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1.1. Is EPC accredited by SAICA?

A: Yes, EPC was accredited by SAICA in April 2020 to offer an APC Professional Programme.

1.2. What does the accreditation of EPC mean?

A: The accreditation is an affirmation of the team’s capability to deliver a high-quality professional programme to prospective candidates seeking to sit for the APC. It also grants EPC the right to issue candidates with certificates of eligibility that are valid for three years from issue.

1.3. Does the accreditation mean that I can register my BCTA and CTA directly with Endunamoo?

A: No, EPC is only accredited to deliver an APC Professional Programme. The sister company, Endunamoo School of Accounting, is not a SAICA accredited institution but instead only offers support courses to distance learning candidates – therefore candidates are required to first register with a SAICA accredited higher education institution and only register with Endunamoo for support courses in the form of lecturing and tutorial programmes. Furthermore, Endunamoo Board Course offers ITC preparatory courses that do not require accreditation from SAICA.

1.4. I am pursuing the CA qualification through the traditional route (i.e., degree, PGDA/CTA, ITC, training and APC). What are the minimum requirements to enrol into the APC Professional Programme and secure the certificate of eligibility at the end of the programme?

A: In terms of the SAICA APC Regulations, for a candidate to be eligible for entry into the APC, a candidate must have passed the ITC; and completed a minimum of 20 months under a registered training contract with a SAICA accredited training office (the 20 month-period is calculated up to the day before the actual assessment is written); and successfully completed a professional programme.

Our APC Professional Programme is extremely demanding and as a result, we have set an additional requirement that candidates need to have successfully completed ITC by 31 March 2024 to enrol or remain enrolled into the professional programme. Consequently, candidates that are expecting to sit for the ITC assessment in June 2024 will not be eligible to register and qualify for an EPC Certificate in the 2024 academic year.

1.5. I am pursuing the CA qualification through the CIMA2CA Pathway route (i.e. CIMA qualification and APC). What are the minimum requirements to enrol into the APC Professional Programme and secure the certificate of eligibility at the end of the programme?

To be eligible to register for the EPC APC Professional Programme, candidates need to be in possession of A SAICA Letter confirming that they qualify to register into the APC Professional Programme. In order to obtain the SAICA Letter, prospective candidates must provide SAICA with:

• Letter of Good Standing from CIMA indicating that s/he gained registration with CIMA by completing the education, examination and practical experience requirements as prescribed by CIMA; AND
• Proof that s/he is a graduate i.e. (i) a holder of at least a Bachelor’s degree which is registered on Level 7 of the NQF, takes a minimum of 3 years to complete and comprises at least 360 credits or (ii) a holder of a foreign academic qualification which is assessed by SAQA as equivalent to a South African Bachelor’s degree which is registered on Level 7 of the NQF, takes a minimum of 3 years to complete and comprises at least 360 credits.

Additionally, candidates need to demonstrate professional competence by the time they exit our professional programme by achieving an outcome of ‘competent’ or ‘highly competent’ in two of the four case studies that will be facilitated during the programme.

1.6. What course material is provided during the professional programme?

A: It is noteworthy that this is not a technical course but rather a professional development programme. Therefore, our approach to course material is different to what candidates would have experienced in CTA and ITC. The course material will, as a minimum, include the business writing workshop material, discussion material for each phase, milestone assignments (individual and group) and case-study based assessments. All the discussion material in our contact sessions will be provided on an online basis. Notwithstanding this, we do supply an EPC branded (empty) research file to assist with compiling your research for the case study assessments. This is couriered to any South African based address for no additional cost.

1.7. Is the APC Professional Programme offered on a face to face or online basis?

A: As it stands, EPC is offering only a fully serviced online programme. The online programme is delivered via a combination of live streaming of the scheduled contact sessions, pre-recorded sessions, and screencasts. All the videos are accessible via MyUniverse portal.

1.8. Where will the formal case study assessments be held?

A: Other than the formal case study assessments, all the assessments in the APC Professional Programme are facilitated on a non-venue basis. We anticipate that the first case study will also be on a non-venue basis and the remaining case studies will be on a venue basis. The list of available venues in your region will be advised by 31 July 2024.

1.9. What communication channels does EPC use to communicate with us?

A: To ensure that no candidate misses any communication during the programme, we use MyUniverse as the primary communication platform. On MyUniverse, we have the ‘My NoticeBoard’ platform where all the key information about the programme is posted. The first and most important communication on the My Noticeboard platform is the ‘Welcome Note’ which provides details on our Monthly Notes, Telegram Groups, Discussion Forums and My Announcements. A copy of all notices posted under ‘My Announcements’ is sent to your registered email address provided you are enrolled by the time that the announcement is sent.

1.10. How long does it take to get a response from the support and professional team?

A: During working hours, we strive to respond to all admin related queries within 60 minutes (1 hour). After working hours, the response might be delayed until working hours are resumed. With regards to technical queries, candidates are requested to allow a maximum of 48 hours response time from the time of posting their query on Telegram groups and 48 hours response time for MyUniverse queries.

Our office hours are:
Monday – Friday: 09h00 – 18h00
Saturday: 08h00 – 13h00

1.11. I would like to consult with one of the members of the professional team, what is the process?

A: We have developed a tool on MyUniverse to help facilitate this process, the tool is accessible via MyUniverse >> My Queries & Bookings >> Book a Consultation.

1.12. Is technical knowledge critical for success in the APC assessment and how would I bridge that gap if I have identified shortfalls for myself?

A: Yes, the APC assessment focuses on the implications of and related resolution of technical matters in a professional context. The APC assessment addresses pervasive competencies (ethics, ethical behaviour, personal attributes and professional skills) within the context of the specific technical competency areas. As a result, technical knowledge in relation to specific competences of Accounting & External Reporting, Auditing & Assurance, Financial Management, Management Decision Making & Control, Strategy & Risk Management and Taxation, is very important to your success in the APC assessment.

In the pre-release information, the APC requires that technical matters (triggered through the scenario) are generally researched, analysed and understood during the five-day pre-release period. This gives the candidates an opportunity to update their technical knowledge, as required and as indicated by the triggers in the scenario. EPC provides access to the entire CTA/ITC syllabus to assist with updating your technical knowledge on those matters that were covered as part of your ITC preparation.

It is noteworthy that accounting and external reporting as well as pervasive skills are considered the foundational competency areas in the development of the case study. Accordingly, aspects of these competency areas shall be assessed in every case study. However, the technical competency areas of financial management, taxation, audit and assurance, and management decision making, and control will not necessarily all be assessed in every assessment.

1.13. Apart from offering me access to the ITC videos, how else does EPC help me with keeping me updated with my technical knowledge?

