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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Philosophy in African Languages 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96642  Doctor of Philosophy in African Languages 
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  Language 
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:
  • Encourage learners to learn more about themselves, social dynamics, their heritage and their cultural environment.
  • Facilitate academic innovation and creativity and contribute to learner's development in niche areas of expertise.
  • Assist the country in its development and in the enrichment of its social and cultural life.

    Rationale:
  • Provide a solid foundation in current research methods, analytical skills capacity for independent research work and identifying the social, and cultural linguistic problems in society and find solutions to these problems.
  • Develop and further inculcate a sense of multilingualism, through comparative research in both language and literature with special skills that could be employed in translation and interpreting especially from one South African language to another.
  • Apply analytical skills and research methods to specific case studies affecting their communities, the country or the continent and humanity at large.
  • Develop a higher degree of competence, analytical skills, capacity for independent research work, and high-level familiarity with current research methods in the humanities. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The institutional RPL Policy provides prospective learners with an opportunity to submit an application for the Recognition of Prior Learning in order to gain entry into a particular academic programme. The applicant's portfolio is assessed by two assessors and by a moderator.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum requirement for this qualification is:
  • Masters in African languages or equivalent qualification. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    N/A 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit Level Outcome:
    1. Learners demonstrate the capacity to design, conduct and write thesis that indicate their ability to identify and solve problems in language education and that have practical application in the social context.
    2. Learners demonstrate an understanding of scientific procedures and an ability to cope with research techniques and appropriate technology.
    3. Learners demonstrate an understanding of literature related to the research problem.
    4. Learners demonstrate the ability to write a dissertation that is linguistically acceptable.
    5. Learners demonstrate competence in real methodological and conceptual skills, clarity of expression and development of argument, and sound judgement. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome:
  • Write a research proposal that indicates the learners are able to identify a problem or problems in languages, and formulate research problems and subsets of problems.
  • Formulate hypotheses.
  • Select and utilize research instruments that are relevant in the research of problems in language education.
  • Select and use appropriate data analysis methods to interpret the findings of an investigation.
  • Report the findings of the investigation, and formulate recommendations that emanate from the findings.
  • Identify and analyse different scientific procedures in terms of the problem being researched.
  • Critically read, interpret and analyse literature from different sources.
  • Search for literature on the identified research problem.
  • Compare the writings of different authors on the same related topic.
  • Synthesize reading material on the topic being researched.
  • Draw conclusions from different readings.
  • Write a thesis that shows that the learner can express him/herself clearly.
  • Write a thesis that is linguistically correct, acceptable and of a high standard.
  • Write a thesis that is technically well presented and has an acceptable layout.
  • Show evidence of real methodological and conceptual skills.
  • Show evidence of clarity of exposition and development of argument.
  • Show evidence of sound judgement.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative:
  • Research proposal.
  • Oral exam.

    Summative:
  • Comprehensive thesis. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification compares well with similar qualifications that are offered in other parts of the world, including the University of Florida (Gainesville, USA), the University of Bayreuth in Bayreuth, Germany and Boston University in the USA. This is illustrated by the fact that regular exchanges of academic staff and students are taking place between these institutions. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
  • Qualifying candidates to have access to research studies at higher education institutions subject to individual requirements in cognate fields.
  • No formal qualification in the case of exit from the Degree mid-stream, but only a statement of course credits.
  • Can easily be transferable to local qualifications in English, Afrikaans Fine Arts and Music etc.
  • Transferable knowledge and skills to equivalent institutional elsewhere in the country or abroad. 
    		•

    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.