1.   Introduction

1.1 Preamble

The Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree programme of the University of Nairobi prepares undergraduate students for careers in business management both in the public and private sectors of the economy.  Since its inception in 1964, the programme has offered management education to a broad spectrum of students from the Eastern Africa region and beyond.

To improve on its utility, the programme has been and will continue to be realigned to be consistent with the changing needs of society. It has developed from a programme of three options into the presently eight distinct options: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Risk Management and Insurance, Human Resources Management, Business Information Systems, Procurement and Supply Chain Management and Operations Management, each one addressing the unique needs of our society.

Flexible schedules make the program more accessible.  The program is offered on full-time, part-time and distance learning modes.  The part-time and distance learning programmes are designed to accommodate the special needs of those in full-time employment and other demands.

1.2 Objectives

1. `To introduce students to the general issues and approaches to management.
2. To enhance self-confidence and ability to critically evaluate management issues from academic and practical perspectives.
3. To develop awareness of the changing local and international business environments.
4. To prepare students for advancement in their fields of specialization.
5. To instil problem-solving attitudes and business ethics in the practice of management.
6. To inculcate entrepreneurial and self-reliance attitudes and habits in students so that they may be active participants in the creation of new wealth.

1.3 Approach

The BCom programme is both academic and practical in its orientation and enriched by linkages with the business community, industry and other business schools.

1.4 Admission Requirements

Admission to the Bachelor of Commerce degree will be governed by the common regulations of the bachelor’s degree of the University of Nairobi and specifically any one of the following Senate approved qualifications:

1. Holder of KCSE certificate with a minimum mean grade of C+ plus a minimum of C in both Mathematics and English/Kiswahili;
2. Holder of KCSE certificate with a minimum mean grade of C+ plus a minimum of B in bridging course offered in the University of Nairobi with at least a C- in the subject at KCSE.
3. Holder of KCSE certificate with a minimum mean grade of C or O-level Division III plus a diploma from a recognized institution.
4. Holder of KCSE certificate with a minimum mean grade of C or O-level Division III plus CPA/CPS Part II or equivalent professional qualification.
5. Holder of KCSE with a minimum mean grade of C- plus a Certificate and Diploma from a recognized institution.
6. Holder of KACE certificate with a minimum of two principal passes plus a minimum of a credit pass in Mathematics at KCE.
7. Holder of KACE certificate with a minimum of two subsidiary passes plus a Diploma from a recognized institution.

1. Holder of a degree from a recognized university.

1. Holder of qualifications deemed to be equivalent to any of the above.

2. Programme Duration, Structure and Mode of Study

The BCom Programme is offered in three modes, that is Module I or Regular which is for Government     sponsored students, Module II (day and evening) and Module III (Distance Learning) which are for self-sponsored students.

2.1 Module I      

1. Module I will run for eight semesters of 15 weeks each.

b)    Each course unit in the programme has a loading of a minimum of 45 hours.

2.2 Module II

a) Module II will run for a minimum of eight semesters of 15 weeks each and a maximum of 24 semesters

from the date of registration.

b) The minimum semester load shall be 2 course units and maximum shall be 6 course units.

c)  Each course unit in the programme has a loading of a minimum of 45 hours.

2.3 Module III (Distance Learning)

This Module is offered off-campus using multimedia approach in distance education.

1. The main media of instruction will be print and electronic study materials.
2. The study materials shall be self-instructional.
3. There will be use of limited face-to-face contact during the residential sessions.
4. Face-to-face delivery mode shall not exceed one third of the instructional time.
5. Counselling and guidance shall be provided using multi-media approach.
6. The module will run for a minimum of eight semesters of 24 weeks each and a maximum of 24 semesters from the date of registration.
7. The minimum semester load shall be two course units and the maximum shall be six course units.
8. Each course unit in the programme has a loading of a minimum of 70 hours.

2.4         Structure of the programme

1. The programme is organized into two parts, Part I consisting of Year/Level I and Year/Level II; and Part II consisting of Year/Level III and Year/Level IV.
2. To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Commerce degree, a candidate must successfully complete a minimum of 46 course units.
3. The course units are divided into common, core, specialization, and elective course units that are organized as follows:

PART I

COMMON UNDERGRADUATE COURSE UNITS

YEAR /LEVEL I COURSE UNITS

YEAR /LEVEL II COURSE UNITS

PART II

YEAR /LEVEL III COURSE UNITS

CORE COURSE UNITS

Accounting Option Courses

Finance Option Courses

Human Resource Management Option Courses

Marketing Option Courses

Risk Management and Insurance Option Courses

Business Information Systems Option Courses

Operations Management Option Courses

Procurement and Supply Chain Management Option Courses

Additional Year/Level III Elective Course Units

YEAR /LEVEL IV COURSE UNITS

CORE COURSE UNITS

Accounting Option Courses

Finance Option Courses

Human Resource Management Option Courses

Marketing Option Courses

Risk Management and Insurance Option Courses

Business Information Systems Option Courses

Operations Management Option Courses

Procurement and Supply Chain Management Option Courses

Additional Year/Level IV Elective Course Units

2.4          A student will only register for course units in a higher Year/Level of study after passing all course units in the preceding Year/Level as follows:

a)            Registration for Year/Level II course units requires that the student will have passed all Year/ Level I course units including all the common undergraduate course units;

b)            Registration for Year/Level III course units requires that the student will have passed all course units in Year/Level II;

c)             Registration for Year/Level IV course units requires that the student will have passed all course units in Year/Level III.