A: All our EPC candidates are given preference when we select our marking teams for CTA and ITC assessments as part of their developmental journey. Candidates that are interested in becoming markers are advised to engage our APC Caretaking Team with regards to registering a separate ‘Contractor’ profile that will give them marking privileges (i.e., candidates that would like to mark will be required to have two profiles on MyUniverse, one giving them access to content related to APC Professional Programme (‘APC Student’ profile) and the other giving them access to content related to our contractors and mentors (‘Contractor’ profile).

1.14. How is the APC Professional Programme structured?

A: The APC Professional Programme is structured in the following phases:

Outline	Description
Transition Phase Foundation of Professional Competence                 (August – December 2023)	This phase focuses on providing a smooth transition process for CIMA members into the CA(SA) qualification journey. The work in this phase is primarily focused on building technical proficiency as it pertains to the specific technical disciplines forming part of the CA(SA) academic qualification, namely: ACC (incorporating financial and external reporting), AUD (incorporating auditing, assurance, professional ethics and governance), MAF (incorporating financial management, costing, strategy and risk management) and TAX. The objective is to develop CIMA members to a similar level of technical proficiency as would have been assessed and demonstrated in the ITC assessment. In this phase, you will be guided through the technical resources to use to build technical competence (e.g., accounting and auditing standards, tax and auditing legislations and management and financial accounting frameworks). The phase will include modular (block release) sessions and guidance for self-study work to be completed in between the blocks. The success of this phase will be measured through quizzes and summative tests.
Foundation Phase Foundation of Professional Competence               (January – February 2024)	This phase focuses on developing technical proficiency that would have been developed in the academic programme (CTA) and demonstrated in the ITC assessment within the context of the APC. In the APC, technical proficiency is a foundation skill upon which the professional programme builds pervasive and professional skills on. The objective of the Foundation Phase is to upskill you technically to ensure that you can demonstrate this skill in case-based assessments later in the programme and to enable ease in the development of pervasive and professional competencies (e.g., ethical leadership, critical skill, business acumen, decision making, business writing and professional attitudes and values) later in the programme.
Development Phase Development of Professional Competence       (March – April 2024)	The purpose of the Development Phase is to understand and develop the pervasive and professional competencies outlined in the competency framework to enable you to demonstrate these competencies in tackling a multi-disciplinary case study during the Demonstration Phase of the professional programme. There are sessions scheduled for the development of business acumen, critical thinking, ethical leadership and incorporating technical competence in the APC.
Demonstration Phase Demonstration of Professional Competence     (May – June 2024)	The purpose of the Demonstration Phase is to learn how to demonstrate the professional competencies developed in the previous phase using a multi-disciplinary case study in the form of a previous SAICA APC case study. In addition, there are sessions scheduled for the development of effective communication skills and to build relational acumen (coaching support, working as an effective team and mentorship).
Assessment Phase Assessment of Professional Development           (July – November 2024)	The Assessment Phase, the last phase in the professional programme, focuses on assessing candidates’ professional competence through case study assessments. The professional programme has three (3) primary case study assessments and one (1) supplementary assessment, and you are required to demonstrate competence in at least two of these four case study assessments prior to being eligible for the award of the EPC certificate. The facilitation of our case study assessments is aligned to the actual APC structure to help you gear to the actual APC. Significant support is provided throughout the phase using reflection packs, feedback session, significant personalised feedback and consultations.

1.15. What time do classes start?

A: Most of the sessions are held over the weekend, especially on Saturdays from 08h00 to 13h00. The occasional evening sessions commence at 18h00 and finish at 21h00. Our case study sittings are from 09h00 to 17h00. You can access the detailed timetable on the login / profile page after you have successfully logged into MyUniverse.

1.16. What additional material can I consult to have a better appreciation of the APC assessment?

A: We have made available to you the 2023 SAICA’s APC regulations as well as APC Competency Framework for your consumption. Notwithstanding that revised version of these documents will be released closer to the APC November / December 2024 assessment; we are confident that these documents will provide you with a better understanding of the APC assessment process and we therefore urge you to read them thoroughly and consult them on a regular basis during the programme. A lot of the information contained therein is also covered in our discussions during the ‘Development Phase and Demonstration Phase of the programme.

1.17. I am based outside South Africa (specifically based in either Namibia, Swaziland, or Zimbabwe) and I would like to understand how will the programme be adapted to suit the laws, regulations, and economic context in my home country?

A: All our case study assessments are developed in the South African context with the laws, regulations and economic context relevant to and applying to South Africa. However, the Namibian, Swaziland and Zimbabwean candidates that will be writing the assessment administered by the Institutes of Chartered Accountants of Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe respectively can use the economic, political, technological, legal, and sociological contexts of Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, respectively. We would like to advise that the specimen responses to the case study assessments (including the tasks with a tax component) will not be adapted to reflect the economic, political, technological, legal, socio-economic contexts and tax regimes of Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe accordingly. We further confirm that the APC Professional Programme will not be offering in depth technical updates to the applicable laws and regulations applicable in those environments.

1.18. Where can I get the Microsoft Teams link to the live sessions?

A: We have developed an online timetable to ensure that you are always updated with the upcoming live sessions which are live streamed and recorded using Microsoft Teams. To access the Microsoft Teams links for the lecture sessions, you will need to login to MyUniverse then go to My Courses >> View My Timetable and click on the specific lecture for which you wish to attend the live session

1.19. How soon does EPC expect to resume with face-to-face contact sessions?

A: We cannot confirm this information at this point. Notwithstanding the above, it is our intention to relaunch our face-to-face programme on a phased basis. This means that we will not be able to immediately launch face-to-face contact sessions for all the regions in South Africa. We will likely resume face to face contact sessions in Midrand and then consider other regions at a later point.

1.20. Does Endunamoo currently have a campus / office and are candidates allowed to use the premises?

A: Yes, any candidate wishing to use the venue for the purposes of studying, discussion or mentor meetings is required to book a space via our online booking form. The form is available on MyUniverse under My General stuff. Once we are ready to resume with face-to-face contact sessions and/or venue-based assessments, we will announce details of our new campus where this will be happening.

2.1. Is the mentorship programme a compulsory part of the APC Professional Programme?

A: The Mentorship Programme is vital to the overall success of all our candidates, especially in EPC. The professional team of mentors are crucial in the development of outside the classroom professional skills such as business acumen, critical thinking and ethical leadership. They also assist in providing a personalised programme for the candidates during the after-assessment review engagements and providing support for effective team engagements. Therefore, we require all our candidates to show an active commitment in this programme. We will make all reasonable attempts to ensure that they are sufficient mentors to meet the requirements of the mentorship programme.

2.2. When will the mentorship programme commence and how do I enrol?

A: The mentorship programme will start at the end of the Foundation Phase with the first step being to complete an enrolment form and share personal and professional particulars to be included in your mentee profile. The information to be included in the mentee profile will be shared with your mentor once the allocation is completed.

