Programme in Numerical Skills for Business

The study package includes 4 study guides and tutorial letters which you will receive by postal mail and can also find on myUnisa.

• numbers;
• mathematical symbols;
• measurements;
• equations;
• graphs;

and be able to perform the necessary calculations for business applications such as

• evaluating financial indices;
• comparing loan alternatives and interest rates;
• calculating mortgage payments;
• summarising business data;
• interpreting the quantitative components in business reports;
• interpreting graphs;
• determining production quantities or inventory levels for maximum profit;
• scheduling tasks for project management;
• determining the shortest route or maximum flow through a network;
• determining shipping quantities for minimum transportation cost;
• making decisions under uncertainty.

Programme content

The programme consists of four modules.

INUMS0L:  Business data

• Financial indicators (index numbers)
• Simple and compound interest
• Annuities
• Collection, presentation and description of business data

INUMS0Y :  Numbers and functions

• Numbers
• Operations on numbers
• Percentages and fractions
• Measurements
• Variables, formulae and functions
• Straight lines (break-even and depreciation)
• Quadratic functions

INUMS0M :  Optimisation

• Equations
• Inequalities
• Introduction to and graphical solution of linear programming problems

INUMS0N Decision structuring

• PERT
• Minimal spanning
• Shortest route
• Maximal flow
• Transportation
• Decision analysis

Presentation

Open and distance learning
Via its distance teaching Unisa offers students who may be employed fulltime the opportunity to study independently, in their own time at their own pace. You must allow for at least 14 hours study time per week.

Study material
The study package includes 4 study guides and tutorial letters which you will receive by postal mail as well as on myUnisa. Please always check myUnisa for updates.

Calculator
You may use any calculator, but preferably a financial calculator. Notes on the SHARP EL738 calculator.

Language
The programme is presented in English.

Academic support
Lecturers will give academic support by e-mail and over the telephone and you can find their contact details here and on myUnisa. There will be no classes offered by Unisa in this Programme.

Admission requirements
To be registered as a student, an applicant must submit proof of having a senior certificate or equivalent qualification.

Duration
This semester programme will be presented in both semesters.

Examination
Each module will have a two-hour closed-book examination.  In order to gain admission to the examination a student must submit at least one assignment per module.  Assignments will be used to gauge the progress of the student in the module.

Registration

Registration for this programme is from 28 November until 21 December 2012 (1st semester 2013) and from 1 February until 13 July 2013 (2nd semester 2013). The final date for payments for the second semester is 31 July. Students have to complete the programme by the second semester of 2013. You may download the MS Word registration form for the certificate programme as a Word97 document (or a PDF file).   Registration can be done by e-mail only (see registration form). After we have received your form, it will take a few days before you receive a new student number for the programme from us. Only then should you make your payment into the Unisa account using the payment details on the form. For foreign payments, the SWIFT CODE for the bank is SBZAZAJJ. In case you need it, kindly download Unisa's formal confirmation of account details. Remember to e-mail your proof of payment to nums@unisa.ac.za!

Fees
The cost of the programme is:

• R4 400 (R1 100 per module)  for SA students.
• R1 100 + R450 per module for foreign students in Africa.
• R1 100 + R900 per module for foreign students other than Africa.

All study material is included.  

The full fee is payable before final registration will take place. After we have received your form, we will let you know what your special student number is for the programme and only then should you make your payment into the Unisa account, using your new student number, the first digit of which will be a 7. Remember to e-mail your proof of payment to nums@unisa.ac.za!