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: 

Diploma in Landscape Architecture 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
100747  Diploma in Landscape Architecture 
ORIGINATOR
Cape Peninsula University of Technology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Diploma (Min 360)  Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Secondary Agriculture 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2033-06-30  

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
78645  National Diploma: Landscape Technology  Level 6  NQF Level 06  360  Complete 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, aligned with the CHE and NQF RPL policy, applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL may be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications and advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, module exemption or advanced standing.

RPL for access:
  • Applicants who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
  • To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio or other appropriate assessment methods that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

    RPL for exemption of modules:
  • An applicant may apply for RPL to be exempted for modules that form part of the qualification. For an applicant to be exempted from a module, the applicant needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio or via appropriate assessment methods that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the module's learning outcomes.

    Entry Requirements:
  • A National Senior Certificate (NSC), granting access to Diploma studies.
    Or
  • A Senior Certificate with endorsement.
    Or
  • National Certificate (Vocational) NC(V) at NQF Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 5 and 6, totalling 364 Credits.
  • Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 140 Credits.
  • Integrated Design Studio 1A, 20 Credits
  • Design Drawing 1, 6 Credits
  • Construction Drawing 1A, 6 Credits
  • Landscape Maths and Structures 1, 7 Credits
  • Computer Skills 1, 9 Credits
  • Botany 1, 8 Credits
  • Integrated Design Studio 1B, 24 Credits
  • Design Theory 1, 6 Credits
  • Site Analysis and Planning 1, 6 Credits
  • Construction Drawing 1B, 9 Credits
  • Construction 1, 6 Credits
  • Plant Material Studies 1, 7 Credits
  • Professional Practice 1, 6 Credits
  • Design Theory 2A, 6 Credits
  • Professional Practice 2A, 6 Credits
  • Mechanisation 3, 8 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 240 Credits.
  • Integrated Design Studio 2A, 20 Credits.
  • Construction Drawing 2A, 8 Credits.
  • Construction 2A, 6 Credits.
  • Plant Material Studies 2A, 7 Credits.
  • Growth Media Technology 2, 6 Credits.
  • Integrated Design Studio 2B, 20 Credits.
  • Design Theory 2B, 6 Credits.
  • Construction Drawing 2B, 8 Credits.
  • Construction 2B, 6 Credits.
  • Plant Material Studies 2B, 7 Credits.
  • Plant Protection 2, 7 Credits.
  • Professional Practice 2B, 6 Credits.
  • Integrated Design Studio 3, 24 Credits.
  • Design Theory 3, 6 Credits.
  • Construction Drawing 3, 10 Credits.
  • Construction 3, 6 Credits.
  • Turfgrass Culture 3, 8 Credits.
  • Professional Practice 3, 6 Credits.
  • Landscape Architecture Workplace-Based Learning 3, 53 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Communicate effectively through verbal, written/electronic and graphic means within the context of the built environment and a multi-discipline professional environment.
    2. Apply business skills and ethics within a landscaping enterprise.
    3. Apply ethical principles to design and construction processes in both the built environment and natural landscape.
    4. Apply design principles, technical skills, and construction knowledge to landscape projects.
    5. Identify, classify, and describe characteristics of plants so that recommendations can be made toward the placement and utilisation thereof in landscape design and construction.
    6. Maintain plant material to ensure optimum utilisation in the built environment.
    7. Assist in the preparation and submission of tender documents. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Apply appropriate landscape architectural graphic conventions and communication techniques effectively across various 2D and 3D media.
  • Prepare and present professional design proposals, including verbal and written reports, suitable for a multi-disciplinary built environment context.
  • Utilise digital design tools and software to demonstrate Technological Capability and Foresight in the production of accurate landscape presentations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Develop a comprehensive landscape office management plan that incorporates resourcing, marketing strategies, and human resource considerations.
  • Produce accurate financial statements, cash flow forecasts, and project qualifications tailored for a small-to-medium landscaping enterprise.
  • Integrate ethical business practices and legal requirements (such as labour law and contract types) relevant to the management of a professional landscape practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Illustrate a critical understanding of the landscape professional environment and strict adherence to the codes of professional conduct of SACLAP, SALI, and ILASA.
  • Apply relational capability by evaluating design and construction processes against the needs of diverse South African communities.
  • Implement environmental ethics to ensure all landscape interventions prioritise ecological well-being and public safety.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Apply standard landscape construction detailing to new but relevant contexts.
  • Evaluate a site and produce a set of landscape drawings (from conception through design to construction detailing) for a small to medium-scale residential or public project, demonstrating an application of combined subject knowledge.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Identify and select plant materials that respond effectively to specific ecological, aesthetic, and functional requirements within a landscape planting plan.
  • Classify plant species using correct botanical nomenclature and describe their specific growth habits and life cycles.
  • Evaluate plant characteristics including water requirements, soil preferences, and pest resistance to ensure optimal placement and long-term vitality in various landscape contexts.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Create a detailed planting maintenance plan that includes specific schedules for pruning, fertilising, and soil-health management.
  • Develop sustainable water-management and irrigation strategies that ensure the longevity of plant material.
  • Formulate integrated pest and disease control measures that align with environmental best practices.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Measure, calculate, and set up a comprehensive Bill of Quantities (BoQ) based on detailed landscape construction drawings.
  • Complete a professional costing for a landscape tender, ensuring accuracy in pricing and resource allocation.
  • Compile technical and material specifications required for landscape project implementation.