2.3. How often am I supposed to engage with my mentor?

A: In the mentorship welcome note we prescribe six sessions that each candidate (mentee) needs to at least have with their mentors. We provide guidance and support to mentors before those prescribed sessions to ensure that the mentorship programme meets a minimum standard of effectiveness. Outside those sessions, you and your mentor can set up sessions that suits both your schedules, this can be as often as you require based on both your availability.

2.4. What is the structure of the mentorship programme in 2024?

A: In our efforts to improve the effectiveness of the mentorship programme to you, we provide you with a mentorship welcome note wherein we have provided a comprehensive guidance of your mentorship engagements in a form of an agenda. The guidance only covers the agenda for the six primary sessions in the mentorship programme, namely:

• Mentor-mentee engagement & ice breaking.
• Reflection on the Development Phase.
• Reflection on the Demonstration Phase; and
• Reflection on the three primary case studies.

The schedule is meant to assist and provide structure and further guidance on the objectives of these primary sessions. It also includes recommended periods in which these sessions should be held to ensure their optimal impact on your engagements.

2.5. I have a mentor outside the EPC programme and I would like for them to mentor me at Endunamoo what is the process?

A: If you have a mentor at work and they would like to furthermore assist with mentoring you through the Endunamoo mentorship programme they can simply apply using our links on our website or contact the mentorship officer to assist with the enrolment process. The process will take the mentor through the links which the first one will require them to apply as a contractor which will allow them to have further opportunities in the organisation like marking etc., the next link will be for mentorship which will allow them to have a mentor role and will have access to MyUniverse to keep track of the activities in their mentees academic journey.

2.6. How am I paired with a mentor?

A: We are not responsible for the pairing process, it is you who gets to select your preferred mentor. This is because we believe that the mentorship is your personal journey and want to give you that opportunity to select a mentor that you believe will be most suitable for you after having reviewed their profile on a high level and on an anonymous basis. We however provide a brief guidance on what to look for when considering your preferred mentor.

2.7. Is there a mentorship plan that briefs me on how the mentorship programme will run and what to expect from my mentor?

A: Our mentors go through a training session at the beginning of the year before the programme allocations are finalised, to outline the assistance to offer their mentees. Your allocated mentor will engage with you on the first session which is expected to be in May 2024 to put down how your sessions can be arranged based on the EPC programme structure.

2.8. How are the mentors empowered by the EPC Team to ensure the effectiveness of the programme?

A: Our mentors have diverse backgrounds, in terms of professional, academic and personal experiences, and we encourage them to bring that into the programme for your professional and personal development. However, to ensure those experiences are shared in a structured and effective manner, we provide training to all new mentors before the mentorship programme kicks off. In addition, we issue them with a welcome note that outlines the expectations from them as well as the profile of the mentees.

Once the programme has kicked off, we issue mentors with phase notes for them to understand the deliverables and objectives of each phase – thereby enhancing their ability to meaningfully engage with you during the mentorship sessions.

Once the assessment phase kicks off, we provide mentorship notes which include an abridged case study and access to the full case study package. After the marking for the respective case study is completed, we host a mentorship feedback session where we provide an update on the candidates’ performance, including key insights, developmental areas and discuss and develop strategies with the mentors to assist mentees in addressing those developmental areas.

We further prioritise the mentors in selecting markers for the assessments, which enhances their understanding of the evaluation of professional competence. This is also expected to enhance their ability to meaningfully engage with you during the mentorship sessions as well as share insights with other mentors during the mentorship feedback sessions.

3.1. How do I process the registration?

A: All registrations are done on our website. You can access the link directly from here or via the Endunamoo website, www.endunamoo.co.za, and clicking the ‘Register’ button. We follow a two-step registration process where candidates are first required to purchase the course of their choice and place the order, candidates will then receive an order number and an invoice will be sent to their registered email. Once registered, you are required to register an online profile on MyUniverse where the order number will be required to go through with the process. Should you encounter any problem, please contact one of our friendly caretakers or the online controller, using the contact details available under ‘Contact Us’.

3.2. I was previously registered with Endunamoo for CTA Support Course and/or ITC Preparatory Course, do I need a new online profile to be enrolled into the APC Professional Programme?

A: No, candidates will continue to use their existing online profiles and do not need to register new profiles, however candidates will still be required to purchase the course of their choice via this link www.endunamoo.co.za place an order and an invoice will be sent to their registered emails.

3.3. I was previously registered with Endunamoo for the APC Professional Programme 2023, do I get any discount as a returning candidate?

A: Yes, previously registered EPC candidates are granted a 50% discount on their tuition fees. The discount is not applicable to the EPC Case Study Package, but is only applicable to full courses, i.e., APC Accelerated Course, APC Comprehensive Course, APC Repeaters Course or APC Professional Course.

3.4. How many course offerings will EPC’s APC Professional Programme have in 2024 and how do I know which one is right for me?

A: In 2024, we have five professional course offerings that will be running as part of our APC Professional Programme as follows:

• APC Accelerated Course: This course is specifically designed for CIMA members wishing to add CA(SA) to ACMA/FCMA designation. The course is expected to start in August 2023.
• APC Comprehensive Course: This course is generally designed for all candidates that are wishing to start the programme earlier. It is an early starter programme for those candidates looking for an extended period for development of professional competence. It therefore includes candidates that were not successful in the EPC Professional Programme, passed their ITC June 2023 and other candidates that were enrolled with another PPP but unfortunately did not acquire a certificate of eligibility. It may also include candidates that were eligible to sit for APC in December 2023 but chose not to write and candidates that will only be writing the APC assessment in 2024 but would like to start with familiarising themselves with professional competency. The course is expected to start on 20 January 2024.
• APC Deferred Course: This course is designed for candidates that wish to kickstart their APC preparations a year in advance or wish to defer their studies and complete the programme over an extended period. This is not a standalone offering and is integrated with whatever other offering is applicable.
• APC Repeaters Course: This course is designed for candidates that sat for APC in December 2023 but were not successful when the results were released in February 2024. The fee is payable on a once-off basis and no payment plan is available for this offering as well. The course is expected to start on 6 April 2024.
• APC Professional Course: This course is designed for first time APC candidates and/or successful ITC January 2024 candidates. The course is expected to start on 6 April 2024.

3.5. Why does the APC Professional Programme not cater for candidates that will be sitting for the June ITC sitting?

A: This is because this will require a candidate to be concurrently enrolled into the ITC Preparatory Course and APC Professional Programme. We believe that our programmes demand a strong level of engagement and therefore it would be very difficult for one to fully commit to both programmes. This is especially the case given the ITC assessment has a strong focus on technical skills with a limited focus on professional skills, whereas the APC assessment has a strong focus on professional skills and less focus is placed on technical skills – this dichotomy makes dealing with the two programmes concurrently quite challenging, if not impossible.

