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Study Chartered Accountancy

BCom Accounting or BAcc (3 years, NQF 7) + SAICA-accredited CTA/PGDA (1 year, NQF 8) + 3-year SAICA training contract

Pay in South AfricaR360–480ka year · typical R420k · limited evidenceWork abroad3.8 of 5best: Ireland, AustraliaAI outlookTransformingAI is reinventing the daily work
Getting inHighcompetition for places · 3-year degree + 1-year CTA/PGDA + 3-year training contract with the IAC and APC board exams

R53 730 to R96 840 first-year fees17 bursaries list Chartered Accountancy

School subjects
Maths requiredMaths Literacy not accepted
Entry details and typical minimums

School Accounting is not required at any of the eight universities we cover, though it helps in first year; at Stellenbosch, Accounting 70% can stand in for Maths between 60% and 69%. English at the faculty's required level.

Typical minimums: Mathematics (not Maths Literacy) for the CA-stream degree at all eight universities we cover: 60% at UCT, UJ, UKZN, NWU and UFS (NWU's BCom in Chartered Accountancy (CA) Extended Programme, at Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark, needs Mathematics level 3 (40-49%) and APS 28); 70% at Wits and UP; 70% at Stellenbosch (or 60% with Accounting 70%), which selects at 73% for the 2027 intake. UCT guarantees a place at about a 73% average together with NBT scores of Upper Intermediate or above for AL and QL. UJ's 4-year extended BCom Accounting accepts Mathematical Literacy at 70% but does not give direct access to the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Science. NWU's 4-year BCom in Financial Accountancy Extended Programme (APS 24, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark), outside the CA stream, accepts Mathematics level 3 (40-49%) or Mathematical Literacy level 7 (80-89%).

Sources: SAICA - becoming a CA(SA) · SAICA reciprocity and affiliations · UJ Undergraduate Prospectus 2027, extended BCom admission requirements (p. 43) · UCT 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus, BCom/BBusSc admission bands (PDF p.27) · NWU Economic and Management Sciences 2027 admission table (BCom in Chartered Accountancy (CA) Extended Programme; BCom in Financial Accountancy Extended Programme)

Pay

Yearly gross pay, turned into rand at the exchange rate. The dot is the typical figure. How pay is measured

  • GermanyR1.8m
  • NetherlandsR1.2–2.0m
  • USAR1.2–2.0m
  • IrelandR1.1–1.8m~
  • UAER1.2–1.4m~
  • AustraliaR760k–1.7m
  • UKR910k–1.6m
  • CanadaR810k–1.4m
  • New ZealandR740k–1.4m
  • South AfricaR360–480k~

~ limited evidence

Working abroad 3.8 of 5

Score out of 5. Tap a country for steps and visas.

  1. 5IrelandRecognised, paperwork only · high demand
  2. 5AustraliaRecognised, paperwork only · high demand
  3. 5New ZealandRecognised, paperwork only · high demand
  4. 3UKRecognised, paperwork only · some demand
  5. 3NetherlandsRecognised, paperwork only · some demand
  6. 3GermanyRecognised, paperwork only · some demand
  7. 3USARecognised, paperwork only · some demand
  8. 3CanadaRecognised, paperwork only · some demand
  9. 3UAERecognised, paperwork only · some demand

AI outlook

TransformingAI is reinventing the daily work

A registered auditor must legally sign off, which protects the senior role; bookkeeping, tax preparation and audit testing are highly automatable.

Hands-on In-person care Licensed & accountable

How AI changes each field

Careers

  • External or internal auditor
  • Financial manager / CFO
  • Corporate finance and M&A analyst
  • Tax consultant
  • Management consultant
  • Registered Auditor (IRBA)
SAICA reciprocal membership agreements (RMAs)

SAICA holds reciprocal membership agreements with ICAEW, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland, CA ANZ, CPA Canada and HKICPA, so members in good standing join without further exams. They do NOT confer statutory audit sign-off rights, which each country licenses separately.