    Integrated Assessment
    Design-based subjects such as the Integrated Design Studio Project will largely be based on continuous assessment i.e. several tasks and projects will be assessed throughout the se-mester, which provide students with the opportunity to measure their progress in the course and to ensure that ELOs are developed and assessed in an integrated manner. This ensures that there is an even distribution of summative assessments throughout the semester. For each project learners are required to set up design critiques with lecturers to receive formative feedback on their design projects.

    Content-based and theory subjects have a relevant balance between formative and summa-tive assessments.

    Formative Assessment:
    Formative assessment will include class quizzes, worksheets, tutorials, 2-minute essays, blackboard tests, and clicker questions in order for students to monitor their progress and test their understanding of content.

    Summative Assessment:
    Summative assessment for all subjects includes 2 to 3 summative assessment tasks per semester, which will include a wide variety of tasks including presentations, research projects, group and individual tasks, tests, exams and practicals.

    Assessment is based on accumulated knowledge and indicates growth of knowledge and skills, with formative assessments and academic support built in. Assessment practices are valid and reliable as the procedures are effective in measuring whether a student attains the intended learning outcomes. A range of assessment tasks, formative and summative, are used to ensure that both knowledge and skills are validly assessed. Integrated assessments at third year, as well as final assessments in the main subjects and WPBL indicate whether the purpose of the programme has been achieved. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Diploma in Landscape Architecture at this institution is benchmarked against leading international vocational and technical qualifications. These institutions were selected because they mirror the South African University of Technology (UoT) model, which emphasises a "practice-oriented" approach and integrates horticultural science with design technology.

    The qualification at CPUT is at NQF6, a 3-year full-time study, and is comparable with the following international programmes, where the learning outcomes are broadly similar:
    1. Singapore Polytechnic (Singapore): Diploma in Landscape Architecture. This is a 3-year full-time qualification with a primary focus on Urban Design and Landscape Architecture. Stu-dents exit with a polytechnic-level qualification.
    2. Unitec Institute of Technology (New Zealand): New Zealand Diploma in Landscape De-sign (Level 6). This qualification is 2 years full-time and focuses on Landscape Design and Site Management.
    3. Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Canada): Diploma in Horticulture is also at the under-graduate level with a specialisation in Landscape Design and Horticulture.

    Analysis of Similarities (Exit Level Outcomes & Content)
    All four qualifications maintain a dual focus on creative design and technical plant knowledge. CPUT's focus on "identifying and classifying plants" is directly comparable to Kwantlen's Botany for Horticulture and Singapore Polytechnic's Plants and Landscape Technology.
  • Technological Proficiency:
    There is a global alignment in the requirement for digital graphic conventions. CPUT's CDG151S (Construction Drawing 1B) matches the Introductory Computer Applications and CAD modules found at Kwantlen and Unitec, respectively.

    Professional Readiness:
    Similar to CPUT's PSP150S, PSP250S, PSP260S (Professional Practice), Singapore Poly-technic emphasizes Oral Communication and professional practice to prepare students for multi-disciplinary environments.
    Analysis of Differences (Duration & Level of Specialisation)

    Duration and Depth:
    The CPUT Diploma is structured over 3 years, whereas the Canadian and New Zealand coun-terparts are typically 2-year qualifications. This extra year in the South African context allows for deeper integration of Work Integrated Learning (PBL360S).
  • Assessment Criteria Specificity: While international qualifications focus heavily on the "art" of design, the CPUT AACs are more rigorously tied to statutory professional requirements.
    Unlike the North American model (Kwantlen), which is heavily weighted toward temperate horticulture, the CPUT program emphasises resilience and water-wise principles suitable for the African context and its unique biodiversity challenges.

    Conclusion:
    The Diploma in Landscape Architecture demonstrates strong international comparability with similar qualifications offered by institutions in Singapore, New Zealand, and Canada. Across all benchmarked qualifications, there is a shared emphasis on integrating landscape design, horticultural knowledge, technical documentation, digital design technologies, and professional practice, ensuring graduates have the competencies required for entry-level professional practice in the landscape sector.

    While the international qualifications are generally completed over a shorter duration, the South African qualification provides a broader and more comprehensive learning experience through its three-year structure, substantial Workplace-Based Learning component, and alignment with the professional competency requirements of SACLAP. This approach strengthens graduate work-readiness and supports professional registration pathways within the South African built environment sector.

    Overall, the qualification is comparable in scope, level, and vocational orientation to leading international landscape architecture and landscape design diplomas. Its distinctive focus on sustainable landscape development, water-wise design, biodiversity conservation, professional ethics, and the African environmental context ensure international relevance and local responsiveness, producing graduates who can contribute effectively to the landscape architecture profession and the growing green economy. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for diagonal, vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Diploma in Sustainable Horticulture and Landscaping, NQF Level 6.
  • Currently, there are no possible horizontal articulation options between Sub-Frameworks for this qualification.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma in Landscape Architecture, NQF Level 7.

    Diagonal Articulation:
  • Higher Occupational Certificate: Landscape Designer, NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    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. Cape Peninsula University of Technology 


    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.