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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Engineering 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
100934  Master of Engineering 
ORIGINATOR
North West University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Engineering and Related Design 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
72803  Master of Engineering  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  136  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The qualification is aimed at producing competent, ethical and professional practitioners who will meet the needs of South Africa for competent engineers, able to identify, plan, execute and evaluate the solving of engineering problems, as well as providing them with specialist knowledge in a chosen field and advanced competence in research methodology. This qualification will empower students to study further towards a Doctor of Philosophy Degree.

Rationale:
The rationale of the qualification is to provide students with advanced knowledge and research skills enabling continued personal intellectual growth (towards doctoral studies), valuable economic activity and research contributions to the engineering industry in South Africa and internationally. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access purposes will require the candidate to comply with the admission requirements of the university. The University accepts the principle underlying outcomes-oriented, source-based and lifelong learning in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a meaningful role.

The University also underwrites the view that recognition of previous learning, obtained either by formal teaching programmes at this or another institution, or informally (obtained by experience), is an indispensable RPL element in granting admission or credits with the aim of placing in a specifically chosen teaching-learning programme of the University. In recognising previous learning, it deals with provable knowledge and learning that the applicant obtained by following formal teaching programmes or by experience. At all times the question will be what level of competence was reached, judged in the context of the exit level skills required for this qualification or status for which the applicant is applying and not merely about the experience the applicant can prove. Recognition of previous learning takes place in terms of the relevant skills that the applicant demonstrated in the application with reference to the exit outcomes that should be reached in the chosen programme. Students holding a foreign qualification (that is to say not obtained at a South African University), are required to have the qualification evaluated by SAQA (South African Qualif cations Authority) and a certificate regarding the evaluation must be submitted with the application form.

Entry Requirements:
Candidates must be in possession of a four year Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, accredited by ECSA and focused on the specialisation of the relevant Master's Degree. The research director in consultation with the school director, may refuse admission to the qualification if the standard of competence previously attained by the prospective student in the subject(s) in which he/she wishes to continue his/her studies does not conform to the qualification's requirements. If the applications received for the qualification are more than the research entity can handle, the group of students who, in the opinion of the research director in consultation with the school director, has the best chance of success will be selected. The background and potential of students will also be taken into account in this selection process. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
This qualification comprises a compulsory module at Level 9, totalling 180 credits.
  • Dissertation, 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Evaluate current knowledge at the forefront of research in the field and identify a research problem, choose a fit process of enquiry and formulate clear objectives for the study.
  • Understand the design and implementation of a strategy for processing and managing information comprehensive, critical and relevant literature survey).
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the design and selection of the necessary research procedures and experimental facilities and/or numerical models applicable to a complex research problem.
  • Execute either an empirical or numerical investigation in order to address the research problem.
  • Understand the academic and professional discourses to communicate and defend personal and substantial ideas.
  • Assess the results by means of verification and validation of obtained results.
  • Draw conclusions, generalisations and recommendations.
  • Develop own learning strategies for independent learning and professional development. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:
    Examination is in the form of a dissertation, which the supervisor continuously assesses while the dissertation is being written. Examination of the final dissertation is done by at least two examiners, depending on the number of (co-/assistant) supervisors, of which one must be external (from another research institution or from industry), all experts in the field of the dissertation. A supervisor may not fulfil the function of examiner. External examiners are appointed through the post-graduate faculty board. The examiners' reports are reviewed by the faculty examination committee who make the final decision concerning the awarding of the degree, based on recommendations from the examiners' reports. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The South African Qualifications Authority Level Descriptors for Higher Education Qualifications Framework Level 9 were used to design the qualification standard. The faculty maintains close relationships with national and international higher education institutions, and staff members regularly participate in scientific exchanges, conferences and partnerships. Many external examiners are from international institutions. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • A doctoral qualification in Development and Management Engineering, Level 10.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Graduates who acquires with this qualification in Development and Management Engineering will empower him/her to continue with learning and research on Level 9 in other cognate fields in a variety of institutions. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. North West University 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.