The preparation of the ITC assessment and the APC Professional Programme will overlap, further making it difficult for one to fully commit to both programmes. We further believe that sufficient attention should be given to the ITC assessment to ensure that appropriate technical skills are gained that would be beneficial in the APC Professional Programme.

An additional consideration is that majority of the candidates that might find themselves in this position might be working, which adds to pressures given the limited time that one may have due to the demands of a full-time employment.

3.6. When does the registration open and when does it close?

A: Registration into our APC Professional Programme opened on 1 June 2023. Each of the five courses have their own registration closing dates. Please refer to the table below for key dates:

	Registration Opening	Open Day	Registration Closing	Commencement Date
APC Accelerated Course	1 Jun 2023	25 Jul 2023	15 Dec 2023	5 Aug 2023
APC Comprehensive Course	3 Jan 2024	12 Dec 2023	28 Feb 2024	20 Jan 2024
APC Professional Course	3 Jan 2024	2 Apr 2024	30 Apr 2024	6 Apr 2024
APC Repeaters Course	3 Jan 2024	27 Feb 2024	30 Apr 2024	6 Apr 2024

 3.7. Do we offer script review for the APC2023 Exam?

A: Yes, we do offer script review for the APC2023 exam.

3.8. I have not decided if I would like to be a candidate with Endunamoo; is there any way that I can view the videos prior to finalising my decision?

A: Yes, however you will need to register a user profile on the student portal by providing us with basic information such as names, programme and contact details. Once done, you will be able to view demo videos which includes certain videos from our 2023 APC Professional Programme. Alternatively, you can view the videos on our APC YouTube page.

3.9. Are there any other offerings that I can register for without enrolling into any of EPC’s full programmes?

A: Yes, we have offerings that are available to candidates without having enrolled into any of our courses. However, it is important to note that none of those offerings will lead to an issue of a certificate of eligibility. These offerings are as following:

EPC Case Study Package: We also offer an opportunity for candidates to sit for all three (3) of our full case study assessments. As part of the case study sitting, candidates are eligible to sit for the case study on the same basis that our registered candidates will be sitting for the case study (e.g., on a venue or non-venue basis). After the sitting, we mark the scripts and we provide personalised advice on what the candidate did well, what they did not do well on, as well as any advice going forward. This is done on a task-by-task basis. Detailed guidance on the assessment process is provided upon registration.

3.10. I was in the APC Deferred Course in the previous academic year and now wish to resume my studies in the current academic year. What is the process of being enrolled?

A: You will need to register for the APC Deferred Course in the current academic year. A new invoice will be generated, reflecting the applicable tuition fee for the current academic year. Your previous academic year invoice will be credit in full and a new invoice will be processed against your account. As a result, your tuition fee balance will be credited with the amount that you paid in the previous year. By illustration, assuming that the tuition fee for the APC Deferred Course in the previous academic year was R15 000 and you paid R10 000 towards that fee in the previous academic year. In the current academic year, you register for the APC Deferred Course which is now R17 000, EPC will credit your account with R15 000 and process the new invoice of R17 000 against your account. This would result in an outstanding balance of R7 000 (being the new tuition fee of R17 000 less R10 000 already paid in the previous academic year). The balance outstanding in your account will need to be settled in accordance with the payment terms applicable in the current academic year.

3.11. I want to register into the professional programme but I see that I missed an entire phase, e.g. I am a CIMA professional who missed the Transition Phase and would like to get access to this or I am registering in March but would like to access the Foundation Phase. Is this possible?

A: Yes, this is possible. You can choose to purchase previous phases of the professional programme and add them to your own profile. For instance, if you a CIMA professional registering in January 2024 but wish to access the Transition Phase, you will register for the APC Comprehensive Course and thereafter add to your registration the Transition Phase offering. In making a decision to register for a course with content already covered, one needs to be mindful that they will need to make time to cover the content in the previous phase while working through the commitments in the current phase. However, the professional team is available to provide guidance and assistance in that regard.

4.1. I noted that there are some tasks that candidates will be required to do during the programme. Am I required to complete all the tasks on an individual basis or with my team members?

A: Most of the tasks will need to be completed on an individual basis, with individual or team effort during the preparation phase, e.g., all full case study assessments will involve teamwork during the research period (i.e., after the release of the pre-release information and five (5) days before the assessment). In addition to individual submissions, there are some tasks that will need to be completed and submitted on a team basis. Team submissions involve candidates working with their team members to prepare a far improved submission than it would have been on an individual basis. The objective is to learn from each other and work as a team to improve on the candidates’ weaknesses and offer an opportunity for candidates to help other team members develop in their areas of weakness (thus demonstrating strong leadership skills).

4.2. For team-based tasks, what is the maximum number of members that EPC recommends to be in a team and is it the same team throughout the APC Professional Programme?

A: Based on our experience and previous engagements, we believe a team of at least three (3) individuals and no more than six (6) individuals is ideal to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the team. Accordingly, we have designed our team assessment submission tool not to allow submissions where teams are below three (3) individuals and more than six (6) individuals. In order to encourage a culture of learning from each other, we strongly recommend that candidates be in the same team throughout the APC Professional Programme. In terms of team structure, we further recommend that there be diversity in terms of skills / passion, exposure and firms within the teams.

4.3. How does the rigorous comprehensive and personalised feedback process work?

A: In providing feedback, the EPC professional team focuses on three (3) primary elements, being: 1) what did you do well, 2) what did you not do well; and 3) advice going forward. This is done on a task-by-task basis to ensure that candidates have sufficient information to understand their strengths (to help them build on these) and their challenges as well as suggestion for improvement (to help them further develop from these). Additionally, we consider the outcomes on previous assessments in providing candidates with suggestions for further development, and we also reflect on their progress on any feedback previously provided. The structure of the rigorous feedback is followed on the feedback for Mini Case Study, Case Study #1 and Case Study #2 only as these are viewed as developmental case studies.

4.4. How do I become eligible to receive a certificate that would allow me to sit for the APC2024, i.e., the certificate of eligibility?

A: Prior to awarding a certificate of eligibility, we consider both the submissions of the assessments as well as the quality of those submissions of the assessments noted above. Additionally, engagements in the mentorship programme would contribute to the professional team’s evaluation of candidates’ competence. We confirm that the case study assessments take priority in assessing candidates’ professional competence. Additionally, for transparency we have published a document dealing with the eligibility criteria.

