Survival Guide for PGDA Students

Turning a Tough Year into a Launchpad for Long-Term Success

Embrace One of the Most Challenging Academic Years
Becoming a Chartered Accountant involves more than just passing exams; it requires mental resilience, a strong work ethic, and the ability to handle multiple demands simultaneously. If you’re enrolled in, or about to start, your CTA/PGDip year, Survival Guide for CTA/PGDA Students is here to help you stay motivated and tackle the complexities head-on.

Why This Guide Matters
The CTA/PGDip year is notorious for testing you on every front: academic rigour, emotional endurance, and time management. Rather than simply enduring the stress, this guide empowers you to use the experience as a stepping stone toward a successful CA(SA) career. Written by professionals who’ve already travelled this path, it equips you with strategies to overcome exams, master your schedule, and maintain mental and physical balance.

What You’ll Discover in these pages:
Authors André Klopper CA(SA) & Calvin de Bruin CA(SA) blend their personal journeys with insights from peers, mentors, and fellow students. The result is a toolkit of practical wisdom and proven approaches that can transform a daunting study load into an opportunity for growth.

Whether you’re dealing with intense exam pressure, juggling personal commitments, or simply trying to stay motivated, this book provides clear, actionable solutions.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Developing a Growth Mindset: Sustain motivation during the most demanding periods and handle setbacks with resilience.
• Time Management & Productivity Hacks:
• Learn how to structure your workload effectively, maximising both efficiency and retention.
• Stress & Well-Being: Equip yourself with tools to protect your mental and physical health, even under constant deadlines.
• Building a Strong Support Network: Discover strategies for connecting with peers, mentors, and family to create a circle of encouragement.
• Smart Study Techniques: Improve comprehension, stay organised, and approach exams with greater confidence.

 

Real Solutions for Real Challenges
The CTA/PGDip year demands your best in lectures, study groups, and exams, often leaving little room for rest. This guide goes beyond theory, offering step-by-step guidance to help you push past mental blocks and establish daily habits that lead to long-term academic and professional success.

Expect practical insights, realistic planning tips, and an empathic voice that’s fully aware of the high-stakes environment you’re navigating. Rather than facing it alone, let the Survival Guide for CTA/PGDA Students be your companion every step of the way.

Meet Your Mentors: André Klopper & Calvin de Bruin
André Klopper CA(SA) and Calvin de Bruin CA(SA) share a deep commitment to empowering the next generation of CAs through down-to-earth advice, mentorship, and community-building.

André Klopper CA(SA) completed his own CTA/PGDip journey amid hectic schedules, which included simultaneously working and pursuing advanced studies. His first hand experience in high-pressure academic settings helped him develop invaluable coping strategies, which he now shares with others through this guide.

Calvin de Bruin CA(SA) is a corporate finance specialist, entrepreneur, and the Commercial Director of a ground-breaking start-up. From overcoming campus challenges to thriving in professional advisory roles, Calvin’s journey reflects a mindset of turning obstacles into growth opportunities, insights he now passes on to you.

Their collaboration brings together practical, motivational, and technical insights that speak directly to the challenges of the CTA/PGDip year.

Ready to Excel in Your CTA/PGDip Year?
Survival Guide for CTA/PGDA Students isn’t just about getting through exams—it’s about setting yourself up for a flourishing career as a Chartered Accountant. By adopting the strategies within, you’ll learn how to stay focused on your goals, maintain balance in your life, and emerge from this intense year with both clarity and confidence.

Grab your copy and turn one of the most demanding academic phases into the stepping stone for your future success as a CA(SA).