Chapter 1 Exemptions Overview
Last update: 30 Nov 2021
UCT offers the following exemptions for ASSA subjects:
- A111
- A112
- A113
- A211
- A212
- A213
- A214
- A311
- N211
Generally, the requirements below are straighforward. However, complications arise because of ASSA’s syllabus change in 2019.
1.1 Exemption Requirements
| Exemption | Course(s) | Weightings | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| A111 | STA1006s, STA2004S, STA2005S, STA3048S | Equal | 60% average |
| A112 | ECO101F, ECO1011S | Equal | 60% average |
| A113 | ACC1006F, ACC2011S, FTX2024S | Equal | 60% average |
| A211 | BUS2016H | 70% written, 30% Excel | 60% average |
| A212 | BUS3018F, STA3041F, STA3045F, STA3047S | 30/30/30/10 resp. | 60% average |
| A213 | BUS3024S | 70% written, 30% Excel | 60% average |
| A214 | BUS4028F | 70% written, 30% Excel | 60% average |
| A311 | BUS4027W | N/A | Appropriate final exam mark |
| N211 | BUS3043S | N/A | Appropriate final exam mark |
1.2 Complications
The infamous ‘syllabus change’ of 2019 has led to a number of options for students achieving certain exemptions. The complications are due to students taking some exemption-bearing courses before 2019 and others during or after 2019. Theoretically, these problems will work their way out of the system as those students (hopefully) progress through their degrees. Until the next syllabus change, that is…
There are also complications that arise because of 2020’s emergency remote teaching (ERT).
Syllabus Change
A111
The A111 exemption includes STA3048S, Statistical Modelling and Bayesian Analysis. This was not available until 2019 and so the decision tree below arises.
A212
The A212 exemption combines 4 courses. Because students can take these in different years, things can get complicated:
2020
2020 saw ERT. Because of this, some ‘concessions’ were reached with ASSA to account for online learning and the challenges it presented. These are important to note because it will affect students for a good few years still.
| Exemption | Course(s) | Reqs |
|---|---|---|
| A111 | STA1006s, STA2004S, STA2005S, STA3048S | Courses done in 2020 only need PA, remaining courses need 60% equally weighted average. |
| A112 | ECO101F, ECO1011S | Equal but % may be adjusted |
| A113 | ACC1006F, ACC2011S, FTX2024S | Courses done in 2020 only need PA, remaining courses need 60% equally weighted average. |
| A211 | BUS2016H | 60% in exam: 80% written, 20% Excel |
| A212 | BUS3018F, STA3041F, STA3045F, STA3047S | See below. |
| A213 | BUS3024S | 60% in exam: 80% written, 20% Excel |
| A214 | BUS4028F | 60% in exam: 80% written, 20% Excel |
| A311 | BUS4027W | No change. |
| N211 | BUS3043S | No change. |
A212 2020
A212’s 2020 concession was a bit more complicated because it involves so many courses. BUS3018F, STA3041F and STA3045F held in-person exemption exams especially for the AcSci students. These exemption exam marks are incorporated in the exemption calculation.
The requirement was still 60% but with the following weightings:
| Exemption | Course(s) | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| BUS3018F | Sem 1 final mark | 10% |
| BUS3018F | Exemption exam mark | 20% |
| STA3041F | Sem 1 final mark | 10% |
| STA3041F | Exemption exam mark | 20% |
| STA3045F | Sem 1 final mark | 10% |
| STA3045F | Exemption exam mark | 20% |
| STA3047S | Final course mark | 10% |
1.3 Exemption Letters
Exemption letters come in 2 forms: official and unofficial. These are described below but the only difference is that the official letters are signed by our accreditation actuary and can be used by students to register exemptions with ASSA. Both letters have a list of the exemptions UCT recommends for the student, along with their marks for the various components that make up each exemption.
Official Letters
Official exemption letters are generated for all graduating students around their date of graduation. This process is far more intensive than for unofficial letters as stringent checks are in place.
The whole process can take up to 2 weeks, sometimes longer if there are bugs in the code or changes that need to be made.
Unofficial Letters
Unofficial letters can be requested by students who have completed their degree but have not yet graduated. These letters are not signed and cannot be used by students to register with ASSA, however potential employers often request some sort of proof of a student’s exemptions.
In very special cases, a student who has not completed their degree can request an unofficial letter. This is not the norm and proper justification will need to be submitted before the letter is generated.
Requesting a Letter
Graduating students need not request a letter; they are generated en masse for all graduating students.
Non-graduating students wishing to request a letter must fill out this Google Form. The turnaround time is 2 weeks.
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