4.5. Do all the milestone assessments have the same weighting?

A: No, Candidates are expected to demonstrate professional competence in two of the three case study assessments, with greater weighting being given to final case study assessments (i.e. EPC Case Study #3) when evaluating whether you are eligible to be awarded the EPC Certificate at the end of the professional programme. Candidates that have not demonstrated professional competence in the professional programme after EPC Case Study #3 will be required to sit for the supplementary assessment (i.e., EPC Case Study #3.2) and achieve an outcome of ‘competent’ or ‘highly competent’ before being awarded the professional certificate of completion and eligibility. In evaluating competence in a case study, greater weighting is placed on the tasks whose primary competence area is financial accounting and external reporting and that have a strong focus on the assessment of a candidate’s pervasive skills (i.e., personal attitudes, professional values, business acumen and critical thinking). EPC will further generally expect at least three (3) tasks with an outcome of ‘competent’ or ‘highly competent’ and no more than two (2) tasks with an outcome of ‘limited competent’ prior to awarding an overall outcome of ‘competent’ for a candidate’s attempt. If a candidate does not attempt a task in a case study assessment or achieve an outcome of ‘not competent’ in any of the tasks, the overall outcome in that case study assessment shall be ‘limited competent’ regardless of the outcomes in the other tasks.

4.6. What happens if I am found not to have met the level of competence to be awarded a certificate of eligibility by EPC. What are my options?

A: We encourage all our candidates that do not meet the level of competence required to sit for the APC assessment to enrol into our APC Comprehensive Course. This course is primarily aimed at providing an extended professional development support ahead of the APC for 2025.

4.7. How long does it take for results to be released after each assessment?

A: Based on our enrolment figures and the need to deliver a comprehensive and personalised feedback, we envisage that it would take between two (2) to three (2) weeks to release the results after each milestone assessment.

4.8. Will additional guidance be given closer to the full case study assessments?

A: Yes, we will publish detailed guidance on the administration of the case study assessment, including e-writing process. The guidance will also clarify any appeal process should you not be happy with the outcome awarded for your assessment.

4.9. I noted that all the case study assessments are written during the week (specifically on a Wednesday), why is that the case? Would it not be better to have these assessments over the weekend so that we do not have to take leave?

A: The idea of having some case study assessments on Wednesdays is to best simulate the actual APC assessment which is also written on Wednesday. The primary reason for the simulation is to best help you to deal with some of the actual conditions that you may experience in preparing and during the day of the assessments, e.g., juggling the team engagements and research ahead of the assessment during certain days of the week where you might be working, and travelling to the assessment venue during peak traffic times. It is also our understanding that the release of the case study pre-release information on a Friday gives you appropriate time to work on your research / triggers and engage with your team during the weekend.

4.10. How many leave days am I expected to take for each of the case study assessments?

A: There are several factors to consider when it comes to the ideal time required to prepare for a case study. These factors may include your firm’s leave policy, dynamics of your team and your familiarity of the case study setting and the identified triggers.

With regards to leave considerations, we generally recommend that candidates take at least two (2) days of leave before the first and supplementary case study assessment while four (4) days of leave should be taken in preparation for the second and third case study assessment. The leave days should ideally be taken on Tuesday (the day before the assessment) and Wednesday which is the day of the assessment. The recommended four days for the second and third case study assessment would be broken down as follows: first leave day should be for the day on which the pre-release information is published, next 2 days will be for Monday and Tuesday before the assessment and the fourth day would be for the day of the assessment (i.e., Wednesday). Therefore, candidates need to plan for ten (10) days of leave towards the preparations for the first, second and third case study assessment. With the November / December APC assessment, it would mean that a total of 14 leave days would need to be dedicated to both the EPC assessments and the APC assessment (and an extra two days, making it 16 leave days, should a candidate be required to sit for the supplementary assessment prior to being eligible for the award of the certificate). We appreciate that most firms might not make a provision for 14 study leave days in a year and we therefore encourage candidates to plan their annual leave days accordingly as they may be required to supplement any shortfalls in the available study leave days. To assist in the process of applying for leave, EPC issues official assessment letters to confirm the dates as well as the professional team’s recommendation of the number of leave days required in that regard.

On the issue of team dynamics, we recommend that you have a healthy balance of individual work and team contribution. Team contribution would include: 1) your contribution towards the knowledge base of the team and 2) your ability to evaluate the validity and quality of the other team member’s contribution (including sharing constructive feedback with them). We strongly recommend that you undertake independent / individual work on the case study pre-release information prior to any engagement on the case study with your team as that will help you in building the confidence you need when engaging with them and during the day of the assessment. This is what the first day of the four recommended leave days is all about – i.e., undertaking individual work. It is ideal to draw up a plan with your team as to when you will be meeting and for how long, and when information will be shared prior to the meeting to ensure that each team member comes having fully prepared in those meetings. We further recommend that meetings should not be overly long (3 hours per session might be ideal because anything longer might undermine the value of the meeting) and have specific agenda points with times allocated to each point. This will likely encourage each team member to come having prepared for robust discussions and ensure that they raise only the most critical issues rather than use it as an opportunity to read the pre-release information along with the rest of the team.

Lastly on the issue of familiarity with the case study scenario, it is likely that not all the case studies will deal with companies that are common to the team or whose shares are listed on a recognised stock exchange. Other factors that could contribute to the complexity of the case study include technical issues that were not previously covered in ITC or technical issues that were covered in ITC but are relatively complex to the team. As a result, the issues will need more time for the team to familiarise themselves with the case study setting as part of working through the identified triggers. Having fully read the pre-release information, it is important to assess whether the time available, prior to considering any leave days, is sufficient or not to fully deal with these matters.

4.11. I am based outside the borders of South Africa, do I need to travel to South Africa in order to sit for the EPC case study venue-based assessments?

A: It is worth noting that candidates outside South Africa will not be expected to come and physically write the assessments at our RSA-based venues. Instead, the assessments will be facilitated online, and the invigilation instructions will be shared ahead of each assessment.

4.12. Will EPC always provide venue-based assessments in all regions in South Africa?

A: Unfortunately, this will not be feasible and accordingly we have set a minimum threshold of 10 candidates. This means that at least 10 candidates need to be enrolled to sit for an assessment at that specific venue prior to us confirming the facilitation of a venue-based assessment. Should the number fall below 10 candidates, the assessment will be facilitated on a non-venue basis.

