SAQA

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.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Doctor of Architecture

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
101941	Doctor of Architecture
ORIGINATOR
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree	Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction		Physical Planning, Design and Management
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	360	Not Applicable	NQF Level 10	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
72310	Doctor of Technology: Architectural Technology	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 10	240	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The principal purposes of the qualification are to:

Provide advanced training in research methods and procedures.

Facilitate appropriate, advanced study.

The qualification aims to produce qualifying learners who are prepared for and understand the principles of:

Life-long learning.

Critical citizenship.

Lateral, critical and creative thinking.

A wide range of issues which are crucial to the welfare of the society.

Rationale:
The Doctor of Architecture (DArch) is awarded on successful completion of research whereby the learner makes a substantial and original contribution to the international body of knowledge related to the built environment, encourages and supports pursuance of related research-based enquiry and promotes the dissemination of previously-unpublished information.

The research, and other advanced study which may be required, is undertaken under the guidance of a supervisor or supervisors appointed for that purpose.

The DArch is for candidates who:

Meet the admission requirements.

Satisfy the requirements for the award of the qualification; and.

Have a desire to undertake research and possibly other advanced study, at the highest postgraduate level.

To assist all relevant stakeholders and role-players, such as potential employers operating in the built environment or other fields related to physical planning and construction, curriculum developers and providers of learning programmes, all education and training bodies, moderators, learners and their parents, to understand the criteria which determine the level and the outcomes associated with this postgraduate programme.

The qualification will produce qualified persons:

Who are capable of undertaking research at an advanced level.

Whose work will be to the advantage of the national economy.

With the capacity to work independently on advanced research projects.

Who are competent to work as educators and researchers in institutions of higher learning.

For employment in fields of economic activity related to the built environment.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Persons desiring entrance to the qualification are:

Advised, assisted and supported (portfolio compilation, orientation to required levels of competence, substantiation of their claims regarding prior skills/experience, planning of progression).

Evaluated and assessed in accordance with their claims regarding prior skills and experience gained (portfolio review, implementation of assessment/evaluation methods, recommendations arising from the assessment/evaluation processes).

Provided with quality management/assurance objectives to support the achievement of competence leading to the award of the qualification (assessment of competence in respect of required outcomes, auditing, approval, recommendation, reporting).

Entry Requirements:
The minimum admission requirement for this qualification is:

A relevant Master's Degree in Architecture, or closely related field, Level 9.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of a compulsory module at Level 8 totalling 360 Credits.

A Research Thesis, 360 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Demonstrate a thorough grounding in epistemological issues and research methods.

Demonstrate thorough familiarity with the relevant literature.

Demonstrate independent execution of the following research tasks.

Demonstrate competence in carrying out research of a quality suitable for publication in international peer-reviewed journals (i e research that significantly contributes to knowledge).

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be assessed in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes.

Understand the epistemological and methodological issues in drafting a research thesis.

Demonstrate thorough and critical familiarity with the relevant literature.

Conduct competence in advanced research, related to:
> Write a research proposal.
> Use literature to identify the theoretical issues pertaining to the proposal.
> Formulate precise research questions.
> Select or devise appropriate research methods.
> Execute the research.
> Demonstrate critical analysis of the results and findings emanating from the research.
> Write up the research.

Demonstrate excellent linguistic skills, including correct spelling, grammar, text formatting and presentation.

Ensure the research meets the prerequisite standards for publication in international peer-reviewed journals (i e research that significantly contributes to knowledge.

Integrated Assessment:
The evaluation of a doctoral thesis:

Is formative in character.

Synoptically assesses all outcomes.

Examiners submit formal reports on the thesis, which should be made available to the candidate.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Currently, the Department of Architecture at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) educates professional architects and senior architectural technologists and is accredited by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) and the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA). SACAP is a full signatory to the Canberra Accord (CA) association. As a result, the qualifications of South African graduates are recognised globally. CA signatories include Canada, China, Korea, Mexico, South Africa, the USA and 35 other countries represented by the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA).

The thesis of the Doctor of Architecture (DArch) at TUT is expected to be of a standard and rigour comparable with international benchmarks. It will be awarded on successful completion of research which makes a substantial and original contribution to the international body of knowledge related to the built environment, encourages and supports pursuance of related research-based enquiry and promotes the dissemination of previously-unpublished information.

Harvard recently introduced a new Doctoral programme in Architectural Technology, stating: Doctoral research undertaken in this area will have the aim of advancing the state of knowledge in green building, and will typically include issues related to computation and simulation, environmental concerns, and energy performance. In addition to a highly interdisciplinary curriculum that includes theoretical and empirical approaches, especially the history and philosophy of technology, the student will be associated with the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities. (Source: https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/doctoral-programs/doctor-of-philosophy/). This is a clear indication of the current trends in architectural education, research and development. The doctoral programme at TUT will have similar themes as focus areas. The approach will be one of real-world applications and explorations. Unlike Harvard, TUT prefers not to include the more theoretical themes in.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

The Doctor of Architecture (DArch) is the highest academic qualification attainable, and articulation possibilities do not apply. However, while the possibility exists that those learners who are admitted for the qualification leading to the awarding of Master's qualifications (by virtue of the quality of the work executed) may be permitted to change their respective candidatures to those for a DArch award, retrospective registration is not normally permitted.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

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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.

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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.

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