© Transcollege 2025
Programme
Business Management Programme
(SAQA ID: 20366)
Build Your Career with Business Management
ABOUT THIS COURSE
ICB Business Management will equip you with the knowledge in business and financial management best practices, office and legal practice, human resource management, computer literacy, global business strategy and research methods in commerce.
HOW YOU’LL PROGRESS
Gain practical, step-by-step training with 12 subjects that build your skills as you progress. Earn your first foundation qualification after just four subjects, with a certificate awarded for each step. The further you go, the stronger your expertise — and your career opportunities — become.
CAREER PATH
Completing this programme opens the door to a rewarding career in Business Management, equipping you with the skills to plan, manage, and support the growth of organisations. With strong analytical, strategic, and management abilities, you’ll be prepared for roles such as Business Administrator, Senior Business Administrator, Business Accountant, Human Resources Assistant, Marketing Assistant, or even running your own venture as a Small Business Owner.
IDEAL FOR
This programme is designed for school leavers (with or without Matric), working adults aiming to advance their careers, entrepreneurs wanting to strengthen their business knowledge, junior administrative staff, and anyone aspiring to become a successful Business Manager.
DURATION
9 months
FORMAT
Face-to-Face
Programmes run full-time during the week and part-time on weekends.
CERTIFICATION
National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management
NQF L4 (SAQA ID: 48736)
Total credits: 120
ADMISSION
Grade 11 (Std 9), NQF 3 or equivalent
MODULES
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 1 (BMT1)
This module offers students a thorough understanding of management, from its core nature and definitions to the distinctions between different levels and disciplines of management. You’ll explore the essential tasks of managers, the evolution of management theory, and how management practices apply across organisations of all sizes. The programme highlights the role of managers in modern businesses, the influence of the external environment, and the responsibilities of leadership positions such as the CEO. Key areas of study include management and the environment, financial planning and control, costing and pricing, managing working capital, and working with SARS.
BOOKKEEPING TO TRIAL BALANCE (BKTB)
This module introduces students to the fundamentals of bookkeeping and accounting, covering key principles such as source documents, double-entry rules, subsidiary journals, the general ledger, inventory systems, banking, and debtor/creditor reconciliations. By developing these core skills, students will be well-prepared for roles such as Accounts Clerk, Debtors Clerk, or Creditors Clerk. The module also provides practical training in business basics, Value Added Tax, recording cash and credit transactions, maintaining debtor and creditor accounts, performing supplier and general ledger reconciliations, managing bank reconciliations, and drafting financial statements.
BUSINESS LITERACY (BUSL)
This module builds students’ confidence in both spoken and written business communication while strengthening essential workplace numeracy skills. Students will learn to apply fractions, percentages, ratios, equations, and interest rates, as well as measure, analyse, and communicate workplace data effectively. Covering topics such as work readiness, business communication, and business numeracy, the programme equips students to apply these skills with confidence in professional environments.
DURATION
15 months
FORMAT
Face-to-Face
Programmes run full-time during the week and part-time on weekends.
CERTIFICATION
Higher Certificate: Office Administration
NQF L5 (SAQA ID: 23619)
Total cumulative credits: 240
ADMISSION
National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management (must include the Business Management 1 subject).
MODULES
OFFICE AND LEGAL PRACTICE (OLPR)
This module prepares students for the responsibilities of an administrative assistant by developing the essential skills needed to support an organisation effectively. Students will gain a full understanding of the secretary’s role, build both traditional and advanced technical abilities, and learn how to guide junior employees on performance. The programme places strong emphasis on professional communication, including telephone etiquette, business correspondence, memoranda, minutes, and report writing, while also building organisational and management skills. Key topics include reception and diary management, office ergonomics and equipment, managing office supplies, maintaining confidential records, handling mail, coordinating travel and events, business document creation, banking and cash control, as well as an introduction to business law and relevant legislation.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 2 (BMT2)
This module gives students a solid foundation in management, exploring its nature, definitions, and the distinctions between different levels of management. You’ll learn about the key responsibilities of managers — including planning, decision-making, organising, leadership, motivation, and control — while tracing the evolution of management theory. The course also introduces essential economic principles, from economic systems and how the economy functions to the roles of the monetary, public, and foreign sectors. In addition, students will study the economic cycle, growth, development, and forecasting to better understand the wider economic environment in which businesses operate.
