Choosing the right degree is an important step when planning your higher education and career after matric. This choice can shape the skills you develop and the job opportunities available to you in the future.
A Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree is one of the most popular options because it offers a strong foundation in subjects that employers value, such as business, finance, and economics. At the same time, it allows students to specialise in specific areas. This makes it easier to align the degree with personal interests and career goals.
For South African learners, a BCom can open doors to a wide range of career opportunities across different industries. It also provides a clear pathway for further study, including honours degrees and professional qualifications. This helps graduates to continue to grow and advance in their chosen field.
In this article, we explain what a bachelor of commerce is, its benefits, subjects, its comparison with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, the highest-paying jobs, and more.
Table of Contents
What Is a Bachelor of Commerce?
A Bachelor of Commerce is an academic degree awarded after completing undergraduate study in commerce-related fields. It emphasises subjects such as accounting and economics, alongside business law and management.
The degree aims to provide comprehensive knowledge while offering specialisation options for specific careers. Entry requirements typically include a Matric with a bachelor’s pass or equivalent. However, exact Bachelor of Commerce requirements vary by educational institution.
Read more on What Is a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Financial Services? Complete Details.
What Are the Benefits of a Bachelor of Commerce Degree?
A BCom delivers a combination of practical skills and theory that helps graduates enter various sectors of the economy. It improves numeracy, analytical reasoning and business writing – all of which are useful in roles from banking to policy analysis.
Employers often prefer graduates who can understand financial reports, suggest evidence-based improvements, and work with digital tools. For learners, a BCom also creates clear pathways to postgraduate study, professional programmes and management roles. The degree is recognised by employers across South Africa and beyond.
The following are some common benefits:
- Strong basic knowledge of finance, accounting, and economics.
- Versatile career options across private and public sectors.
- Access to professional routes like accounting or finance qualifications.
- Good preparation for honours, diplomas or a management degree.
- Practical skills that employers value, such as data interpretation and reporting.
What Are the Subjects in the Bachelor of Commerce?
Most BCom programmes offered in South Africa combine core modules with electives or a specialisation. Core subjects often include Financial Accounting, Business Law, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Business Communication.
As students specialise, they may opt for modules in Taxation, Auditing, Management Accounting, Corporate Finance, Marketing and Information Systems. Practical assessments, projects, and case studies commonly support learning, so graduates can demonstrate real-world examples to employers.
Common subject areas include:
- Accounting and auditing modules
- Finance and banking topics
- Economics and business law
- Management and marketing
- Electives such as taxation, information systems or research projects.
Besides these subjects, specialisations allow deeper study in a chosen field. For example, banking & financial services, politics, philosophy & economics, etc. Many South African institutions, such as the Regenesys School of Economics, offer a BCom Honours programme as a follow-up qualification.
These programmes allow students to specialise further in areas such as finance or accounting. These routes help if you aim for technical roles or postgraduate study.
Read more on BCom BFS: Subjects, Duration & Admission Criteria.
Bachelor of Arts vs Bachelor of Commerce – Differences
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) is generally broader and more humanities-focused, with subjects such as languages, history, or social sciences. A Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) is more technical and commerce-focused, emphasising accounting, finance and quantitative analysis.
If you prefer numbers, business tools and clear career pathways into finance or accounting, a BCom is usually the better fit. If you prefer to study the humanities, social policy, or languages, a BA offers greater subject variety. Both degrees can lead to successful careers. The best choice depends on your interests and career aims.
Read more on Insights Into BCom Banking and Finance Applications For 2026.
What Do You Study in a Commerce Degree?
In practice, you study theory and applied topics that prepare you for business tasks. You can expect coursework in financial reporting, managerial accounting, corporate finance, taxation, business statistics and research methods. Project work and case studies teach you how to apply theory to business problems.
Many programmes also include modules on ethics, governance and information systems to reflect the needs of modern workplaces. These elements combine to build a portfolio of work and a practical skill set for job applications.
Read more on BCom PPE Degree Careers In South Africa | 2026 Guide.
Which Programme Is Best After a Bachelor Of Commerce?
Many graduates choose an honours year or a postgraduate diploma to specialise. Common options include a Bachelor of Commerce Honours (for example, in finance), a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (for those aiming to qualify as a CA) or a management postgraduate diploma.
Professional routes such as Chartered Accountant (South Africa), Chartered Financial Analyst or specialised diplomas in tax and audit are also common next steps. The right choice depends on whether you want a technical profession, management roles, or further academic study.
Read more on How to Apply for a BCom PPE Degree in South Africa?
Which BCom Job Has The Highest Salary?
Job roles that typically offer higher salaries for BCom graduates include finance manager, investment analyst, operations manager and senior accounting positions. Pay ranges vary by industry, individual experience, and job location.
In South Africa, senior finance roles often report higher median earnings than general entry-level commercial posts. Salary data from Payscale highlights that management and senior finance roles rank among the top-paid positions for commerce graduates. Avail of university career services to get salary insights when planning your path.
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Conclusion
A Bachelor of Commerce degree teaches practical skills that employers value and can lead to many career options or further study. It is a good choice if you want to work in areas like banking, finance, public management, or consulting, as it offers a broad foundation with opportunities to specialise.
Regenesys Education offers BCom programmes that combine practical projects with industry insight. The various programmes include the Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Financial Services, Bachelor of Commerce in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Finance.
If you are ready to explore study options, contact us to speak with a career adviser who will guide you through your available career options after matric.
FAQs
What is the typical duration of a BCom degree programme?
Most BCom degrees run for three years full-time.
What are common entry requirements?
Entry requirements usually include a Matric with a bachelor’s pass or an NQF Level 4 equivalent qualification.
Is a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree necessary?
A Bachelor of Commerce honours degree helps specialise and is often recommended for technical roles or postgraduate study.
What are the various Bachelor of Commerce degree jobs?
Common job roles include accountant, analyst, finance officer, and policy roles in public management.
How does a BCom support professional routes like CA?
A BCom followed by a postgraduate diploma in accounting is the usual academic path towards the CA qualification in South Africa.
