University of Kelaniya
Centre for Distance and Continuing Education

Bachelor of Commerce

Recommended Subjects for BCOM(SP)

The combination of subjects recommended for the First Examination in Commerce and for the B.Com. (Special) degree course is decided by the department. Candidates must sit all subjects; details of syllabi will be issued to all registered candidates of the course.

Important:
When a candidate who works in an academic department of this University seeks registration for a degree course he/she must submit a declaration with the recommendation of the relevant Head of the Department, saying that he / she will not select subject / subjects related to the Department where he / she works.

Requirements for Registration

Candidates who wish to follow this degree course, should register for the First Examination in Commerce. If one of the following pre-requisites can be fulfilled:

(a) Passed, in one sitting a minimum of three approved subjects at the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) Examination conducted by the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka. . (Preference will be given to candidates those who studied approved subjects under Commerce Stream.)

(b) Candidates who do not possess the qualifications stated in section (a) above, can apply for registration if they have any one of the following qualifications accepted by the University of Kelaniya:

1. Have one of the qualifications (as indicated in schedule No. 1 herein) considered by the University of Kelaniya for registration as an external candidate for the relevant examinations leading to the Bachelors' Degree in Commerce.
2. A degree of a recognised University (Vide schedule No.2 herein).
3. Any other qualification considered and recognised as equivalent to any of the above by the Faculty of Commerce and Management and the Senate of the University of Kelaniya. (Prospective applicants for registration must forward to the University a letter giving full details of such qualifications supported by copies of relevant certificates before they apply for registration in the prescribed form.)

Schedule No. 1

Professional and other qualifications recognised by the University of Kelaniya for the purpose of registration as external candidates for examinations leading to the Bachelor of Commerce Degree of the University.

1. The Vocational (Special) Teachers' Certificate of the Sri Lanka Department of Education.
2. Pass in the 1st year and 2nd year examination of the course leading to the Diploma in Commerce of the Sri Lanka technical College. (Vide schedule 2 below)
3. Pass in the 1st year and 2nd year examination of the course leading to the Diploma in Accountancy of the Sri Lanka technical College. (Vide schedule 2 below)
4. Pass in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd examinations conducted by either the CIMA (London) or the Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants. (Vide schedule 2 below)
5. Pass in the Intermediate Examination of (Vide schedule 2 below) the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.
6. Associate Membership of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries, London.
7. Diploma in Business Studies awarded by a former affiliated University or a recognised polytechnical Institute.
8. Completion of two-year service as a commissioned officer of a permanent unit of the Sri Lanka Army, Navy or Air Force.
9. An officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service who has passed in the examination for recruitment to Class III of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service.
10. National Certificate in Business Studies of the Sri Lanka Technical College.(2 year course)
11. Membership of the Association of Company and Commercial Accountants of the United Kingdom.
12. Diploma of the Institute of Work Study Practitioners, England.
13. Associate Membership of the Institute of Management of Britain.
14. Pass in all sections of the examination of the Institute of Administrative Accounting, London.
15. The Book-keepers' Advanced Certificate in Commerce of the Sri Lanka Technical College or of the Polytechnical Institute of the Ministry of Education.
16. Member of the Government Accountants' Service on having passed the Sri Lanka Government Accountants' Final Examination.
17. An officer of the Management Service of the Ministry of Public Administration on having passed the examinations conducted by the Commissioner of Examinations for recruitment to that service.
18. The Book-keepers' Higher Certificate of the London Chamber of Commerce.
19. The Advanced National Diploma in Management of the Open University of Sri Lanka.

Schedule No. 2

Those having the following qualifications will be exempted from the First Examination in Commerce and may register for the Examination leading to the Bachelor of Commerce (Special) Degree.

1. The Diploma in Accountancy or Commerce of the Sri Lanka Technical College or the Higher National Diploma in Commerce awarded by a Polytechnical Institute of the Ministry of Education.
2. Associate membership of either the Institute of Chartered Accountants or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountancy or Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants.
3. Pass in the First year Examination of the Public and Business Administration Degree Course of the University of Sri Jayawardanapura (formerly Vidyodaya University).
4. A Degree of a recognized University including all three of the following subjects: Economics, Accountancy and Mathematics.
5. Pass in the first examination in Commerce leading to the Bachelor of Commerce (Internal) degree of the University of Kelaniya.
6. Pass in the First examination in Commerce and Management Science of the University of Colombo.