Where to study 8

First-year tuition, as published. My Matric Map can check your results against each of these. Tap a university for its entry requirements and dates. Compare study costs

Country by country: steps, exams, visas and pay sources

The CA(SA) route: accounting degree, CTA/PGDA, two board exams and a three-year training contract. It is one of South Africa's most portable qualifications, with reciprocal membership in six countries.

Professional regulator: South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)

Where it can take you

Chartered Accountancy → New Zealand

Overall 5/5 · Excellent prospects

Same CA ANZ reciprocal route as Australia; CA(SA)s join without exams and work across NZ finance.

Recognition
4/5 · Recognised, paperwork only. Mutual recognition or an assessment plus registration. No major exams.
Demand
High demand

Sources: SAICA reciprocity and affiliations (CAANZ listed as RMA) · CA ANZ - Global Accounting Alliance member bodies (SAICA; criteria and documents) · Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand · Immigration New Zealand · Immigration New Zealand operational manual, Appendix 13 Green List (221213 External Auditor, 221214 Internal Auditor, Tier 1)

Qualification and licensing guide

Pay, in rand at the exchange rate

Typical gross pay in each country, turned into rand at the exchange rate. Compare salaries switches between the exchange rate, buying power and after tax, and says how each works.

Germany R1.8m4.3× SA
Netherlands R1.2–2.0m3.8× SANetherlands TypicalR1.6m Middle halfR1.2m to R2.0m
United States R1.2–2.0m3.6× SAUnited States TypicalR1.5m Middle halfR1.2m to R2.0m StartingR970k1 year after a bachelor's in accounting
Ireland R1.1–1.8m*3.4× SAIreland TypicalR1.4m RangeR1.1m to R1.8mpublished range, not percentiles
United Arab Emirates R1.2–1.4m*3.1× SAUnited Arab Emirates TypicalR1.3m RangeR1.2m to R1.4mpublished range, not percentiles
Australia R760k–1.7m2.9× SAAustralia TypicalR1.2m Estimated rangeR760k to R1.7mfrom tax statistics, includes part-time StartingR820kAbout 4 months after completing the bachelor's degree
United Kingdom R910k–1.6m2.8× SAUnited Kingdom TypicalR1.2m Middle halfR910k to R1.6m
Canada R810k–1.4m2.6× SACanada TypicalR1.1m Middle halfR810k to R1.4m
New Zealand R740k–1.4m2.4× SANew Zealand TypicalR1.0m RangeR740k to R1.4mpublished range, not percentiles StartingR600kGraduate accountant
South Africa R360–480k*South Africa TypicalR420k RangeR360k to R480kpublished range, not percentiles

South Africa · line: the South African figure · pay range · starting pay · hover or tap a bar for details · gross pay a year, low to high estimate; the bar ends at the typical figure · * weaker figure

