch and Stellenbosch and heard nothing from UCT. (I assume her application caught fire)

In her infinite wisdom she has already turned down Pretoria and is at loggerheads with her folks, as she wants to go to Potch as they are the only university that offer the exact course.

Logistically it is a nightmare for us and we would have preferred if she had gone to Stellenbosch and done her BCom first and then branched off into forensic accounting......

What also concerns me, I have heard that the quality of the lectures and the degree obtained from Potch is not as Worthy as one that was earned at Stellies. It was also pointed out to me by some folk that lessons in Potch are in Afrikaans , but translated for non Afrikaans speakers. I was further informed that finance terms in Afrikaans are even harder.

FirstBornMoose is fluent in the Afrikaans language and has yet to turn down Stellies.

She has been accepted at Res in Potch also.....

No matter what her choice is, I guess we shall have to support her..... but Lo' and Behold , if a year down the line she wishes to switch Uni's......

:erm:
Click to expand...

Hi Mr Moose

As someone who studied engineering in Potch I have some insight to the campus and the academics.

Potch is mainly Afrikaans, but for some of the more popular courses there are English classes as well. I'm not sure if forensic accounting has this, but you can ask.
And although the lectures might be in Afrikaans, most (if not all of ) her study material will be in English. There is a live translation service that is quite successful in the engineering course, so it should also work well for accounting. I have always found that the lecturers will, when asked a question in English, reply in kind. They are more than happy to also explain concepts in English if asked to do so.

Someone mentions earlier in the thread that they hope the academic standard is higher than the government standard and I can guarantee that it is. Even when half the universities were burning last year, there was relative calm in Potch. I think it might be because the campus is relatively small when compared to other university campus's.

Degrees from Potch are fully accredited and therefore won't be "worth less" than a degree from UCT/Stellenbosch. University rankings are usually just a pissing contest. Bigger/older universities has more funding which means they can hire researchers with higher research grades, thereby upping their ranking. This does not necessarily mean they produce better students. I can honestly say that my engineering degree from Potch (which is internationally recognised) has not held me back in any way, shape or form.

I know a couple of accountants and actuaries from Potch working for big multinational (and international) companies that are highly successful.

Student life is also very good in Potch with students being encouraged to take part in res activities. BTW, which res accepted her?

I hope that helps.
 
AntennaMan said:
Hi Mr Moose

As someone who studied engineering in Potch I have some insight to the campus and the academics.

Potch is mainly Afrikaans, but for some of the more popular courses there are English classes as well. I'm not sure if forensic accounting has this, but you can ask.
And although the lectures might be in Afrikaans, most (if not all of ) her study material will be in English. There is a live translation service that is quite successful in the engineering course, so it should also work well for accounting. I have always found that the lecturers will, when asked a question in English, reply in kind. They are more than happy to also explain concepts in English if asked to do so.

Someone mentions earlier in the thread that they hope the academic standard is higher than the government standard and I can guarantee that it is. Even when half the universities were burning last year, there was relative calm in Potch. I think it might be because the campus is relatively small when compared to other university campus's.

Degrees from Potch are fully accredited and therefore won't be "worth less" than a degree from UCT/Stellenbosch. University rankings are usually just a pissing contest. Bigger/older universities has more funding which means they can hire researchers with higher research grades, thereby upping their ranking. This does not necessarily mean they produce better students. I can honestly say that my engineering degree from Potch (which is internationally recognised) has not held me back in any way, shape or form.

I know a couple of accountants and actuaries from Potch working for big multinational (and international) companies that are highly successful.

Student life is also very good in Potch with students being encouraged to take part in res activities. BTW, which res accepted her?

I hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Phew!

Firsty , thanks for the solid input, you have put my mind at rest. Looking forward to driving her there early next year, gonna make it a bonding road trip.

She got place at Huis Republiek.

Seem's there are five other Namibian youngsters from this little town of ours that attend and she knows them all, one of them will be final year next year.... so her support group is good.

She is fluent in Afrikaans as it is still a school subject up here.

Thanks once again , it is appreciated,

:D
 
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