MARKETING MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS (MMPR)
This module introduces students to the core principles of marketing management and their role in driving business success. You’ll learn to distinguish between consumer needs and wants, apply marketing models, and understand the differences between goods and services. The course traces the evolution of marketing, explores the marketing concept in depth, and highlights the relevance of both micro and macro marketing. Students will study the internal and external marketing environments, competitive advantage, and the functions that support effective marketing. Key focus areas include developing strategies around the four elements of the marketing mix — Product, Place, Price, and Promotion — along with the role of public relations and mass communication. The programme concludes with integrating these elements into a strategic marketing plan.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (FNST)
This module equips students with core financial accounting and reporting skills, from recording business transactions and managing depreciable assets to finalising and interpreting accounts. Students will gain practical experience in preparing financial statements for sole proprietorships and partnerships, conducting internal reports for corporations, and developing an understanding of IFRS for SMMEs, including the preparation of cash flow statements.
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS (HRLR)
This module provides a comprehensive overview of the HR function within an organisation. Students will explore core concepts such as strategising, structuring, and planning HR activities, along with recruitment, selection, appointment, placement, and induction processes. The course also covers performance and compensation management, workplace health and safety, and the principles of career management and human resource development. Additional focus areas include organisational behaviour, employment relations, and the frameworks established by the Labour Relations Act for collective bargaining and dispute resolution.
DURATION
12 months
FORMAT
Face-to-Face
Programmes run full-time during the week and part-time on weekends.
CERTIFICATION
National Diploma: Financial Accounting
NQF L6 (SAQA ID: 20366)
Total cumulative credits: 280
ADMISSION
Higher Certificate: Office Administration (must include the Business Management 2 subject).
MODULES
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 3 (BMT3)
This module introduces students to the fundamentals of management, exploring its nature, definitions, and the distinctions between different management levels. Students will learn about the core responsibilities of managers while tracing the evolution of management theory and its application in modern organisations. The course also introduces strategic management and emphasises the growing importance of international business. Key topics include international trade, macro-environmental analysis, global business strategies, and international organisational cultures and structures. Students will further explore international strategies such as joint ventures, market entry approaches, and decision-making in a global context.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL (FMCL)
This module introduces students to the fundamentals of information systems, highlighting their importance and growing role in modern organisational operations. Students will learn why businesses increasingly depend on information systems, the features of an efficient system, and how different systems integrate across various organisational levels. The course also examines the benefits and challenges of information systems, while covering key areas such as management information systems, auditing basics, the role of the financial manager, material and inventory control, labour cost control, overhead allocation, job costing, and contract costing.
FINANCIAL REPORTING AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS (FRRF)
This module introduces students to the key principles of financial statement presentation and reporting. Core topics include property, plant, and equipment, investment property, asset impairment, intangible assets, and inventories, as well as provisions, contingent liabilities and assets, leases, financial instruments, and post-reporting events. Students will also explore revenue recognition, employee benefits, foreign exchange rate effects, earnings per share, and income tax accounting, while developing the ability to manage accounting policies, changes in estimates, and the correction of errors. Further study areas include statements of cash flows, consolidated financial statements, and the financial reporting requirements set out in the Companies Act.
RESEARCH THEORY AND PRACTICE (RTAP) (TOPIC: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT)
This dissertation research equips students with the essential skills to conduct accounting research effectively. Students will learn how to identify and define a research problem, set clear objectives, and apply appropriate theories, concepts, and models to build a strong theoretical framework. The course develops critical abilities in analysing and interpreting findings, drawing evidence-based conclusions, and making practical recommendations. All students are required to complete the Research Theory and Practice (RTAP) subject, submitting their work in the form of a mini-dissertation that meets the required standards of presentation, referencing, and academic integrity. As with other modules, students must complete the Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) process, including all checks and acknowledgements, and follow the instructions provided in the PoE booklet. Please note that research topics may change periodically and will be communicated through the PoE.