5.1. What is the objective of the script review exercise?

A: The objective of the script review exercise is to highlight areas where you fell short, areas of strengths and offer practical guidance going forward. In undertaking the exercise, we use the EPC 9-point Competency Framework to highlight your shortfalls, strengths and offer guidance based on the following areas:

• Business acumen: Your ability to demonstrate an understanding of the value drivers in the industry and company covered in the case study. This would be highlighted by your ability to identify external factors and internal factors that affect the strategy and sustainability of the company.
• Technical competence: Your ability to demonstrate a strong level of technical knowledge and application thereof in the context of the given tasks.
• Critical thinking: Your ability to evaluate information, challenge assumptions for relevance, accuracy and omissions, synthesise information and make decisions using the given information.
• Communication skills: Your ability to communicate effectively, taking due consideration to the given audience and quality of your communication (free from material grammatical and spelling errors).
• Pre-research skills: Your ability to demonstrate the effectiveness of your research, without necessarily dumping irrelevant information when responding to given tasks.
• Adaption skills: Your ability to adopt to changes introduced in the day and therefore a demonstration of presence and ability to apply yourself when new information is introduced.
• Approach: Your ability to present your response in a logical manner and ensuring that you address all components of the given task.
• Ethical leadership skills: Your ability to identify ethical dilemmas or ethical concerns, and approach them in a considered manner.
• Time management skills: Your ability to manage your time and evidence of appropriate time to each given task.

It is important to highlight that the objective of the script review exercise is not to reassess or validate the outcome awarded to you by the professional body’s marking team.

5.2. Will I get access to the marking grid and specimen solution as part of the script review process?

A: We are not authorised to publish the marking grid and specimen solution to candidates. Accordingly, we will not be able to share these with candidates.

5.3. Who is part of the script review team?

A: The senior EPC Team will lead a team of reviewers, being our veteran marking teams as well as a set of new markers. In selecting the markers to form part of the review team, consideration has been made to secure a balance of reviewers that were part of the APC December 2023 marking team, new reviewers and our previous review team members.

5.4. What are the timelines for the script review process?

A: SAICA generally commits to release the APC December 2023 scripts to candidates by last Friday in March. Accordingly, the MyUniverse submission platform will be set to open ahead of that time to receive your scripts. The submission platform will remain open until mid-April. For the avoidance of doubt, the last day to submit the APC December 2023 scripts for review is 30 April 2024.

The review team will commence with the review process immediately following the closure of the submission process. We envisage that the review will take no longer than five weeks, with the feedback ready for release to candidates as from end of May 2024.

As from that date, opportunity to engage with the EPC Team on the self-reflection as well as the feedback from the reviewers will commence and run for approximately two to three weeks until the end of June 2024.

5.5. I have received my APC December 2023 script(s) from my professional body, how do I go about submitting this to the EPC Team for review?

A: You will need to login to MyUniverse and then proceed to My APC Assessments >> Submit My APC Attempts. Most of the information required will be prepopulated from the ‘Know Me Better’ form and all you will need to do is submit a screenshot of the outcomes letter and the PDF scripts from SAICA in the designated area.

5.6. I am unable to submit my APC December 2023 scripts to the EPC Team for review. What is the problem and how do I resolve it?

A: It could be one of the following issues that may need to be attended as provided below:

• You have not completed the Know Me Better form and therefore your details are not prepopulating. To resolve this problem, please complete the Know Me Better form available under My Account >> My Profile.
• You have previously submitted your script and only one submission is permitted. To resolve this error, please delete any of your previous submission and replace it with the correct information. Please note that this is only possible if the submission is being made prior to the submission deadline.
• The file format is rejected. You might be attempting to upload a PDF file under the “Outcomes Letter” submission field. Only the following formats are permitted, .jpg, .gif and .png. To resolve, take a screenshot using your phone or PC and save it before uploading into MyUniverse.

5.7. What is the outcomes letter and where do I obtain it from?

A: The outcomes letter is the letter which summarises your outcomes per task as well as on overall basis. This letter is sent to you by your professional body via email. If you do not have one, please request this from your professional body as soon as possible.

5.8. Why does the EPC Team require the outcomes letter?

A: We require the outcomes letter to ensure that we apply an attention directing approach when undertaking the script review. We aim to direct our efforts and attention to areas that you did not do well on and the summary of outcomes per task gives us that overview at a glance without having to reassess the scripts ourselves and therefore investing time in non-value adding activities. Additionally, this is to reaffirm that the objective of the script review exercise is not to reassess or validate the outcome awarded to you by the professional body’s marking team, but to highlight areas where you fell short, areas of strengths and offer practical guidance going forward.

5.9. I have missed the deadline to submit my scripts to the EPC Team, what do I do?

A: Unfortunately, there will not be any further opportunity to submit your scripts for review. We are strict on the deadlines in order to ensure that the reviewers have sufficient time to undertake quality reviews and that feedback is released to you in a timely manner, allowing for proper self-reflection and engagements with the EPC Team on your feedback and self-reflection.

If you miss the deadline for submitting your scripts to the EPC Team, we encourage you to undertake an extensive self-reflection. Once the opportunity for private consultations opens, you should book a slot and use that opportunity to work through your reflection exercise with one of the professional team members.

5.10. The release of the scripts by SAICA / ICAZ / ICAN is delayed, will EPC extend the deadline for the submission of the scripts?

A: Yes, we would be open to reviewing our stipulated timelines in response to the delayed receipt of the scripts from the respective bodies.

5.11. How much is the script review and who is entitled to it?

A: The script review is offered at a nominal fee of R750 to candidates registered as part of the APC Repeaters Course. However, candidates that registered for the EPC Case Study Package are charged a nominal fee of R1 000 for the script review service offering. As a result, newly registered candidates will have an option to register for the EPC Case Study Package without a script review service offering for R6 000 or for the EPC Case Study Package with a script review service offering at an amount of R7 000.

5.12. I previously registered for the EPC Case Study Package without the script review service offering and I would like to add it for R1 000. How do I go about it?

A: You can add it manually by navigating to Add A Course and proceed to add ‘Additional Services’. You will be directed to the PayFast payment gateway, and you can then make a payment for R1 000 for the script review offering. We prefer that you use AutoEFT when making your payment.

5.13. Unfortunately, I missed the deadline to submit my APC December 2023 scripts for review. Will I be receiving a refund?

A: If you are enrolled into the APC Repeaters Course, you will be refunded or credited the R750 fee you paid towards the script review process. However, if you are registered into the EPC Case Study Package with a script review offering, a downward adjustment of R1 000 will be made against your tuition fee account. If you have already settled your account, you will be entitled to a refund in accordance with our standard terms and conditions for refunds. Please refer to FAQs for more guidance.

5.14. I am not happy with the quality of the feedback received. What do I do?

A: You can raise your grievances to the APC Team Leader or Operations Caretaker, in a written format, and they will then escalate the feedback to the EPC Academic Head and/or Managing Director for their attention. The EPC Academic Head or Managing Director will review your grievances and attend to any areas of deficiencies to ensure that the objective of the script review exercise is met, and that exceptional value is delivered to you.

6.1. After the registration has been processed how do I make the payment?

A: As from the 2024 academic year, only credit, debit or cheque card facilitated payments will be accepted. We have full adopted the PayFast Payment Platform and we use it to charge the registration fee (referred to as a sign-up fee) and the monthly instalments. The monthly instalments are collected automatically from your credit, debit or cheque account making it easier and convenient for you to meet your monthly obligations. You can choose to pay the tuition fee upfront, in which case, you will receive an early settlement discount or choose to pay a registration fee and regular monthly payments.