CountryTypical gross payRange and starting payOccupation and source
South Africa ZAR 420 000
Middle of the advertised range 2026
ZAR 360 000 to 480 000
salary survey range, 2026 · Pnet 2026 Job Market Trends Report salary guide (via BusinessTech) · low confidence · PRIVATE, Pnet adverts R30,000-R40,000/mth x12 (Financial/Project Accountant), not CA(SA)-specific. Starting null: SAICA sets no trainee minimum; each training office sets pay.
Financial / Project Accountant (Pnet Finance sector)
Pnet 2026 Job Market Trends Report salary guide, as published by BusinessTech · PRIVATE-SECTOR. Advertised monthly CTC R30,000-R40,000 x12. Not CA(SA)-specific; SAICA remuneration survey is members-only. Financial Manager R48,237-R70,260/mth.
United Kingdom GBP 50 062
Median 2025
GBP 38 696 to 68 056
25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · SOC 2421 Chartered and certified accountants, full-time, April 2025.
Starting GBP 30 000
Graduate trainee accountant (first job; chartered status after ~3 years), 2026 · National Careers Service job profile: management-accountant ('Starter' salary) · low confidence, not shown on the chart · NCS has no chartered-accountant profile; management accountant starter (30,000) used as proxy. NCS auditor starter is 28,000.
SOC2020 2421 Chartered and certified accountants
ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · Median gross annual pay, full-time employees, April 2025. CV 6.5%.
Ireland EUR 70 167
Middle of the advertised range 2026
EUR 55 000 to 90 000
salary survey range, 2026 · Morgan McKinley Ireland Salary Guide 2026 (permanent salaries) · low confidence · Management Accountant, lowest to highest across bands and 5 cities (same source as typical). MM newly qualified: 50,000-65,000.
Starting EUR 29 640
First year after an L8 degree, typically a trainee accountant (chartered status after ~3 years), 2023 · CSO Higher Education Outcomes, table HEO12 Graduate Earnings (NFQ Level 8, 2022 graduates, year 1): Business, Administration and Law · low confidence, not shown on the chart · EUR570/wk x52. Median, earned 2023. Broad field of study; includes part-time workers, so understates full-time pay. CAI Leinster Society Salary Survey 2025: newly qualified avg package 72,450.
Management Accountant (Core Finance)
Morgan McKinley Ireland Salary Guide 2026 (permanent salaries) · Midpoint of each published band (0-3/3-5/5+ yrs) averaged over bands and the 5 listed cities. Range EUR55,000-90,000. Financial Accountant (0-3 yrs) EUR58,500; newly qualified EUR60,000 Dublin.
Netherlands EUR 79 040
Median 2025
EUR 60 944 to 98 592
25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · CBS StatLine 86355NED Werknemers; uurloon en beroep (p25/p75 gross hourly) · BRC 2014 0411 Accountants, employees, 2025: p25 29.30/h, p75 47.40/h x2080, excl. holiday pay (as typical).
Starting EUR 49 109
New wo-master graduate, 1 year after leaving university; RA title needs ~3 more years of part-time training, 2024 · CBS StatLine 83815NED Uitstromers ho; uurloon na verlaten onderwijs (median, cohort 2022/'23, 1 yr after leaving) · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Wo-master 'Economie': median 23.61/h x2080, Oct 2024, employees. Whole economics/business field, not accountancy alone.
BRC 2014 0411 Accountants
CBS StatLine 86355NED Werknemers; uurloon en beroep · Median gross hourly x2080 (40h x52). Hourly excl. holiday pay, NL full-time ~36-38h; errors largely offset. Covers registeraccountants, controllers, auditors, tax advisers.
Germany EUR 89 880
Median 2025
Not researched yet KldB 2010 72244 Berufe in Wirtschaftsprüfung - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten
BA Entgeltatlas (Beschäftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025 · Median monthly gross full-time x12. Employees in social insurance only (no self-employed/Beamte); capped at 8,050 EUR/mo. Qualified Wirtschaftsprüfer, n=16,923; audit staff (72243) 4,847/mo.
United States USD 83 680
Median 2025
USD 67 020 to 109 810
25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BLS OEWS May 2025 national (via BLS Public Data API) · OEWS May 2025 national annual 25th/75th percentile for SOC 13-2011; p10 $56,020, p90 $144,090; not top-coded.
Starting USD 54 400
