OVERVIEW
The demand for qualified financial services specialists who can contribute to the growth of the financial sector in Zambia has made it necessary to introduce the BAFS degree programme. Introducing this learning programme by ZCAS University presents an opportunity to produce a product that will help raise the standard of financial services knowledge and skills in the country and the region
AIM & OBJECTIVES
The aim of this degree programme is to equip candidates with knowledge and skills in the fields of banking, insurance, pensions and capital markets.
By the end of the programme, candidates should be able to:
- discuss the scope of financial services in Zambia;
- evaluate the factors shaping financial services in Zambia and internationally;
- demonstrate the critical abilities of analysis, interpretation, evaluation and judgement as applied to banking, insurance, pensions and capital markets; and
- collect and analyse business data to help in solving challenges related to the provision of financial services
DURATION OF STUDY
The course of study for the award of the BAFS degree shall be completed in a period of:
- not less than four and not more than six academic years in the case of full-time students;
- not less than five and not more than seven academic years in the case of evening students;
- not less than four and not more than seven academic years in the case of distance education students;
- not less than five and not more than seven academic years in the case of part time students;
- provided that for top-up degrees, the duration may be shorter, but not less than one year.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
To qualify for admission to the BACC degree programme an applicant must have any of the following qualifications:
- Five credits at ‘O’ Level including English and Mathematics or three ‘A’ level passes including Mathematics
- Holders of part professional accountancy qualifications such as ACCA-FIA, CIMA-CBA and ZICA-technician who wish to acquire both a professional and an academic qualification
- Any eligible person who wishes to pursue a career in accountancy.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Each year of study will be divided into two semesters. Except for BAFS421 Research Methods and BAFS442 Dissertation courses in the final year, the rest of the courses are structured in such a way that semester one courses are not a pre-requisite of semester two courses in each academic year. The course structure is as shown in Tables 1 to 4 below:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| BAFS111 - Academic Writing | BAFS112 - Introduction to Economics |
| BAFS121 - Introduction to Law | BAFS122 - Fundamentals of Accounting Principles |
| BAFS131 - Introduction to Marketing for Financial services | BAFS132 - Introduction to Quantitative Methods |
| BAFS141 - Introduction to Management | BAFS142 - Introduction to Financial Markets |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| BAFS211 - Financial Accounting | BAFS212 - Taxation |
| BAFS221 - Introduction to ICT for Financial Services Providers | BAFS222 - International Trade and Finance |
| BAFS231 - Law in Financial Services | BAFS232 - Financial Products and Services |
| BAFS241 - Monetary and Financial Systems | BAFS242 - Retail and Corporate Banking |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| BAFS311 - Financial Reporting | BAFS312 - Financial Management |
| BAFS321 - Investments and Portfolio Management | BAFS322 - Treasury Management |
| BAFS331 - Financial Environment and Risk | BAFS332 - Corporate Governance and Ethics |
| BAFS341 - Management of Information Technology | BAFS342 - Regulation of Financial Services |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| BAFS411 - Strategic Management in Financial Services | BAFS412 - Life and Pensions |
| BAFS421 - Research Methods | BAFS422 - Corporate Financial Services |
| BAFS431 - Corporate Finance | BAFS432 - Retail Financial Services |
| BAFS441- Financial Modelling and Forecasting | BAFS442 - Dissertation |
STUDENT PROGRESSION
FULL TIME STUDENTS
- A full-time student shall register for and take four courses in any semester of the academic year; provided that a student may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to take one additional course whether carried over from the previous academic year or additional in any one semester.
- A full time student who passes all the courses taken during the academic year of study shall be allowed to proceed to the next level of study.
- A full time student who fails in one course in any academic year may be permitted to proceed to the next level of study; provided that the student repeats the course at the first available opportunity.
- A full time student who fails some or all of the courses in the first semester of an academic year shall be allowed to proceed to the second semester courses; provided the student repeats the failed course at the first available opportunity.
- A full time student who fails some or all of the courses in the second semester of an academic year shall be required to repeat those courses before proceeding to the next level of study, provided that the student has passed the first semester courses.
- A full time student who fails all the courses in any academic year shall be excluded.
- A full time student who fails a course twice is subject to exclusion; provided that, subject to successful appeal, the student may be permitted to repeat the course for the third and final time.