Examination Procedure

Examinations are conducted at the end of each year for all external degree courses offered by the University of Kelaniya. Candidates should sit for the relevant First Examination after completion of one-year from the first registration. Accepted time period is given for each degree course but arrangements have been made to grant more opportunities for candidates who fail to complete their degrees within the minimum period. Accordingly, four additional (in addition to minimum three-year period) years for a General Degree and three additional (in addition to minimum four- year period) years for a Special Degree are considered by the University. However, candidates are responsible to complete their degrees during the given maximum period subject to extension of registration for additional years by paying relevant fees. The registration will not extend further by any reason after seven (07) years in respect of a General Degree and seven (07) years in respect of a Special Degree from the date of first registration of a candidate. (The date of commencement of registration being the first day of January of the year in which registration occurs.)

There is no compulsion for external candidates to sit the prescribed examinations every succeeding year, and no objection to their sitting examinations at their convenience but subject to University statutes, laws and regulations pertaining to external examinations. However, it is of importance that candidates not completing their degree within the prescribed period of 3 years or four years, as the case may be, are not entitled to first class or second class honours even if they reach the prescribed standard of proficiency at the relevant examination.

A minimum of four years is required to complete this degree. While a registered candidate on completion of one academic year is eligible to sit the First Examination in Commerce, he/she is eligible to proceed to Parts First, Second and Third of the B.Com. Special degree provided he/she has successfully completed the First Examination. A candidate could obtain his/her degree on completion of the relevant examinations respectively in three subsequent years.

Examinations

Examinations pertaining to external degree courses offered by the University are given below for the convenience of candidates.

     First Examination in Commerce

     Bachelor of Commerce (Special) Degree Part I Examination

     Bachelor of Commerce (Special) Degree Part II Examination

     Bachelor of Commerce (Special) Degree Part III Examination

The above examinations will be held at the end of every academic year in regional centers of the island, depending on the number of candidates.

Age Limit

Candidates for External Degree Courses should have completed 18 years of age. A certified copy of the Birth Certificate should be forwarded with the application for registration.

Medium / Language

All external degree examinations are conducted in Sinhala and English, other than language exams.

Determination of Results

1. Pass the Examination:
   (a) If the Board of Examiners determines that a candidate sitting the examination has on one and the same occasion reached a pass standard, in accordance with relevant examination regulations, in all three subjects he/she has sat, such candidate will be considered as having passed the examination.
   (b) Furthermore, a candidate will be considered as having passed the prescribed examination even if he/she has obtained one 'D' grade (one only) for a subject/paper but obtained the minimum standard of marks required to pass the said examination.
   (c) In the case of referred and re-referred candidates will be deemed to have passed the examination only on passing that particular subject/paper.
2. Refer the Examination:
   Candidates who do not obtain a minimum standard of marks required to pass the examination and obtain one 'D' grade in one subject/paper
   and
   Having obtained the minimum standard of marks required to pass the examination but obtained 'E' grade in one subject/paper, are considered to have referred the examination.
   In the case of the Bachelor of Commerce degree, 'Refer' is considered to be three 'D' and/or 'E' grades.
3. Fail the Examination:
   Candidates who do not fulfil the necessary requirements to pass or refer examinations are considered to have failed the prescribed examinations.
4. Completion of Examination requirements:
   It is compulsory that all candidates sitting a Final degree examination must of necessity have, either prior to such examination or in the same year, to have completed all examination requirements, if any, pertaining to prior examinations. Candidates must complete all examination requirements pertaining to their degree courses, in the case of a General degree, within five years and of a Special degree, within seven years from the date of his/her first registration according to examination regulations and subject to their registration being valid. Any candidate who has not completed all necessary requirements pertaining to his/her degree course will not be considered for awarding the degree.
5. Suspension / withhold of degree results / Examination results:
   * The results of a candidate will be withheld if he/she has not sit for all papers of a particular examination or when the candidate is awaiting disciplinary action in respect of an examination malpractice.
   * The degree results of a candidate will be suspended if he/she has not completed all examination requirements (if any) pertaining to his/her degree before the final examination or in the same year, even if he/she passes the final part of the degree examination. Such results will be released when the candidate is able to complete necessary requirements within the period of concession.
6. Pass the degree:
   If a candidate presenting himself / herself for the relevant parts of the degree examinations has on one and the same occasion been deemed by the Board of Examiners to have attained the pass standard required by examination regulations, will be considered to have passed the relevant Degree examination.
7. Award of the degree with a Class:
   (a) An external candidate successful at the degree examination in either Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Business Management (General) or Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce (Special) will be considered for awarding the degree with a Second Class (Upper / Lower) or a First Class on the basis of the merits he/she earned.
   (b) Every candidate who, if he/she is reading for a General degree reaches within the first three years and at the very first attempt a standard deemed by the Board of Examiners as sufficient according to examination regulations for a First Class Honours degree or for a Second Class Honours (Upper /Lower) degree, as the case may be, will be awarded such an Honours degree accordingly. In the case of candidates reading for a Special degree the same applies except that the stipulated period is four years instead of three.

