BCom Statistics and Data Science
BCom Statistics and Data Science
BCom Statistics and Data Science
Programme information
Statistics is an independent discipline with interdisciplinary applications. The aim of this qualification is to
prepare the candidates in totality with methods that can be applied for the gathering and interpretation of data
and empirical information. Statistics lay the foundation for scientific accountable conclusions, planning and
estimation. Candidates are equipped detailed computer and communication skills throughout the course.
Statistics is commissioned by all disciplines where it can contribute towards scientific and technological progress,
most notably in data science. This qualification trains a statistician to work in a data science environment.
Students who achieved 70% and above in English Home Language (an A or a B), and 80% and above in English
First Additional Language (only an A) in the NSC (or equivalent) will be exempted from ALL 124 and therefore do
not have to register and pass this module to complete their degrees. Students who achieved 69% and below in
English Home Language (a C and below), and 79% and below in English First Additional Language (a B and
below) have to register for ALL 124 and will have to pass this module in order to be awarded their degrees.
Students who achieved 70% for English at Cambridge A level or AS level will be exempted from ALL 124.
Admission requirements
Important information for all prospective students for 2022
● The admission requirements apply to students who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a
National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications.
● Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to:
❍ Brochure: Undergraduate Programme Information 2022: Qualifications other than the NSC and IEB,
available at click here.
● Citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens)
should also refer to:
❍ Brochure: Newcomer’s Guide 2021, available at click here.
❍ Website: click here.
● School of Tomorrow (SOT), Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) and General Education
Development Test (GED): The University of Pretoria no longer accepts qualifications awarded by these
institutions.
● National Certificate (Vocational) (NCV) Level 4: The University of Pretoria may consider NCV candidates,
Additional requirements
General Academic Regulations G1 to G15 apply to a bachelor's degree.
1. A student may not take more than the prescribed number of modules per semester unless permission has
been obtained from the Dean.
2. A module that has already been passed may only be repeated with the approval of the Dean.
3. It remains the student's responsibility to ascertain, prior to registration, whether all the modules he/she
intends taking can be accommodated in the class, test and examination timetables.
4. The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences supports an outcomes-based education system and
places a high premium on the development of specific academic competences. Class attendance of all
modules and for the full duration of all programmes is therefore compulsory for all students.
5. The Dean has the right of authorisation regarding matters not provided for in the General Academic
Regulations or the Faculty regulations.
b. A degree will only be awarded with distinction to transferees from other degrees in the Faculty of Economic
and Management Sciences, other faculties and from other universities who still complete their bachelor
degrees within three years (including the years registered for the other degree and credits transferred and
recognised).
c. The GPA will be not be rounded up to a whole number.
d. Exceptional cases will be considered by the Dean.
General information
Application of amended programme regulations
Refer to General Academic Regulation G5.
Fundamental modules
Academic information management 111 (AIM 111)
Module credits 4.00
NQF Level 05
Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
Faculty of Humanities
Service modules
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Faculty of Theology and Religion
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 2 lectures per week
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Information Science
Period of presentation Semester 1
Module content
Find, evaluate, process, manage and present information resources for academic purposes using appropriate
technology.
Academic literacy for Economic and Management Sciences 124 (ALL 124)
Module credits 6.00
NQF Level 05
Service modules Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 2 lectures per week
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Unit for Academic Literacy
Period of presentation Semester 1 and Semester 2
Module content
This module is intended to equip students with the competence in reading and writing required in the four high
impact modules: Business Management, Financial Accounting, Statistics and Economics. Students will also be
equipped to interpret and draw figures and graphs and to do computations and manage relevant formulas.
Students attend two lectures per week during semester two.
This module is offered by the Faculty of Humanities.
Core modules
Economics 110 (EKN 110)
Module credits 10.00
NQF Level 05
Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
Faculty of Education
Service modules
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Elective modules
Operating systems 122 (COS 122)
Module credits 16.00
NQF Level 05
Prerequisites COS 132
Contact time 1 practical per week, 1 tutorial per week, 3 lectures per week
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Computer Science
Period of presentation Semester 2
Key principles of financial management. Company ownership. Taxation. Introduction to financial statements.
Structure of financial statements. Depreciation and reserves. Preparing financial statements. Group financial
statements and insurance company financial statements. Interpretation of financial statements. Limitation of
financial statements. Issue of share capital.
Core modules
Communication management 281 (KOB 281)
Module credits 5.00
NQF Level 07
Contact time 3 lectures per week
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Business Management
Period of presentation Quarter 1
Module content
*Module content will be adapted in accordance with the appropriate degree programme. Only one of KOB 281–
284 may be taken as a module where necessary for a programme.
Applied business communication skills
Acquiring basic business communication skills will enhance the capabilities of employees, managers and leaders
in the business environment. An overview of applied skills on the intrapersonal, dyadic, interpersonal, group
(team), organisational, public and mass communication contexts is provided. The practical part of the module
(for example, the writing of business reports and presentation skills) concentrates on the performance
dimensions of these skills as applied to particular professions.
Elective modules
Business accounting 200 (BAC 200)
Module credits 32.00
NQF Level 06
Theory and solution methods for ordinary differential equations and initial value problems: separable and linear
first order equations, linear equations of higher order, systems of linear equations. Laplace transform.
Core modules
Statistics 310 (STK 310)
Module credits 25.00
NQF Level 07
Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
Service modules Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Prerequisites STK 210, STK 220
Contact time 1 practical per week, 3 lectures per week
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Statistics
Period of presentation Semester 1
Module content
Supervised learning. Linear and non-linear regression. Ordinary least squares and maximum likelihood
estimation. Violations of the assumptions, residual analysis. Cross validation. Statistical inference. Bootstrap
inference. Supporting mathematical concepts. Statistical concepts are demonstrated and interpreted through
practical coding and simulation within a data science framework.
Elective modules
Business accounting 300 (BAC 300)
Module credits 40.00
NQF Level 07
Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
Service modules Faculty of Law
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students
of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On
registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the
General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-
specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not
be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations.