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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Communication 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96596  Doctor of Philosophy in Communication 
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Communication Studies 
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 
Purpose:
The Doctor of Philosophy in Communication is being offered to provide South Africa with Doctorate graduates who can assume leadership while working in a group toward defined outcomes and maintain full professional communication with other specialists in the field and related fields as well.

At the end of the study, the candidate will be able to present a comprehensive, scientific thesis and also thus gain expert status in the specific subject field.

Graduating candidates will at the end of the study be able to work as academic and researchers with expert knowledge in the field of Communication.

They can take up appointments as lecturers or researchers.

Rationale:
The need for this qualification was to provide qualifiers with a capacity for advanced study and research in the field of Communication as well as to provide depth of knowledge in a complex and specialised area. It was also to produce a thesis that will withstand international scrutiny and contribute to original knowledge in the field. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Entry Requirement:
The candidate must have obtained a Master of Social Science Degree in Communication at Fort Hare or a Masters' Degree of similar status or in related fields at any university inside or outside the Republic of South Africa. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
N/A 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. Advance study and research demonstrating understanding and a depth of knowledge in the field of Communication. This must lead to a research proposal that must be presented by the candidate before the Faculty Research and Higher Degrees Committee. After the approval of the proposal, the candidate is then supervised and guided by the allocated Research Supervisor to work on a Doctoral thesis with an appropriate topic that will be assessed by appointed examiners.
2. The candidate must also in the process of working on a thesis be able to deal with complexity, shortages and contradictions in the knowledge base.
3. The Doctoral thesis also affords the candidate the opportunity to independently evaluate alternative approaches and theories and the application of critical thinking and a problem-solving attitude.
4. The qualification also gives the candidate the opportunity to work in a team with the Research Supervisor guiding the whole process. This also includes professional communication with other specialists in the field, if required by the project, towards defined outcomes for the study.
5. At the end of the study, the candidate will also be able to present a comprehensive, scientific thesis and also thus gain expert status in the specific subject field. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
1. Students' ability to identify a researchable topic in the field of communication. The research proposal is then presented to the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee who then approves the research proposal. The student then works on the thesis; to collect, select, analyze and synthesize information and to generate new knowledge will be assessed by external examiners.
2. Students' ability to deal with problems and where applicable, to formulate hypothesis and construct models that will be original contributions to the subject and will withstand international intellectual scrutiny, will be assessed.
3. Assessment will include students' ability to accurately, critically and justifiably think while assessing and evaluating alternative approaches and theories. This process also equips the student with problem-solving skills.
4. The candidate's ability to work in a team and also assume leadership roles, motivate others, negotiate and resolve conflict will be assessed. The candidate's ability to ensure that defined outcomes for the study are achieved will also be assessed.
5. Assessment will include scrutiny by external examiners, peer reviews and the ability of the student to defend his/her work.

Integrated Assessment:
The following Integrated Assessment procedures are followed to ensure that the purpose of qualification is achieved:
  • The candidate comes up with a researchable topic and works on a research proposal under the guidance of the allocated Research Supervisor.
  • The research proposal is then presented by the candidate before and subsequently approved by the Faculty Research and Higher Degrees Committee, the Faculty Board and Senate.
  • The candidate then writes up a thesis at the end of the study and the thesis will be examined by appointing three external examiners - one based in Republic of South Africa and two overseas-based examiners.

    Integrated Assessment procedures to ensure that the purpose of qualification is achieved:
  • The research proposal must be approved by the Faculty Research and Higher Degrees Committee, the Faculty Board and Senate.
  • The candidate's thesis will be examined by appointing external examiners - locally and internationally. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Doctor of Philosophy in Communication being offered at the University of Fort Hare is just like any other Doctor of Philosophy offered at Universities around the world. The prerequisite of having a Master Degree to pursue this qualification is just the same as in other Universities too.

    In addition, two overseas-based external examiners will be appointed as part of the three examiners to assess the thesis when completed and the aim is to ensure international comparability. The third examiner is South Africa based. Appointing two overseas examiners is to ensure that the qualification compares with or relates to similar qualifications or best practices or standards offered in other parts of the world as these two appointed overseas based examiners examine the thesis. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Articulation of qualifications in specific cases will be discussed and decided on at Faculty level if and when the need arises. For instance, vertical articulation or horizontal articulation in this regard may take place when considering students holding similar or related Master's Degree in similar or related fields in Humanities or Social Science. 

    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.