Application Procedure

1. Applications for Registration:
   All those possessing qualifications approved by the University Senate for registration as external degree candidates of this University are eligible to apply for registration for the selected degree course.
   (Relevant instructions pertaining to the selection of subjects, certificates to be forwarded along with the application and other necessary information will be issued with the application form).
2. Application for Extension of Registration:
   Candidates must request an extension of their registration prior to expiry of existing registration. Relevant application forms are available from the External Examinations Branch on request.
3. Application to sit for the Examination:
   Applications will be entertained from prospective candidates who possess all the requisite qualifications and who apply on the prescribed form available at the External Examinations Branch of this University. In the event of any candidate applying for two or more different examinations in the same year, separate applications must be submitted in respect of each examination.
4. When to apply:
   Notices regarding registration and examinations are published in the press annually. In accordance with such notices, candidates are strictly advised to apply for registration only on the prescribed form available from the External Examinations Branch of the University of Kelaniya. It is the responsibility of candidates to collect relevant application forms in time.
5. Forwarding Completed Application Forms:
   All completed application forms accompanied by necessary documents appended in the order mentioned in the application form / advice form should be forwarded in an envelope, on the top left-hand corner of which the relevant degree / matter should be stated. The envelope should be addressed to the Senior Assistant Registrar / External Examinations, P.O.Box 03, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
6. Rejection of Applications:
   Applications for registration or for sitting examinations may reject for one or more of the following reasons:
   
   • Not completed all necessary requirements.
   • Not paying relevant fees.
   • Applying on forms prepared by the applicant himself / herself. (Not applying on the prescribed form.)
   • Giving wrong information.
   • Applying on a form issued in a previous year.
   • Not stating requested information clearly and not forwarding relevant documents confirming information stated in the application form.
   • Submitting application after the prescribed date.

Admission Forms for Examinations

A minimum of two weeks prior to the commencement of an examination every candidate eligible to sit the relevant examination will be issued an Admission form to that examination. In the event of a candidate not receiving such Admission form two weeks prior to the examination he/she must inform the External Examinations Branch of this University immediately

Sitting the Examination

1. Every registered candidate for a particular degree course must sit the relevant end of year examination, subject to the completion of necessary requirements.
2. Except under circumstances where express permission has been granted on the basis of acceptable medical grounds, every candidate must present himself / herself for the examination on one and the same occasion in every subject for which he/she has registered.
3. In the case of a candidate who has failed to appear for an examination or failed to complete an examination on acceptable medical grounds, the question of granting him/her an Honours Pass will be considered only if he/she repeats the examination in one sitting at the first available opportunity and passes that examination reaching a standard acceptable to the Board of Examiners as being one deserving an Honours Pass in accordance with examination regulations.
4. Those candidates who are referred or re-referred must of necessity obtain a pass in the relevant subject in accordance with examination regulations.

