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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Business Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
97397  Master of Business Administration 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  186  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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
4909  Master of Business Administration  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 08  300  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
This qualification is designed to provide learners with the knowledge and skills to business management challenges and to provide possible opportunities as required to enhance economic growth in the country. On the completion of this qualification, learners will be able to:
  • Execute all the managerial functions and leadership roles in an integrated way and according to prevailing codes of conduct within any organisation.
  • Understand global business issues, and the potential contribution that business can make to solve these issues.
  • Apply previous and newly acquired knowledge and experience to complex business issues in a range of contexts.

    Rationale:
    The Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification is designed to provide advanced knowledge and skills that will enhance the skills of general business managers and to contribute to the growth of entrepreneurs. The success of the South African economy requires that this country produce a supply of general managers and entrepreneurs. This qualification covers the main disciplines of management through its modules which include a research module. The research module introduces learners to the broad range of business management. This qualification is suitable for learners who currently serve at middle management and senior management levels that need to enhance their effectiveness and career development as managers. This qualification is designed in consultation with over 60 industry stakeholder groups in business, government and civil society to ensure that it is properly aligned to the market needs as far as possible. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is applied for learners who do not hold a relevant Bachelors Honours Degree or equivalent NQF Level 8 qualifications. The applicants of this type have to be at least 35 years old. Applicants are assessed for their business experience and other factors including age, academic history, length of time in a management position and overall impression as to their potential to successfully complete the Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification. It is further required that all applicants for RPL are approved by the University's senate before they are granted full acceptance status into the MBA. Given the historical legacy of this country, it is necessary to acknowledge prior learning as a valid entry criterion into the MBA qualification.

    Entry Requirements:
  • A four-year cognate Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 8;
    Or
  • A Postgraduate Diploma (Business Administration) at NQF Level 8,
    Or
  • An applicable Honours degree;
    Or
  • Learners must have work experience or 3 years' business-related or management experience. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 9, totalling 186 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, 126 Credits:
  • Business Analysis and Research Methodology, 9 Credits.
  • Applied Decision Making, 9 Credits.
  • Leadership and Corporate Accountability, 9 Credits.
  • Corporate Strategy, 9 credits.
  • Environment of Business, 9 Credits.
  • Dynamics of Competitiveness, 9 Credits.
  • Innovation and Design, 6 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship, 6 Credits.
  • Integrated Research Project, 60 Credits.

    Elective Modules, 60 Credits (choose five):
  • Building personal effectiveness, 12 Credits.
  • Business in context, 12 Credits.
  • Managing demand and supply, 12 Credits.
  • Finance, 12 Credits.
  • Innovation, entrepreneurship and technology, 12 Credits.
  • Leadership and culture, 12 Credits.
  • Managing stakeholders, 12 Credits.
  • Strategy, 12 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Execute all the managerial functions and leadership roles in an integrated way and in accordance with the prevailing codes of conduct within any organisation.
    2. Use,research to understand business issues and recommend potential solutions that may be applied to solve these issues.
    3. Apply previous and newly acquired knowledge and experience to complex business issues in a range of contexts. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Decision making is applied to solve real complex problems and a corporate strategy is developed for a business entity.
  • Management is compared with leadership and the relationship with each other is analysed.
  • Transactional leadership with transformational leadership are compared and contrasted.
  • The idea of strategy at corporate and business unit levels is understood.
  • Application of various analytical frameworks used in arriving at the choices (decisions) involved in defining enterprise and business strategy are appreciated.
  • The dynamic nature of the relationship between corporate, business unit and functional priorities is understood.
  • Analytical processes in strategy formulation in real situations are applied.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • A research project as required is designed and executed.
  • Research findings are analysed and reported, valid conclusions are drawn and appropriate recommendations are made.
  • Critical thinking with logic coherently meeting the standards is encouraged.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Entrepreneurial opportunities within the dynamic market framework are contextualised.
  • Critical tasks, risks and challenges in seizing an opportunity and building a business are described.
  • Alternative sources of funding are listed and the advantages and disadvantages of alternative sources of funds are described.
  • A feasible business model and the understanding of the entrepreneurial process is comprehended and designed in order to identify, define and seize the opportunity.
  • Contents of a useful and usable business plan are described and the benefits of preparing a business plan are explained.
  • A business idea and a business model are explained to a potential investor or to relevant entrepreneurship stakeholders.
  • Innovative ideas to market a new venture or a business project on a small budget are generated in order to make the first round of sales.
  • Challenges in growing an entrepreneurial venture or new business project are described and strategies that can be implemented to alleviate such challenges are explained.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The different modes of delivery of the qualification have appropriate policies and procedures for internal assessment; internal and external moderation; monitoring of learners progress; explicitness, validity and reliability of assessment practices; recording of assessment results; settling of disputes; the rigour and security of the assessment system; RPL; and for the development of staff competence in assessment.

    Compulsory modules for the MBA require at least three assessments (typically an individual assignment, group assignment and examination) in line with prescribed weightings. All examinations and most assignments are assessed by the instructor leading the module In keeping with the assessment policy, and to ensure that the process results in fair and valid assessment, the entire assessment process is subject to a layered checking and rechecking process that ensures the integrity of the overall assessment and its place in the qualification as a whole.

    In line with the University requirements, external examiners are appointed for all qualifications and they are required to approve all examinations and to ensure that assessments by internal examiners are both reliable and valid. In the case of the research report a third examiner is appointed in a case where there is a discrepancy greater than 8% between the external and the internal examiners.

    Any changes recommended by external examiners are noted by the Committee which reviews all marks and examination reports from both internal and external examiners before approving final marks. All module marks are evaluated in a final marks meeting every year which is chaired by the Dean. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Oxford University:
    The Oxford University in the United Kingdom offers a Master of Business Administration. This qualification is designed to equip learners with managerial and leadership business management skills that will enable them to meet challenges experienced in the unprecedentedly complex, connect and fragile business world. This qualification comprises of stimulating lectures, energetic seminars and small groups.

    Deakin University:
    Deakin University in Australia offers Master of Business Administration. This qualification aims at providing relevant skills, contemporary knowledge and experience, while developing the business leaders of tomorrow together with coherent themes of teamwork, sustainability, globalisation and social and regulatory responsibility. The focus is on profit with principles, to enable learners to understand the importance of ethical behaviour and sustainable decision-making. The qualification is informed by research, scholarship and industry engagement.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification compares favourably with both international qualifications identified. All qualifications focus on providing learners with managerial and leadership ethical business skills. All qualifications are concluded with research as one of the core modules required by learners in order to complete the qualification. Learners are also encouraged to think creatively and critically, and be able to solve problems in groups and on their own. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification enables possibilities of both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Business Leadership, at NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Business Administration, at NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Business Administration in Business Management, at NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    This Qualification replaces Qualification 4909, "Master of Business Administration", Level 8, 300 credits. 

    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 Pretoria 


    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.