2.5          A candidate shall take the Management Research Paper (MRP) only after successfully completing DMS411and is in the final semester of the Bachelor of Commerce degree program.

2.6          A student may take any course unit offered by any option as his/her elective as long as he/she meets the relevant prerequisites.

2.7          A student may take any course unit offered in other Schools, Faculties and Institutes of the University of Nairobi in addition to the required course units in the School of Business subject to approval by the Schools, Faculties and Institutes involved. Such course units will appear in the candidate’s transcript but shall not contribute to the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Commerce.

2.8          A student is expected to attend all lectures in the course units registered. In any case, a student shall not qualify to sit the final examination if he/she has not attended at least two thirds (2/3) of all the lectures in each unit registered.

3.     Examination Regulations

3.1          Final examinations for all the course units are University Examinations and are governed by the

relevant regulations of the University.

3.2          Each registered course unit shall be evaluated through course work and a two-hour final examination.

1. To be eligible for the award of the Bachelor of Commerce degree, a candidate will have passed in the minimum number of course units prescribed for each level of study.

1. All examinations shall be governed by the following rules:

Each course unit shall be graded out of one hundred (100) marks;

Final examination shall constitute seventy percent (70%) and coursework the remaining thirty-percent (30%) of the marks in each course unit offered and taken in any semester except for the MRP;

MRP shall be done in only one area of specialization and is graded out of one hundred percent (100%);

The grading system in each course unit will be as follows:

MARKS (%)                         GRADE

70   – 100                             A

60   – 69                               B

50   – 59                               C

40   – 49                               D

1. – 39                               E

The pass-mark in each course unit shall be forty percent (40%);

A candidate who fails an examination in any course unit shall be allowed to sit for supplementary examination in or repeat the failed course unit. The maximum mark awarded for a supplementary or repeat examination is 40%;

A candidate who fails an examination in an elective course unit may opt to take a different course unit if the candidate is not inclined to sit for supplementary examination in or repeat the failed course unit;

1. On the recommendation of the School Board, a candidate who  takes the maximum number of course units (currently six) in any semester, sits University Examinations in all and fails in a maximum of two may be eligible for compensation in the failed course unit(s) provided that:

1. His/her mean mark for that particular semester is 50% or above;

1. The score on the failed course unit does not fall below 35%;

Each mark in the failed course unit will be compensated by a loss of two marks in a passed course unit up to a maximum of 10 marks.

1. A candidate who, for acceptable cause, fails to sit for a final examination at the scheduled time may, on the recommendation of the School Board of Examiners to the University Senate, be allowed to sit for a special examination.  A special examination is a University examination in accordance with Rule 3.4.

3.7         A candidate who fails to satisfy the School Board of Examiners may, on the recommendation of the Board to the University Senate, be required to sit for supplementary examination in, or repeat the failed course unit not more than two times.  If the candidate fails after sitting supplementary examinations or repeating the failed course unit twice he/she shall be discontinued from the program.

3.8          A candidate who passes the University Examinations and who, in other respects qualifies for the award of the degree, shall be placed in one of the three classes to be described as First, Second (Upper Division or Lower Division) and Pass.  Honours shall be awarded to a candidate whose name is placed in the First Class or Second Class (Upper or Lower Division).

3.9          A candidate who qualifies for an award of the degree after sitting for supplementary examination in, or repeating any course unit in Part II twice shall be awarded a pass degree.

3.10        The aggregate score of the Bachelor of Commerce degree shall be based on assessment of performance of the candidate in Years/Levels I, II, III and IV of study with 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% weights respectively.

3.11        The classification of the degree award shall be based on the aggregate score as follows:

First Class Honours                                                             70 – 100%

Second Class Honours (Upper Division)                         60 – 69%

Second Class Honours (Lower Division)                       50 – 59%

Pass                                                                                      40 – 49%

4. 0         Degree Award

4.1          The degree awarded shall be Bachelor of Commerce (BCom).

4.2          A candidate who takes all the required specialization course units in two areas of specialization shall be awarded a ‘Major’ in the area of specialization in which he/she does the MRP and a ‘Minor’ in the other area of specialization.

4.3          The Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate shall be inscribed either in “Accounting Option”, “Finance Option”, “Risk Management and Insurance Option”, “Human Resource Management Option”, “Marketing Option”, “Business Information Systems Option”, “Procurement and Supply Chain Management Option’’, and “Operations Management Option’’, where the student has taken only one area of specialization or ‘Major’ and ‘Minor’, and qualifies in accordance with Rule 4.2.

