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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Agriculture in Horticultural Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96539  Doctor of Agriculture in Horticultural Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare 
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 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Primary Agriculture 
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
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The first purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with graduate-level knowledge, specific skills, and applied competence in general and specific areas of Horticultural Science that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

The second purpose is to provide the Agricultural industry in South Africa, which underpins all aspects of the economy, with significant numbers of graduates with the high levels of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in Horticultural Science and related sciences necessary for the identification and strategic solution of real-life problems facing the agricultural industry.

Such graduates are especially needed to support emerging farmers in the small-scale agricultural sector.

The successful graduate would have proven him/herself as a researcher capable of original research of a high calibre, thus greatly enhancing his/her capacity to play a leading role in Agriculture and related fields. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning:
Access may be gained to the qualification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Entry Requirements:
Master of Agriculture in Horticultural Science, Level 9, or equivalent. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
Research. 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. Design, conduct and write up original research.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of scientific procedures and an ability to cope with research techniques.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of literature related to the research problem.
4. Write a dissertation that is linguistically, technically and scientifically correct. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Write research proposals that indicate that learners are able to identify a problem or problems in soil science and formulate research problems.
  • Formulate and test hypotheses.
  • Select and utilise research instruments that are relevant in the research problems.
  • Conduct fieldwork during the actual investigation if relevant to the research project.
  • Report the findings of the investigation and formulate recommendations that emanate from the findings.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Identify and analyse different scientific procedures in terms of the problem being researched.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Critically read, interpret and analyse literature from different authors on the topic being researched.
  • Draw conclusions from different readings and indicate anomalies.
  • Create a theoretical framework provided by the literature review.
  • Compile bibliography/list of references.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Write a thesis that shows that the learner can express himself/herself clearly.
  • Write a thesis that is linguistically technically and scientifically correct and of an acceptable standard.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessment will usually be solely in the form of the evaluation of an acceptable thesis but may possibly also involve an oral defence thereof and/or publishing in approved scientific publications. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Postdoctoral studies. 

    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. University of Fort Hare 


    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.