University of Cape Town
Bookkeeping Online Short Course
Enhance your capacity to oversee inventory, monitor revenue, and arrange financial data.
Start date
01 September 2025
Course duration
9 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The proportion of small business owners who identify bookkeeping (and other administrative work) as their top challenge.
Guidant Financial (2019).
The percentage of time that larger accounting firms (those with 50 or more employees) spend on bookkeeping activities.
Accounting Today (2019).
Duration: 9 weeks (excluding orientation)
Bookkeeping plays a crucial role in the smooth functioning of any organisation. It enables businesses to maintain financial transparency and make informed decisions regarding their operations and finances.
This Bookkeeping online short course offered by the University of Cape Town (UCT) provides a comprehensive understanding of bookkeeping fundamentals, including topics such as inventory control, value-added tax (VAT) liability, bank reconciliations, and statutory returns. This course offers you the opportunity to learn how to complete journal entries, prepare ledgers, and compile accurate financial reports.
By mastering these essential bookkeeping skills, you can significantly impact your organisations and contribute positively to their success. Completing this course will also provide you with formal recognition of your skills from Africa’s leading university, UCT.
Is this course for you?
This UCT Bookkeeping online short course is designed for aspiring junior bookkeepers and entry-level finance clerks who want to enhance their expertise and gain formal education in the field. It’s also suitable for individuals working in administrative roles who wish to expand their knowledge and small business owners who want to acquire fundamental accounting competencies.
Although no formal prerequisites are required for this course, having some prior experience in bookkeeping can be advantageous. The curriculum is tailored to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices, enabling them to perform their tasks efficiently and accurately. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience in the field, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in your profession.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 9 weeks (excluding orientation)
Bookkeeping plays a crucial role in the smooth functioning of any organisation. It enables businesses to maintain financial transparency and make informed decisions regarding their operations and finances.
This Bookkeeping online short course offered by the University of Cape Town (UCT) provides a comprehensive understanding of bookkeeping fundamentals, including topics such as inventory control, value-added tax (VAT) liability, bank reconciliations, and statutory returns. This course offers you the opportunity to learn how to complete journal entries, prepare ledgers, and compile accurate financial reports.
By mastering these essential bookkeeping skills, you can significantly impact your organisations and contribute positively to their success. Completing this course will also provide you with formal recognition of your skills from Africa’s leading university, UCT.
Is this course for you?
This UCT Bookkeeping online short course is designed for aspiring junior bookkeepers and entry-level finance clerks who want to enhance their expertise and gain formal education in the field. It’s also suitable for individuals working in administrative roles who wish to expand their knowledge and small business owners who want to acquire fundamental accounting competencies.
Although no formal prerequisites are required for this course, having some prior experience in bookkeeping can be advantageous. The curriculum is tailored to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices, enabling them to perform their tasks efficiently and accurately. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience in the field, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in your profession.
Get this course for your team
Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.
What will set you apart
An understanding of the key concepts, principles, and processes underpinning effective bookkeeping.
The skills to record, interpret, and report financial information for any organisation.
The ability to manage debtors and creditors ledgers, and produce bank reconciliation statements.
Unlimited access to edX's Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
The basics of bookkeeping
Module 2
Inventory control
Module 3
Value added tax
Module 4
Journals: Part 1
Module 5
Journals: Part 2
Module 6
The general ledger
Module 7
Debtors and creditors
Module 8
Bank reconciliations
Module 9
Statutory returns, wages and salaries registers
What past students
think
Claire Metcalf
Administrator, Save Our Seas
I was not sure what to expect, as this was my first online learning experience with GetSmarter. The course has been really helpful for me to gain insight into the accounting process. It was easy to navigate, and the support and interaction from the tutor and the success team were fantastic.
Course Convenors
Samiah Fakier
Lecturer in the College of Accounting, UCT
Nabeelah Daniels
Lecturer in the College of Accounting, UCT
About the certificate
Enhance your bookkeeping expertise and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
Financing options
We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.
How do I apply?
- You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
- FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
- You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
- FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
- Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter
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