Examination Rules and Instructions to Candidates

(a) A candidate when sitting an examination must at all times have in his/her possession his/her Admission Form and his/her Student Record Book. In case the Student Record Book is not produced when called for (at an examination) a student is liable to have his/her candidature cancelled. In the course of an examination if by mischance the Student Record Book is lost, steps must be taken immediately to inform the Senior Assistant Registrar of such loss and have a duplicate procured.

(b) If a candidate falls ill in such a manner as to prevent him/her sitting an examination or a part thereof, the External Examinations Branch must be informed immediately in writing, and a medical certificate acceptable to the Government from either a District Medical Officer or a Specialist Physician or Surgeon of a Government hospital must be submitted within one month of the candidate falling ill. (Medical certificates submitted after one month will be rejected).

*** All external candidates will be issued a detailed instruction sheet along with the examination admission form.

Examination Malpractices

Some examination malpractices are given below:

1. Bringing notes, diagrams, articles etc. into the examination hall and having them on one's possession or nearby or using them when examinations are in progress.
2. Removing stationery, tables etc. supplied by the University from the examination hall.
3. Copying, helping to copy or an attempting to help for such a malpractice.
4. Impersonation.
5. Other forms of dishonesty and unruly behaviour or any other forms of malpractices.

In the event an examination malpractice is proved, the Senate of the University of Kelaniya under the privileges given by the Universities Act could impose the following punishments:

1. Cancellation of candidacy of the relevant paper / subject or the whole examination.
2. Suspension / Cancellation of registration.
3. Debarring from sitting the examination for a stipulated period of time with or without a fine being imposed.
4. Any other punishment meted out by the University Senate.

Publication of Results

(a) Every candidate will be informed personally of examination results when they are published, subject to approval of the University Senate. In addition, steps will be taken to notify the results through a press release.

(b) If a candidate on acceptable medical grounds fails to complete all examination requirements or when punished for examination malpractice, his/her results will be suspended until he/she fulfils all necessary requirements.

Re-scrutiny of Answer Scripts

Under no circumstances for any reason whatever will there be a re-scrutiny of answer scripts of external degree examinations.

Certificates

1. (i) Temporary Certificates:
   Once the results of an examination are published candidates are eligible to apply on prescribed forms available at the External Examinations Branch for temporary certificates which will be issued within two weeks of application. These certificates are issued in respect of First Examinations and Final Examinations only. Prescribed forms will be sent by post on receipt of a self-addressed stamped envelope (15x22cm.) at the External Examinations Branch.
2. (ii) Degree Certificates:
   Degree Certificates will be issued to graduates when the University Senate and the Council approve the final results of the relevant Degree Examination.

Inquiries

All External candidates are required to follow instructions given below when they wish to contact the External Examinations Branch in person, in writing or via telephone. However, a registered external student is permitted to contact the External Examinations Branch any time on an urgent matter.

Direct verbal inquiries:
If you wish to visit the External Examinations Branch in person, please be present on a Wednesday or a Friday from 10.00am to 12 noon or at 1.30 to 3.00pm.

Telephone Inquiries:
Candidates are advised to make all telephone inquiries on a Wednesday or a Friday between 10.00am to 12 noon or from 1.30 to 3.00pm.
Telephone No: 0112 - 914478
General Lines: 0112 - 908166, 987000, 987001, 987002, 987005.
Fax: 0112 - 986606

Written Inquiries:
A written inquiry should be sent on a form prepared by candidates themselves according to the model form given in this book. The written inquiry should be forwarded in an envelope, on the top left-hand corner of which the relevant matter should be stated clearly.
Direct all inquiries to the following address
Senior Assistant Registrar /External Examinations
P.O.Box. 03
University of Kelaniya
Kelaniya.

To the attention of External Candidates:
All external candidates are advised to read and understand clearly all information given in this Student Handbook and are kindly requested to keep it safe until completion of their degree courses.
The University of Kelaniya without any prior notification reserves the right to revise information given in this Student Handbook.