6.2. How much are the tuition fees for the APC Professional Programme and what payment plans are available?

A: The tuition fee and the related payments for the APC Professional Programme is based on the respective course registered:

Candidate profile	Tuition fee and payment terms
CIMA members, sitting for the SAICA APC2024       (“APC Accelerated Course”)	Individual/Private Paying Candidates R23 500 25% of the tuition fee is payable on registration and thereafter monthly instalments until 31 August 2024 Corporate Funded Candidates R21 620
New candidates, sitting for the SAICA APC2024       (“APC Comprehensive Course”)	Individual/Private Paying Candidates R17 000 25% of the tuition fee is payable on registration and thereafter monthly instalments until 31 August 2024 Corporate Funded Candidates R13 500
New candidates, sitting for the SAICA APC2024       (“APC Professional Course”)	Individual/Private Paying Candidates R15 500 25% of the tuition fee is payable on registration and thereafter monthly instalments until 31 August 2024 Corporate Funded Candidates R12 500
Returning EPC candidates       (“APC Repeaters Course”)	Individual/Private Paying Candidates R15 500 25% of the tuition fee payable on registration, and thereafter monthly instalments until 31 August 2024 Corporate Funded Candidates R12 500

 6.3. How much are the fees for the EPC case study package and what payment plans are available?

A: The tuition fee is a once-off fee of R6 000 for the entire case study package. No apportionment of fees is applicable, if one is unable to sit for any of the case study assessments. The tuition fee needs to be settled by 31 August 2024. We regret to advise that there is no payment plan available for the case study package.

6.4. Is the course fee stipulated on the website an all-inclusive fee?

A: Yes, the stipulated tuition fees include access to lectures, assessments (writing, marking and review sessions), tutorials, any printing for respective course material, online programme, e-writing resources and administration fees. However, the stipulated fees exclude SAICA exam fees, and international courier fees.

6.5. I was previously registered with Endunamoo CTA Support Course and/or ITC Preparatory Course, do I still pay the same fees as everyone else when I register into the APC Professional Programme?

A: Yes, all newly registering candidates are required to pay the tuition fees stipulated above. However, should a candidate have any credit from any of our previous programmes, the candidate can use that credit as an offset against the EPC tuition fees account.

6.6. I was previously registered with another APC Professional Programme Provider; do I still pay the same fees as everyone else when I register into the APC Professional Programme?

A: Yes, you will be treated as a newly registering candidate and all newly registering candidates are required to pay the tuition fees stipulated above. This is the case even if you were previously registered with EPC in the year preceding the previous one (i.e., if you were registered with EPC in 2020, 2021 or 2022 but were not registered with EPC in 2023, you will be treated as a new candidate in the 2024 academic year unless you were not able to sit for the APC assessment in the 2023 academic year). You will need to provide documentary evidence to support your absence from the respective APC assessment.

6.7. I was previously registered with EPC, do I still pay the same fees as everyone else when I register into the APC Professional Programme?

A: Candidates that were previously registered with EPC in the preceding year are entitled to a 50% discount to the tuition fees applicable in the 2024 academic year. If you were registered with EPC in 2020, 2021 or 2022 but were not registered with EPC in 2023, you will be treated as a new candidate in the 2024 academic year unless you were not able to sit for the APC assessment in the 2023 academic year. You will need to provide documentary evidence to support your absence from the respective APC assessment.

6.8. I wish to deregister from the APC Professional Programme, what is the process and what are the cost implications?

A: Given that we now run a subscription based payment system, should you wish to deregister all you need to do is to login to MyUniverse >> My Account >> My Subscriptions and then select your current course enrolment and click ‘Cancel’. The status of your subscription will be changed to ‘Cancellation Pending’ to indicate that you still have access until the end of the month (i.e. your cancellation request is processed at the end of your running month). As soon as the month ends, your registration will be cancelled and you will no longer be charged the monthly instalments. This is because subscriptions are collected at the beginning of the month and covers the entire month and therefore, if you cancel your subscription during the month, you will be allowed to finish your subscription benefits for that specific month.

If you had paid the full amount, you will still need to log a cancellation as stipulated above. However, you may be entitled to a refund depending on the time at which you deregister. The refund will be calculated as follows:

A = B – C – (D x M), where

A is the amount refundable to you, if any.

B is the total amount you paid to date, whether yourself or via the employer

C is the sign up fee applicable to the course

D is the monthly subscriptions that would have been applicable had you been on a monthly subscription

M is the number of months that you would have been charged a subscription had you been on a monthly subscription

If a candidates’ tuition fees are funded by an employer, only an official letter on the employer’s letterhead will be accepted as an appropriate means for withdrawal from the programme.

Once you have processed your cancellation, we request you provide us with a reason for your deregistration and/or advise if you wish for us to delete your personal information by logging a query via MyUniverse Query Tool under My Queries & Bookings. If a refund is due to you, you may also use the query form to lodge a refund request.

6.9. If I deregister in the month that I have just enrolled to the programme, will the deregistration policy outlined above be applicable or are there special considerations?

A: Unfortunately, the same deregistration policy will be applicable to you provided in its entirety. However, you may be liable for only the sign-up fee.

6.10. After taking into account the cost implications of the deregistration, there is a refund amount due to me. What is the process of getting those funds back and what is the waiting period?

A: If there is a refund amount due to you, you will need to request a refund via our MyUniverse Query Tool which is available on MyUniverse under My Queries & Bookings section of the menu. Please note all refund requests are processed within 10 working days following their receipt.

An admin charge of R150 is applicable for the processing of all refund requests unless otherwise stipulated. The admin charge is not applicable for other refunds, e.g. Thuthuka refunds, refunds after employers have settled after you having settled the account, etc. (excluding overpayments)

6.11. I wish to defer my studies. What is the process and what are the cost implications?

A: If you wish to defer your studies, you will need to log a query via MyUniverse Query Tool. The option to defer your studies is only applicable prior to the commencement of the APC Assessment Phase of our APC Professional Programme. Any request to defer your studies after the commencement of the APC Assessment Phase will be treated as a deregistration and the guidance stipulated above will apply.

Your tuition fee account needs to be fully settled for us to process your deferral request. After successfully processing your request to defer your studies, you will be automatically enrolled into the APC Deferred Course (please refer to the structure of the APC Deferred Course for more details). A non-refundable deferral fee of R3 500 will be charged against your account when your registration is converted to the APC Deferred Course and this fee is payable before the commencement of the APC Assessment Phase.

