General information
The Centre for Extended Legal Studies (CELS) in the School of Law, UKZN, invites applications from candidates wishing to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Justice in 2022.
The Diploma aims to provide working professionals (not necessarily accountants or lawyers) with the knowledge and skills necessary to specialise in the field of forensic investigative accounting – a specialised branch of forensic investigation, which uses intelligence-gathering techniques, together with accounting, legal and communication skills, to investigate and provide evidence of crimes of a financial or commercial nature.
The FICJ programme is offered part-time ( only) over two years and consists of seven modules at NQF level 8 (six 16-credit semesterised modules and one year-long 32-credit module). All modules will be delivered primarily by means of online teaching. This will require students to have access to a stable internet connection and a suitable device, such as a desktop, laptop or smartphone, provided at their own cost. Students will need to be computer literate. It is not known whether it will be possible to offer any contact sessions (classroom teaching) in 2022. If so, such sessions will be held outside normal working hours (evenings and/or Saturday mornings).
Programme structure
1st Year
- Substantive Criminal Law (16 credits)
- Criminal Procedure & Evidence (16 credits)
- Financial Accounting & Auditing (16 credits)
- Civil Remedies for Economic Crime (16 credits)
- Forensic Investigation Techniques (16 credits)
Forensic Investigative Accounting (16 credits)
2nd Year
- Forensic Reporting (32 cp)
Entrance requirements
The requirements are a recognised undergraduate degree, or an appropriate one-year Advanced Diploma (NQF level 7), or CFE qualification. Places in the programme are limited, however, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Selection will be based primarily on academic merit, taking all previous qualifications into account, however relevant working experience may also be taken into account.
Fees for 2022
The fees for 2022 have not yet been determined. The fee for 2021 was R4 200 per 16 credit module. Please expect a 5% to 10% increase in fees for 2022.
How to apply
General information
Forensic investigation is the use of scientific and other expert methods to gather and analyse criminal evidence for the purpose of legal proceedings. Forensic investigative accounting is a specialised branch of forensic investigation, which uses intelligence-gathering techniques, together with accounting, legal, business and communication skills, to investigate and provide evidence of crimes of a financial or commercial nature, usually for the purpose of criminal or civil action, or internal disciplinary proceedings. It is a relatively new field of specialization and the demand for qualified investigators is increasing every year. The Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Justice aims to provide working professionals with the knowledge and practical skills necessary in order to specialise in this field.
The programme is offered by the School of Law, via the Centre for Extended Legal Studies, on the Howard College Campus, Durban (only). It demands a high level of theoretical engagement, intellectual independence and self-directed study.
Programme structure
The programme consists of 128 credits in total, at NQF level 8, taught on a part-time basis (only) over a two-year period. The programme is structured as follows:
1st year
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2nd year
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Programme teaching method
16 credit modules: The 16-credit modules (coursework modules) will be taught in the first year of study, by means of lectures, which will be held on weekday nights from 5.15 pm to 8.15 during the University terms. Lecture attendance is compulsory. Students will also be required to write assignments and/or tests and undertake a considerable amount of self-directed study in their own time. Final examinations will be held during working hours, in the University’s normal examination sessions.
Forensic Reporting (32 credits): In the second year of study, students will be given a case scenario revealing the commission of a commercial crime or crimes. Students will be allocated to investigation teams (problem-based groups) and each team will be required to plan and conduct a simulated investigation of the crime(s) and produce a forensic report in an acceptable
format and style, according to the conventions and standards of the profession. Teams will be required to work extensively on this report on their own, but support will be provided in the form of introductory lectures, drafting exercises with written feedback, and the assessment of preliminary drafts of the report. There will be no final examination in this module. Instead marks will be awarded for each of the various drafting exercises and preliminary drafts, as well as for the final forensic report.
Entrance requirements
The requirements are a recognised undergraduate degree, or an appropriate one-year Advanced Diploma (NQF level 7), or a CFE qualification, plus relevant working experience. Places in the programme are limited, however, and meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission. Selection will be based on academic merit, taking all previous qualifications into account.
FEES FOR 2021
The fees for 2021 have not yet been determined. The fee for 2020 was R3 950 per 16 credit module. Please expect a 5% to 10% increase in fees for 2021.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a self-funded program and as such no funding will be made available via NSFAS or other student financial aid schemes. Applicants must indicate in the letter of motivation whether their studies will be self-funded or paid via an employment bursary.
PLEASE NOTE FURTHER: as this is a part-time program, students to the program do not qualify for University Residence.
Registration and progression requirements
Once a student is accepted into the programme, the University rules require him/her to register continuously, each semester, until the qualification is complete. Students who interrupt their studies have no guarantee of readmission. Students will have a maximum of six semesters (three years) within which to complete the qualification. Students who are unable to complete it within this maximum period will be academically excluded and will have to appeal for readmission. The University rules do not allow a student to repeat a coursework module more than once. Students who fail any module for a second time will therefore be academically excluded and will have to appeal for readmission.
Closing date for applications
The closing date for applications is 30 September 2020. The following should be attached to your application form:
- Certified copy of ID
- Certified copy of Matric Certificate
- Certified copy of Tertiary Certificate(s)
- Certified copy of complete Academic Record, showing results for all previous tertiary-level studies
- Detailed CV
- Detailed letter of motivation
Applications may be made online at http://applications.ukzn.ac.za or (preferably) you may submit your application in hard copy form to Ms Helga Stiglingh at the Centre for Extended Legal Studies, Room E512, Level 5, Shepstone Building, Howard College (Durban) Campus. For application forms and further queries please contact Ms Stiglingh on (031) 260 2774 or email: StiglinghH@ukzn.ac.za.