5.     Credit Transfer and Exemptions

5.1  A student who wishes to be exempted from any course unit shall follow the guidelines set out below:

5.1.1    He/she shall send a formal application for exemption to the Academic Registrar by completing Senate approved form for exemption, justifying his request and attaching evidence of the credentials, which would support such a request.

5.1.2    He/she may be required to submit to an exemption examination set and administered by the School of Business.

5.1.3    The School of Business may, for exceptional reasons of academic merit, recommend to Senate the exemption of an applicant from a course unit without being subjected to an exemption examination.

5.1.4    The candidate must have attained a grade interpreted by the School of Business as a passing grade in the course units for which exemption is applied.

5.1.5   Exemptions shall be allowed only upto a maximum of 1/3 of the total prescribed course units for the award of the BCom degree.

5.1.6    Exemptions shall only be applicable in Part I of the programme.

5.2  A student may transfer credits for equivalent course units taken from a recognized University subject

to the following guidelines:

5.2.1      The student shall complete the Senate approved credit transfer application form and

attach supporting documents.

5. 2.2     The course unit taken by the student must meet the required minimum contact hours.

5. 2.3     The student must have attained a minimum grade C or equivalent.

5.2.4      The transferred credits shall not be more than 1/3 of the total prescribed course units for the

award of  the BCom degree.

5.2.5     Credit transfer shall only be applicable in Part I of the programme.

6.     Intermission or Academic Leave

6.1          A student who wishes to temporarily suspend his/her studies must apply for academic leave.

6.2          Application for academic leave of at most two semesters must be made to the Dean, School of Business and beyond two semesters to the Academic Registrar, University of Nairobi.

7.     Registration

7.1          A student can only attend classes for units he/she has registered.

7.2          A student shall register for course unit within the first five (5) weeks of the semester.

7.3          A student may drop or add course units only during the first five (5) weeks of the semester.

  UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

    COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

FEES STRUCTURE FOR BACHELOR OF COMMERCE UNDER MODULE II

OTHER CHARGES

TOTAL FEES BY SEMESTER

NB:     FOREIGNERS:  ADD 20%

Tuition Fees Collection Account:

A/C. No.:    2032771362

Account Name:  UON CESSP Collection Accounts

Bank:    Barclays

Branch:   Plaza

OTHER CHARGES (STATUTORY CHARGES)
 

TOTAL FEES:The fee total for 1^st Semester B.Com Distance Learning is Ksh 75,500.

The fee total for 2^nd Semester B.Com Distance Learning is Ksh 51,000.

B.COM 1^ST SEMESTER FEES SUMMARY BY COURSE LOAD

FOREIGNERS:  ADD 20%NB:

1. It is cheaper to take a full load of six units than fewer units.
2. Fees for the course units registered for must be paid in full before registration.
3. All payments are done in Bank Cheques/Drafts payable to the University of Nairobi

The common regulations of the bachelor’s degree of the University of Nairobi shall be applicable.The following are eligible for admission into the programme:

<!–[if !supportLists]–>

a)   Holder of KCSE certificate with a minimum aggregate of  C+ and a minimum of C in both Mathematics and English/Kiswahili.<!–[endif]–><!–[if !supportLists]–>b)     Holder of KACE certificate with a minimum of two principal passes and  a minimum of a credit  (6)  pass in Mathematics at KCE.

<!–[endif]–><!–[if !supportLists]–>c)      Holder of a degree from a recognized university.

<!–[endif]–><!–[if !supportLists]–>d)     Holder of a diploma from a recognized institution.

<!–[endif]–><!–[if !supportLists]–>e)     Holder of  CPA/CPS  Part II or equivalent professional qualification.

<!–[endif]–><!–[if !supportLists]–>f)        Holder of pre-university qualification with minimum average score of C or equivalent from a recognized university.

<!–[endif]–><!–[if !supportLists]–>g)     Holder of qualifications deemed to be equivalent to any of the above.

<!–[endif]–>

To improve on its utility, the programme has developed six distinct options: accounting, finance, marketing, insurance, human resources management and management science, each one addressing the unique needs of our society.

Flexible schedules make the program more accessible. The program is offered on full-time, part-time and  distance learning modes. The part time and distance learning programmes are designed to accomodate the special needs of those in full-time employment and other demands.

2. The minimum semester load shall be two course units and the maximum shall be six course units.

3. Each course unit in the programme has a loading of a minimum of 45 hours

4. The programme is organized into two parts, Part I consisting of year/level I and Year/level II; and part II consisting of year/level III and year/level IV.

• Registration for Part II course units requires successful completion ofPart I course units.
• Students may take any course unit offered by any option as their elective as long as they meet the relevant prerequisites.

5. A student may take any course unit offered in other Faculties of the University of Nairobi in addition to the required course units in the Faculty of Commerce subject to approval by the Faculties involved. Such course units will appear in the candidates transcript but shall not contribute to the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Commerce.