Once your deferral request has been fully processed, you will be issued with a discount voucher that will ensure your tuition fee is fully offset when you re-register for the APC Professional Programme. The discount voucher is not transferable or exchangeable for cash at a later date. The voucher only grants you access to a full academic year in either the 2025 or 2026 professional programme.

6.12. I wish to defer my studies from the 2024 academic year to the 2025 academic year. What is the cut-off date?

A: You are only eligible to defer your studies prior to the assessment phase of the professional programme. As soon as the assessment phase kicks off, no requests for deferring your studies will be processed. At that point, only requests for deregistration will be processed and no refunds will be applicable.

6.13. My request for deferring my studies has been successfully processed. Will MyUniverse account be deactivated?

A: No, your account will remain active and you will be entitled to access all phases of the professional programme, including the CTA videos, other than the assessment phase. We do this in order to ensure that you continue to receive important updates such as registration timelines. If you wish to have your profile deactivated and personally manage the updates regarding programme timelines, you can send a request to the online team to remove your details from MyUniverse until the time you resume your studies.

6.14. I wish to defer my studies from the 2024 academic year but I am uncertain as to when I will be able to resume the professional programme. For how long will the credit in my tuition account be valid?

A: Your credit is only valid for two academic years following the year in which you opted to defer your studies. This means that if you defer your studies in the 2024 academic year, you will be required to register in either the 2025 or 2026 academic year for your tuition fee credit to be credited in full. We may grant you a grace period if you are not able to register for the 2025 or 2026 professional programme if you can demonstrate that due to ill health or mental unwellness you were not able to resume your studies in those academic years. An opinion from a medical expert will be required as supporting evidence for such fact.

6.15. I deferred my studies in the 2023 (2024) academic year and wish to resume the professional programme in the 2024 (2025) academic year, how do I go about doing that?

A: You will be required to make a new registration into the same professional course you were previously registered for, e.g. if you were previously registered for the APC Comprehensive Course, you will be required to register for the APC Comprehensive Course. Upon registration, you will need to apply the discount voucher assigned to you – it will automatically appear in the Checkout page and all you need to do is click it to reduce your invoice to Rnil.

6.17. I deferred my studies in the 2023 (2024) academic year whilst registered for the APC Professional Course and now wish to register for the APC Comprehensive Course, how do I go about doing that?

A: The discount voucher issued to you will not apply when registering for the APC Comprehensive Course. You will need to request a new discount voucher that will allow you to register for a different programme. However, the discount voucher issued to you will be equivalent to the prevailing tuition fee for the course that you were previously enrolled in and the difference will be for your own account. By way of an example, if the APC Professional Course is priced at R15 500 and the APC Comprehensive Course is priced at R17 000, you will be issued with a new discount voucher for the amount of R15 500 and the difference between R17 000 and R15 500 will be for your own account. If however, the course that you wish to now enrol for has a lower tuition fee than the one you are eligible to register for, no refund or credit will be due to you in recognition of any benefit that would have accrued to you in the year you deferred your studies.

6.18. I previously deregistered from EPC while my account was not up to date. I wish to register in the current academic year and wish to take advantage of the 50% discount applicable to returning candidates. Will this be possible?

A: Unfortunately, no. You will be required to first settle your outstanding balance (including any penalties and administration charges for missing payments due) prior to being entitled to the 50% discount. In some instances, it might be cost effective to register as a newly registered candidate instead of bringing your account up to date, in which case, we will write off your previous outstanding amount.

6.19. How do I have my account activated if my employer is paying?

A: We have provided an efficient way to advise your employer that you are registered with us for the EPC. You will need to log into MyUniverse and navigate to My Queries & Bookings, log a finance query for Employer Arrangement. In lodging the query, you will need to fill in the details of the person at your employer with the authority to approve payments for your tuition fees, the person who is responsible for payments (to allow our team to follow up), their email addresses and an invoice will be automatically generated and sent to your employer’s administrators requesting them to approve the invoice. Once the invoice has been approved, you will be issued with a discount voucher to allow you to register without a valid credit, debit or cheque card. This means you will need to manually register on our system to commence your studies with us.

6.20. My employer is paying the EPC fees on my behalf; do I need to pay the non-refundable registration fee?

A: The payment of the registration fee is waived if you provide a written confirmation of the employer’s commitment to settle the fees due to EPC. However, the account remains your responsibility if the employer does not settle the account in full.

A written confirmation is however not required for KPMG & AGSA candidates. KPMG & AGSA candidates simply need to log a query requesting a registration discount voucher and this will be emailed to them with instructions on how to register for their desired course without a valid credit, debit or cheque card.

Depending on the arrangement with your employer, you may be charged a holding fee of R2 500 or the full registration fee after having received written confirmation from the employer. If the employer settles the account after you have paid the registration fee or the holding fee, the credit due to you will be refunded to you in accordance with our refund policy.

6.21. What happens in case my employer delays confirming that they will pay for my fees?

A: Corporate invoices will be issued on 31 May 2024 after the registration has closed and will be payable by 30 June 2024 to ensure that the discount is not forfeited. Corporate invoices that are not settled by 30 June 2024 will result in the obligation to pay the registration fee and instalment due on the candidates. The candidate will be obliged for the full tuition fee applicable to individual / private paying candidates.

6.22. How long does it take to have my account activated?

A: Your account is activated as soon as your credit, debit or cheque card is charged with the sign-up fee. For employer arrangements, your account will be activated within 48 hours after receiving confirmation that the employer will pay your tuition fees. No activations are processed over the weekend and/or public holidays unless it is the first or second class of the respective professional course.

6.23. What will happen if my account is in arrears, i.e., I am behind with my payments as per the stipulated payment plans?

A: Unfortunately, if PayFast is unable to collect the monthly subscription, your subscription will be immediately suspended. This means that you may not be able to procure the resources required to sit for the case study assessments, which may impact your ability to secure the certificate of eligibility at the end of the programme. If the account remains in arrears at the end of the course, we may withhold candidate’s results and therefore be in a position where we may not be able to submit your overall outcome to SAICA by the stipulated deadlines to ensure that you are eligible to sit for the APC assessment in December 2024. It is therefore important to engage our team to ensure that the account is kept up to date.

Attempts to collect your monthly subscriptions will be made against your selected payment method until the 15^th day of the month. After which, your registration will be terminated and you will be required to make a new registration, provided the registration window is still open.

6.24. My account has been charged with administration or penalty charges. Why is that the case?

A: We charge administration and penalty fees where a candidate has made errors in processing their payments or delayed in making payments. The administration charges are: (1) R150 for use of incorrect reference number or banking account and (2) R200 if the monthly instalments are not paid within 7 days after the instalment is due. These other charges compensate the finance administration team for the additional time committed into identifying and allocating your payment as well as managing the budget and/or liquidity of the organisation. No exemption is provided against such instances.