- Exclusion is applicable in compliance with the preceding regulations in Year 1 and Year 2 only.
EVENING STUDENTS
- An evening student shall register for and take three or four courses each semester; provided that a student may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to take one additional course whether carried over from the previous academic year or additional in any one semester.
- An evening student who passes all the courses taken during the academic year of study shall be allowed to proceed to the next level courses.
- An evening student who fails in one course in any academic year may be permitted to proceed to the next level courses; provided that the student repeats the course at the first available opportunity.
- An evening student who fails some or all of the courses in the first semester of an academic year shall be allowed to proceed to the second semester courses; provided the student repeats the failed courses at the first available opportunity.
- An evening student who fails some or all of the courses in the second semester of an academic year shall be required to repeat those courses before proceeding to the next level of study, provided that the student has passed the first semester courses.
- An evening student who fails all the courses in any academic year shall be excluded.
- An evening student who fails a course twice is subject to exclusion; provided that, subject to successful appeal, the student may be permitted to repeat the course for the third and final time.
- Exclusion is applicable in compliance with the preceding regulations in Year 1 and Year 2 only.
DISTANCE EDUCATION STUDENTS
- A distance education student shall register for and take a minimum of three courses and a maximum of four courses each semester; provided that a student may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to take one additional course whether carried over from the previous academic year or additional in any one semester.
- A distance education student who passes all the courses taken during the academic year of study shall be allowed to proceed to the next level courses.
- A distance education student who fails in one course in any academic year may be permitted to proceed to next level courses; provided that the student repeats the course at the first available opportunity.
- A distance education student who fails some or all of the courses in the first semester of an academic year shall be allowed to proceed to the second semester courses; provided the student repeats the failed courses at the first available opportunity.
- A distance education student who fails some or all of the courses in the second semester of an academic year shall be required to repeat those courses before proceeding to the next level of study, provided that the student has passed the first semester courses.
- A distance education student who fails all the courses in any academic year shall be excluded.
- A distance education student who fails a course twice is subject to exclusion; provided that, subject to successful appeal, the student may be permitted to repeat the course for the third and final time.
- Exclusion is applicable in compliance with the preceding regulations in Year 1 and Year 2 only.
EXEMPTIONS
- A student who has, prior to admission to the BAFS attended, whether at ZCAS University or elsewhere, courses of instruction and passed examinations equivalent in standard to courses and examinations which form part of the programme of study may, subject to approval, be exempted from attendance of classes and examinations in those courses. Exemptions will apply to candidates in possession of specific professional qualifications, while for all other candidates, exemptions will be granted on a case by case basis.
- No exemptions are available in respect of third- and fourth-year courses regardless of the candidate’s qualifications.
COURSE ASSESSMENT
In all the courses listed, except BAFS442 Dissertation, the distribution of marks shall be as follows:
Continuous assessment: 40%
1 test: 30%
1 assignment: 10%
Final examination: 60%
Total: 100%
GRADING
In the grading of final examination results, the following scale will apply:
Pass grades
A+ : Distinction (86% and above)
A: Distinction (76% – 85%)
B+ : Meritorious (66% – 75%)
B: Very Satisfactory (56% – 65%)
C+: Definite Pass (46% – 55%)
C: Bare Pass (40% – 45%)
S: Satisfactory, pass in a practical course
Fail grades
D: Fail (38% and below)
U: Unsatisfactory, fail in a practical course
NE: No examination taken
WD: Was withdrawn from the course with unsatisfactory academic progress – recorded where a student has not completed the required level of course work after a warning from the Dean of the School.
LT: Left the course during the semester without permission
DQ: Was disqualified in a course by Senate
DR: Was de-registered for failure to pay fees
RS: To re-sit the course examination only – recorded where a student is allowed by Senate to re-sit the final semester examination in the course, and to carry over the previous course work assessment.
DEGREE CLASSIFICATION
In calculating the class of the degree, the following points shall be applied to the grades obtained:
- A+: 2.5 points
- A: 2 points
- B+: 1.5 points
- B: 1 point
- C+: 0.5 points
- C: 0 points
FEES
You can download this ZCAS University Fees list by clicking on the link below:
You can view the bank details here: