Careers › Business & finance

How to become a Financial / Investment Manager

Manages money, investments and financial risk for organisations.

What does a Financial / Investment Manager actually do?

More about this career

Manages an organisation’s money – budgeting, investment decisions, financial risk, raising capital – usually building up from a more junior finance role rather than straight out of varsity. Overlaps with accounting but is more forward-looking (where should money go) than backward-looking (what happened to it).

Where this degree can take you

  • Investment Manager
  • Portfolio Manager
  • Treasury Manager
  • Risk Manager

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Mathematics
  • Accounting or Economics (helpful)

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the programmes we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 26 of 29 programmes
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 11 of 29 programmes
  • Accounting – asked for by 8 of 29 programmes
  • Technical Mathematics – asked for by 6 of 29 programmes

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each programme links to the page it came from.

Programmes that lead here

29 programmes at 14 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Durban University of Technology

No cut-off publishedSelection programme

Diploma in Management Accounting (CIMA-accredited)

Accounting & Informatics

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 3 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics route – Either Mathematics at level 3 plus Accounting at level 4, or Mathematical Literacy at level 5 plus Accounting at level 4.
  • More subjects – Three further 20-credit subjects at level 3 (or two on the Mathematical Literacy route), not more than one language.

New row, read directly from DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus (dut-pass-3). Ranked in order of merit; applicants at risk may be placed on the Extended Curriculum route. CAO code DUDLS3. From DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus. Applications go through the CAO (cao.ac.za), not directly to DUT; general closing date 30 September 2026 (fee R250 SA / R300 international).

Source: View the official page (dut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Mangosuthu University of Technology

Diploma in Local Government Finance

Management Sciences · 3 years

MUT APS 25

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Accounting: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 6 (70% or more)

Raw-read from MUT’s own First-Year Prospectus 2026 (qualification tables, read 2026-10-04): English 4, Accounting 4, Mathematics 3 or Mathematical Literacy 6; 3 years. The earlier row inferred Mathematical Literacy 5 from a shared table - superseded. CAO code MN-M-DGF.

Source: View the official page (mut.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting

Management Sciences

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Accounting: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 6 (70% or more)

Raw-read from MUT’s own First-Year Prospectus 2026 (qualification tables, read 2026-10-04). English 4, Accounting 4, Mathematics 3 or Mathematical Literacy 6. Duration not stated in the table. CAO code MN-M-DMN.

Source: View the official page (mut.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Diploma in Finance and Accounting (Public)

Management Sciences · 4 years

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Accounting: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 6 (70% or more)

Raw-read from MUT’s own First-Year Prospectus 2026 (qualification tables, read 2026-10-04). English Home Language 4 or First Additional Language 5, Accounting 4, Mathematics 3 or Mathematical Literacy 6; 4 years. CAO code MN-M-DFY.

Source: View the official page (mut.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Nelson Mandela University

BCom (Financial Planning)

Business & Economic Sciences · 3 years

NMU Applicant Score (AS) 390 out of 600

  • Mathematics: 50%

Raw-read 2026-10-04 from the user-supplied NMU "Undergraduate Programmes 2027" Z-Card (A-Z table of Applicant Scores and subject percentages). Extended Curriculum (4 years): AS 370, Mathematics 45%.

Source: View the official page (mandela.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BCom (Management Sciences) with focal area Financial Management / Financial Planning / Investment Management

Economic and Management Sciences · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 65 %

  • Language – English Home Language 50% OR Afrikaans Home Language 50% OR Afrikaans First Additional Language 70% OR English First Additional Language 70%.
  • Mathematics: 60%

Read 2026-10-04 from the Stellenbosch 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus (page images). The number shown is the NSC aggregate (excluding Life Orientation). Page 7. Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher.

Source: View the official page (files.su.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Selection programme

BCom (Management Accounting)

Economic and Management Sciences · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 65 %

  • Language – English Home Language 50% OR Afrikaans Home Language 50% OR Afrikaans First Additional Language 70% OR English First Additional Language 70%.
  • Mathematics: 60%

Read 2026-10-04 from the Stellenbosch 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus (page images). The number shown is the NSC aggregate (excluding Life Orientation). Page 9. Route to chartered management accountant (CIMA), not CA(SA). Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher.

Source: View the official page (files.su.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Tshwane University of Technology

Diploma in Financial Management

Economics & Finance · 3 years

TUT APS 22 points

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Accounting: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

Raw-confirmed 2026-10-04 against TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus: APS and subject levels match. New row, from the user-supplied Economics & Finance Faculty Prospectus - APS 22 on the Accounting/Mathematics route, 24 on the Mathematical Literacy route. From TUT’s 2027 First-Year Course Information and General Information PDFs. Applications opened 1 April 2026 (fee R240).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Diploma in Financial Planning

Economics & Finance · 3 years

TUT APS 22 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Accounting: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

New row, read directly from TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus (tut-pass-3). APS 22, or 24 on the Mathematical Literacy route. Closes 30 September 2026 (TUT First-Year Course Information).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Diploma in Public Finance

Economics & Finance · 3 years

TUT APS 22 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Accounting: level 4 (50% or more) OR Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

New row, read directly from TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus (tut-pass-3). APS 22 with Mathematics, 23 with Accounting at level 4, or 24 with Mathematical Literacy. Closes 30 September 2026 (TUT First-Year Course Information).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Diploma in Credit Management

Management Sciences · 3 years

TUT APS 24 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Accounting: level 3 (40% or more)

New row, read directly from TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus (tut-pass-3). Recommended: Mathematics and commercial subjects. Closes 30 September 2026 (TUT First-Year Course Information).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Cape Town

BCom / BBusSc Finance

Commerce · 3 years

UCT Faculty Points Score 435 out of 600 (band a)

  • Mathematics: 60%
  • English: 50% if it is your Home Language, 60% if it is your First Additional Language
  • NBT – NBT Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy must be Upper Intermediate or above. The NBT Maths test is not required for Commerce.

Band A (guaranteed offer) is an FPS of 435. Band B (likely offer) is a WPS of 470 - the WPS adds a 0-10% disadvantage factor that we cannot work out from your marks, so we only check you against Band A. Band C (430-434, Education Development Unit only) applies to redress categories only. Finance can be combined with Accounting, Economics or Information Systems as core courses. BBusSc takes four years.

Source: View the official page (uct.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

BBusSc Quantitative Finance

Commerce · 4 years

UCT Faculty Points Score 500 out of 600 (band a)

  • Mathematics: 80%
  • English: 60% if it is your Home Language, 80% if it is your First Additional Language
  • NBT – NBT Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy must be Upper Intermediate or above. The NBT Maths test is not required for Commerce.

Band A (guaranteed offer) is an FPS of 500. Band B (likely offer) is a WPS of 525 - the WPS adds a 0-10% disadvantage factor that we cannot work out from your marks, so we only check you against Band A. Band C (475-479, Education Development Unit only) applies to redress categories only. Shares its foundations with Actuarial Science but is aimed at investment banking, derivatives trading and quantitative asset management. First Additional Language applicants need Proficient AL and QL NBTs.

Source: View the official page (uct.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Johannesburg

BCom in Finance

Economic & Financial Sciences · 3 years

UJ APS 28 points

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 41, programme code B34F5Q. Mathematical Literacy and Technical Mathematics not accepted.

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Diploma in Accountancy

Economic & Financial Sciences · 3 years

UJ APS 22 points

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 44, programme code D3A15Q. APS 22 with Mathematics or Technical Mathematics, 24 with Mathematical Literacy. Leads to roles such as accounting technician or cost accountant, not directly to CA(SA).

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Diploma in Financial Services Operations

Economic & Financial Sciences · 3 years

UJ APS 22 points

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Technical Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 44, programme code D34F9Q. APS 22 with Mathematics or Technical Mathematics, 24 with Mathematical Literacy.

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of KwaZulu-Natal

From an older document

Bachelor of Business Science in Finance

Law & Management Studies · 4 years

UKZN APS 33 points out of 48

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)

Read 2026-10-04 from the table in the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure (CAO code KN-W-B5F); published APS range 48-33. This comes from the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure, the most recent official source we could find. UKZN had not published a 2027 table when we checked, so treat these as 2026 figures pending a 2027 update. Applications go through the CAO.

Source: View the official page (studyatukzn.ukzn.ac.za) (opens the official page)

From an older document

Bachelor of Business Science in Investment Science

Law & Management Studies · 4 years

UKZN APS 33 points out of 48

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)

Read 2026-10-04 from the table in the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure (CAO code KN-W-B5I); published APS range 48-33. This comes from the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure, the most recent official source we could find. UKZN had not published a 2027 table when we checked, so treat these as 2026 figures pending a 2027 update. Applications go through the CAO.

Source: View the official page (studyatukzn.ukzn.ac.za) (opens the official page)

University of Pretoria

BCom specialising in Investment Management

Economic & Management Sciences · 3 years

UP APS 34 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 6 (70% or more)

Confirmed against the user-supplied EMS 2027 Faculty Brochure. Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results.

Source: View the official page (drupalwebprod-files.up.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

BCom specialising in Financial Management Sciences

Economic & Management Sciences · 3 years

UP APS 32 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)

Confirmed against the user-supplied EMS 2027 Faculty Brochure. Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results.

Source: View the official page (drupalwebprod-files.up.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of South Africa

BCom in Financial Management

Economic & Management Sciences

Unisa APS 21 points

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 50%

Re-read 2026-10-04 against Unisa’s live qualification page: APS, language/Mathematics percentages and the 17 August - 9 October 2026 window all match. NSC with Bachelor’s Degree endorsement required (a Higher Certificate or Diploma from Unisa’s College of Economic & Management Sciences is also accepted). Maximum 8 years to complete. Confirmed current for the 2027 intake: Unisa’s own pages state its 2027 application window as 17 August - 9 October 2026.

Source: View the official page (unisa.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

No cut-off published

Diploma in Accounting Sciences

Economic & Management Sciences

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 40% OR Mathematical Literacy: 50%

Read 2026-10-04 from Unisa’s own qualification page (code 98200). NSC with Diploma endorsement (or equivalent). Unisa states percentages, not an APS, on this page. Confirmed current for the 2027 intake: Unisa’s own pages state its 2027 application window as 17 August - 9 October 2026.

Source: View the official page (unisa.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

No cut-off published

Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences

Economic & Management Sciences

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: 30%

Read 2026-10-04 from Unisa’s own qualification page (code 98201). NSC (Higher Certificate pass) or equivalent. Unisa states percentages, not an APS, on this page. Confirmed current for the 2027 intake: Unisa’s own pages state its 2027 application window as 17 August - 9 October 2026.

Source: View the official page (unisa.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

No cut-off published

Higher Certificate in Banking

Economic & Management Sciences

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: 30%

Read 2026-10-04 from Unisa’s own qualification page (code 98225). NSC (Higher Certificate pass) or equivalent. Unisa states percentages, not an APS, on this page. Confirmed current for the 2027 intake: Unisa’s own pages state its 2027 application window as 17 August - 9 October 2026.

Source: View the official page (unisa.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of the Free State

BCom with specialisation in Finance

Economic & Management Sciences

UFS AP score 28 points out of 49

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 4 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)

Read 2026-10-04 from the table on the faculty’s page in the UFS 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus (page images). Plan code BC630025.

Source: View the official page (ufs.ac.za) (opens the official page)

University of the Witwatersrand

BCom Finance

Commerce, Law & Management · 3 years

Wits APS 38 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)

An APS of 35-37 may be wait-listed.

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

BCom Financial Sciences

Commerce, Law & Management · 3 years

Wits APS 42 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 7 (80% or more)

Read from the live 2027 course-finder page on 2026-10-04. Applications close 30 September 2026. APS 39-41 with Mathematics level 7 may be wait-listed.

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Zululand

From an older document

Higher Certificate in Accountancy

Commerce, Administration & Law · 1 years

UniZulu APS 22 points out of 48

  • English – English at level 3 (or Senior Certificate symbol D / HG E).
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)

Read 2026-10-04 from UniZulu’s 2026 Commerce, Administration & Law handbook (admission table, Richards Bay campus). Extremely strict quotas apply and an interview or placement test may be required. From UniZulu’s own 2026-labelled faculty handbooks, which contain no 2027-specific intake or closing-date information at all - do not assume a date, and treat this as the most recent official figures available rather than confirmed-current for 2027.

Source: View the official page (unizulu.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Walter Sisulu University

Diploma in Local Government Finance

Management & Public Administration Sciences · 3 years

WSU APS 21 points out of 48 (56 for Education programmes)

  • English: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Accounting: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more)

Raw-read 2026-10-04 from WSU’s own 2027 Undergraduate Information Brochure & Admission Requirements (main-stream figures; Extended Curriculum Programmes accept a lower APS, noted where the brochure gives one). Extended Curriculum route: APS 20 with level 2 in Accounting or Mathematics. Applications: the brochure lists no closing date - check wsu.ac.za.

Source: View the official page (wsu.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

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