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 Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
112960  Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts 
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
Doctoral Degree  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Visual Arts 
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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide training for an academic career in the field of Visual and Performing Arts. It requires a learner to research the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. A learner may also present peer-reviewed academic articles and papers in partial fulfilment of the research requirements. The qualification allows learners to undertake independent research and advanced study under the guidance of a supervisor in a particular subject area. They build on knowledge normally gained at Masters or an equivalent level. The thesis presented must constitute a substantial contribution to the national and international advancement of knowledge and understanding in the field of the Visual and Performing Arts through original research that meets international standards.

Rationale:
The rationale of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with highly advanced knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in the field of Visual and Performing Arts. These competences present opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, as well as the pursuit of gainful economic activity. Learners also attain the ability to make rewarding contributions to society. The qualification provides South Africa with significant numbers of experts in the Visual and Performing Arts to ensure that the local and international leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based scholarly activity expands. This expansion also includes the development of new knowledge frameworks for the expansion of the field of the Visual and Performing Arts in general. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Where learners do not meet the minimum admission requirements, RPL may be used to grant access to the qualification. The institution applies RPL according to the Recognition of Prior Learning, Credit Accumulation and Transfer, and assessment (CHE 2016) and the NWU RPL policy. The Faculty of Humanities manages the process.
  • Using the RPL policy, the Faculty of Humanities implements quality assurance processes that address the specificities of the RPL process (including applications, assessment, and reporting and management systems
  • Learners must demonstrate NQF Level 9 competencies.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Master of Philosophy in Arts, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises of compulsory thesis at NQF Level 10, totalling 360 Credits.
  • Compulsory thesis, 360 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The achievement of this qualification means that the qualified learner can:
    1. Demonstrate a depth of knowledge and high levels of theoretical understanding in a complex and specialised area in the field of the Visual and Performing Arts and across specialised or applied areas.
    2. Demonstrate intellectual independence and advanced research skills through the ability to apply sophisticated knowledge and research methodologies for the solution of complex, unfamiliar problems in the field of the Visual and Performing Arts and the competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines.
    3. Deal with complexity, lacunae and contradictions in the knowledge base of the Visual and Performing Arts.
    4. Generate, synthesise and evaluate information and concepts at highly abstract levels and make sound evaluations based on independently generated criteria.
    5. Question existing knowledge boundaries and practices in the field of the Visual and Performing Arts. Create responses to problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge.
    6. Show mastery of the literature and state of research in a specific area within the field of the Visual and Performing Arts.
    7. Demonstrate research leadership within the field, including the ability to plan, resource, manage and optimise all aspects of processes engaged in, within complex and unpredictable contexts.
    8. Demonstrate high levels of responsibility, self-reflexivity and adaptability, concerning the ethical implications of research, preferably the determination of socially relevant issues and research needs in South Africa, and the ability to relate these issues to international contexts. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following associated assessment criteria apply across all Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Generate and display specialised knowledge and high levels of theoretical understanding in a complex and specialised area within the field of Visual and Performing Arts and across specialised or applied areas and make an original contribution to the knowledge society in the discipline they are researching on;
  • Apply and develop intellectual independence and advanced research skills, sophisticated knowledge and research methodologies to the solution of complex, unfamiliar problems in the field of visual and Performing Arts;
  • Apply and develop competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines in the field of Visual and Performing Arts;
  • Generate, synthesise and evaluate information and concepts at highly abstract levels and make sound evaluations based on independently generated criteria;
  • Show mastery of the literature by producing original insights into new and complex ideas, information and issues in a specific area of the field of Visual and Performing Arts;
  • Plan, resource, manage and optimise all aspects of research processes within complex and emerging contexts in the field of Visual and Performing Arts.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative assessment happens through research proposal defence and feedback from the Research Committee and other feedbacks from the promoter (supervisor). Learners submit a thesis on discrete research conducted under supervision. In it, the learner is expected to present integrated research findings, interpreted and linked to the existing literature but with a level of novelty, across the entire area of investigation for summative assessment. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The University of Melbourne in Australia offers in Doctor of Philosophy in Visual or Performing Arts. This qualification is comparable to the Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts offered by the above country in terms of the following:
  • Both qualifications share a similar entry requirement, learning outcomes and assessment. This qualification, just like the Doctor of Philosophy in (Visual or Performing Arts) of the Melbourne University, is a 3-year full-time qualification. It involves a substantial piece of original and independent research, which is conducted under expert academic supervision and in a research environment. Both qualifications constitute independent creative arts research, for which there is an offering of both traditional and practice-led PhD research modes. A "traditional" Doctoral thesis takes the form of a written dissertation of approximately 80,000-100,000 words. In the creative arts, a Doctor of Philosophy thesis may take the form of performance and corpus of creative work. Accompanying the work is a dissertation of 40,000 words, which addresses, elucidates and contextualises the work.
  • For both qualifications, the entry requirement is a Master's Degree with demonstrated evidence of a research component or equivalent. Determination of entry is by the merit of a research proposal and support material to the field of research (publications, performances, films, exhibitions, recitals).
  • This qualification compares favourably with the Doctor of Philosophy in (Visual or Performing Arts) of the Melbourne University. However, this qualification is unique because its design has a focus on the South African context.

    University of Gothenburg in Sweden offers Doctor of Philosophy in Arts History and Visual Studies. This qualification is similar to the qualification offered by the above country in terms of the following:
  • Both qualifications share a similar purpose of developing the knowledge and skills required to be able to independently pursue research and also contribute to knowledge development in the subject by producing a scholarly dissertation. However, the research component of the Doctor of Philosophy in Arts History and Visual Studies is complemented with preliminary coursework on Arts Historical Writing and Colloquium in Theories and Practices of Arts and Visual Studies for new enrolments into the qualification. Conversely, the Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts does not have such courses.
  • Both qualifications consider a Master Degree as an entry requirement. However, while the full-time duration of the qualification is 4-5 years for the Doctor of Philosophy in Arts History and Visual Arts, it is 3 years for the Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts. Despite the slight differences, both qualifications compare favourably. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for horizontal articulation only.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Visual Arts, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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.