1 year after a bachelor's in accounting (CIP 52.03), pre-CPA, 2022 · College Scorecard field-of-study data (Jun 2026 release), EARN_MDN_1YR · Grad-weighted median of program medians, earnings 1 yr after completion (2018-20 grads, CY2020-21, 2022 $; working & not enrolled, incl. part-time). CPA licence needs 150 credit hours + exam; master's in accounting grads earn $68,141 (same source).
13-2011 Accountants and Auditors
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national · OEWS national median annual wage, May 2025. Covers all accountants/auditors, not only CPAs, so qualified-CPA pay is higher.
Canada CAD 83 949
Median 2024
CAD 63 003 to 112 008
25th to 75th percentile, 2024 · Job Bank wage data 2025 release (LFS 2023-2024), national quartiles · Job Bank Q1/Q3 hourly C$30.29/C$53.85 x2080, NOC 11100, LFS 2023-24. Low/high (~p10/p90): C$52,000/C$148,574. All accountants, not only CPAs.
Starting CAD 64 000
2 years after a bachelor's in business/commerce (CIP 52), typically during the CPA PEP/practical experience, 2024 · Statistics Canada Table 37-10-0281 (ELMLP), graduates two years after graduation · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Median employment income 2 yrs after graduation (2022 grads, measured 2024, 2024 $); excludes full-time students, includes part-time/part-year workers. No accounting-only figure published; all business, management and marketing grads.
11100 Financial auditors and accountants
Job Bank wage data (open data), Labour Force Survey · Covers all accountants/auditors, not only CPAs. National median hourly wage C$40.36 x 2080 h. Job Bank/LFS reference period 2023-2024, published 19 Nov 2025.
Australia AUD 104 156
Median 2025
AUD 66 300 to 146 000
25th to 75th percentile, estimated from tax statistics (includes part-time), 2024 · ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24, Individuals Table 14A (occupation unit group x taxable income range); medians from Table 15B · low confidence · p25/p75 interpolated from 5 taxable-income bands (linear density matched to band means). Includes part-time/part-year earners and non-wage income; 2023-24 dollars, not uprated.
Starting AUD 71 000
About 4 months after completing the bachelor's degree, full-time employed domestic graduates, 2025 · QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025 national report tables: median full-time salary, undergraduates, by 45 study areas ('Accounting') · Accounting graduates, 2025 survey (2024: 70,000). CA/CPA status takes ~3 more years.
Accountants (ANZSCO 2211)
ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025 (customised report), via JSA Occupation Profiles · Median $2003/wk x52; FT non-managerial adult-rate employees, before tax. Covers general, management and taxation accountants; auditors sit in 2212.
New Zealand NZD 96 000
Median 2026
NZD 71 000 to 131 000
careers service range, 2026 · Tahatu Career Navigator job profile: Accountant and auditor ('most common' pay range) · Tahatu 'most common' band (full published range 56,000-181,000); Stats NZ IDI/Census + IR data, percentiles not defined, no vintage stated.
Starting NZD 58 000
Graduate accountant, year 1 after the bachelor's (before CA ANZ chartered status), 2026 · Tahatu Career Navigator study page 'Bachelors degrees in accounting': median employed income 1 year after completion (Stats NZ IDI + IR) · Published in $ thousands; vintage not stated; includes part-year/part-time earners. Year-1 p25-p75 53k-65k; year 5 86k.
Accountant and auditor
Tahatu Career Navigator (Ministry of Education / Tertiary Education Commission careers service) · Published range $56,000-$181,000, most common $71,000-$131,000. From Stats NZ Census/IDI + Inland Revenue data; no vintage stated (year = year observed).
United Arab Emirates AED 264 000
Middle of the advertised range 2025
AED 240 000 to 288 000
salary survey range, 2025 · Cooper Fitch UAE Salary Guide 2025 (recruiter employer survey) · low confidence · Same CF row as typical (audit asst manager), fixed pay incl. allowances x12. Not official starting: CF audit Associate AED 8k-13k/mth = 96k-156k/yr.
Audit - Assistant Manager
Cooper Fitch UAE Salary Guide 2025 (recruiter employer survey) · Recruiter survey. AED 20,000-24,000/month x12, fixed pay. Audit Manager 24,000-33,000. Robert Walters 2026: management accountant average AED 24,000/month.

General information, not immigration or legal advice. Researched 2026-10-07.