2 Year
This PDFiCJ provides working professionals (not necessarily accountants or lawyers) with the knowledge and skills necessary to specialise in the field of forensic investigative auditing — a specialised branch of forensic investigation, which uses intelligence gathering techniques, together with accou nting, 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 (7) modules at NQF level 8 (six 16-credit single semester modules in the first year and one year-long 32-credit module in the second year).
The minimum requirements are an appropriate Bachelor’s degree, or a one-year Advanced Diploma or CFE qualification (NQF level 7), plus relevant working experience. Please note that places in the programme are limited, and meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission. Selection will be based primarily on academic merit, taking all previous qualifications into account, but relevant working experience may also be considered where appropriate. In the event of oversubscription, preference may also be given to applicants within KwaZulu-Natal.
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:
Substantive Criminal Law (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip students with a knowledge of the theory and principles of substantive criminal law relevant to the investigation of economic crimes in the South African context, together with the skills necessary to relate that knowledge to a range of practical situations likely to be encountered by a forensic investigator.
Content: Introduction to South African criminal law and the concept of economic crime; the general principles of criminal liability; specific common law economic crimes and their elements; statutory offences aimed at combating and preventing economic crime; tax offences; basic legal research and opinion-writing skills.
Criminal Procedure & Evidence (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip students with a knowledge of the aspects of criminal procedure and the law of evidence necessary for the effective investigation of economic crimes in the South African context, together with the skills to apply this knowledge in practice.
Content: South African criminal procedure and evidence: Pre-trial procedures; trial procedures; rules of evidence; the evaluation and assessment of evidence; competent verdicts; sentencing procedures and options; compensation and restitution orders; asset preservation and forfeiture provisions.
Financial Accounting & Auditing (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip students with a knowledge of the basic principles and techniques of financial accounting and auditing, together with the ability to apply this knowledge in practice.
Content: The role of financial accounting in business; different forms of business entities; conceptual framework, key terms and concepts used in accounting; the accounting cycle; recording of transactions; reporting of financial information; interpretation and analysis of financial records and source documents; valuation of companies; general auditing objectives and the financial auditing process.
Civil Remedies for Economic Crime (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip students with a broad knowledge of the principal civil remedies for economic crime and their essential elements / requirements.
Content: The principal civil remedies available to victims and/or authorities in response to economic crime; vindicatory, possessory, delictual and contractual remedies; interdicts; remedies for unjust enrichment; asset forfeiture; internal disciplinary proceedings and remedies; review of improper administrative action; insolvency and sequestration.
Forensic Investigation Techniques (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip the student with a knowledge of the methods, tools and techniques available for the forensic investigation of economic crime, together with the ability to apply this knowledge in practice. In essence, the student will learn how to locate, identify, collect, preserve and evaluate admissible evidence.
Content: The role and attributes of the forensic investigator; ethical requirements; techniques for the investigation of crime; sources of and access to information; tracing of assets; gathering, securing and preservation of evidence; interrogations and interviews; specific aids to investigation; interpretation of evidence and drawing of conclusions.
Forensic Investigative Accounting (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip the learner with a knowledge of the objects, principles and techniques of forensic investigative accounting and review, together with the ability to apply this knowledge in practice.
Content: Risk management, control, compliance and governance in business organisations; techniques for identifying and preventing risk; common forms of malfeasance; the forensic review process; the interpretation and analysis of financial records; identifying discrepancies, inconsistencies, and non-compliance.
Civil Remedies for Economic Crime (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip students with a broad knowledge of the principal civil remedies for economic crime and their essential elements / requirements.
Content: The principal civil remedies available to victims and/or authorities in response to economic crime; vindicatory, possessory, delictual and contractual remedies; interdicts; remedies for unjust enrichment; asset forfeiture; internal disciplinary proceedings and remedies; review of improper administrative action; insolvency and sequestration.
Forensic Investigation Techniques (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip the student with a knowledge of the methods, tools and techniques available for the forensic investigation of economic crime, together with the ability to apply this knowledge in practice. In essence, the student will learn how to locate, identify, collect, preserve and evaluate admissible evidence.
Content: The role and attributes of the forensic investigator; ethical requirements; techniques for the investigation of crime; sources of and access to information; tracing of assets; gathering, securing and preservation of evidence; interrogations and interviews; specific aids to investigation; interpretation of evidence and drawing of conclusions.
Forensic Investigative Accounting (16 CREDITS)
Aim: To equip the learner with a knowledge of the objects, principles and techniques of forensic investigative accounting and review, together with the ability to apply this knowledge in practice.
Content: Risk management, control, compliance and governance in business organisations; techniques for identifying and preventing risk; common forms of malfeasance; the forensic review process; the interpretation and analysis of financial records; identifying discrepancies, inconsistencies, and non-compliance.
Forensic Reporting (32 CREDITS)
Aim: To provide the student with the experience of planning, conducting and reporting on a simulated, but realistic forensic investigation, which utilizes in a practical way the knowledge and skills covered in the other modules
Content: 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 accepted format and style, according to the conventions and standards of the profession. Support will be provided in the form of lectures and practical exercises on the elements of forensic report-writing
The Programme will be delivered primarily by means of online teaching, making use of the University’s online learning platform and applications such as Zoom. This will require students to have access to a stable internet connection and a suitable computer (desktop or laptop – not just a smartphone) and sufficient data, provided at their own cost. Students will also need to be fully computer literate. Assessments during the semester will take place primarily by means of online assessments (tests and/or assignments) however the final examinations for the first-year modules must be written on campus. Students will therefore need to travel to the Howard College campus, Durban, for examination purposes.
The module fees for 2026 have not yet been determined. The fee for 2025 was R5390 for a 16-credit module.
Please expect a 5% to 10% increase in fees for 2026. Please note that a registration fee of R7180 is required prior to registration.
For more information on the PDFICJ Programme email any queries or requests for assistance to the Programme Administrator, Mrs Helga Stiglingh, at PDFlCJ@ukzn.ac.za.
Please Note: The PDFICJ is a self-funded programme and, as such, students are not eligible for NSFAS funding, university residence, or any financial concessions or arrangements. Students will be required to obtain financial clearance each year before registration. This will require the settlement IN FULL and IN CASH of any outstanding fees (an AOD or sponsor’s letter will not suffice).
