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:

Master of Science in Engineering Sciences

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
100888	Master of Science in Engineering Sciences
ORIGINATOR
North West University
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 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Engineering and Related Design
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	180	Not Applicable	NQF Level 09	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
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

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

This qualification includes the various specialisations. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

Purpose:
The qualification is aimed at producing competent, ethical and professional practitioners who will meet the needs of South Africa for competent scientists, able to identify, plan, execute and evaluate the solving of engineering problems, as well as providing them with specialist knowledge in a chosen field and advanced competence in research methodology. This qualification will empower students to study further towards a Doctor of Philosophy Degree.

Rationale:
The rationale of the qualification is to provide students with advanced knowledge and research skills enabling continued personal intellectual growth (towards doctoral studies), valuable economic activity and research contributions to the engineering industry in South Africa and internationally.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access purposes will require the candidate to comply with the admission requirements of the institution. The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-oriented, source-based and lifelong learning in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a meaningful role. The institution also underwrites the view that recognition of previous learning, obtained either by formal teaching programmes at this or another institution, or informally (obtained by experience), is an indispensable element in granting admission or credits with the aim of placing in a specifically chosen teaching-learning programme of the institution.

In recognising previous learning, the institution deals with provable knowledge and learning that the applicant obtained by following formal teaching programmes or by experience. At all times the question will be what level of competence was reached, judged in the context of the exit level skills required for this qualification or status for which the applicant is applying and not merely about the experience the applicant can prove. Recognition of previous learning takes place in terms of the relevant skills that the applicant demonstrated in the application with reference to the exit outcomes that should be reached in the chosen qualification. Students holding a foreign qualification (that is to say not obtained at a South African institution), are required to have the qualification evaluated by SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) and a certificate regarding the evaluation must be submitted with the application form.

Entry Requirements:

Bachelor of Science Honours Degree.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification comprises of elective modules at Level 9, totalling 180 Credits.

Dissertation, 180 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate advanced scholarship in the ability to do research and communicate the findings in an academically acceptable manner.
2. Evaluate current knowledge at the forefront of research in the field, identify a research problem, choose a fit process of enquiry and formulate clear objectives for the study.
3. Design and implement a strategy for processing and managing information (a comprehensive, critical and relevant literature survey).
4. Design and select the necessary research procedures and experimental facilities and/or numerical models applicable to a complex research problem.
5. Execute either an empirical or numerical investigation in order to address the research problem.
6. Communicate academic and professional discourses and defend personal and substantial ideas.
7. Assess results by means of verification and validation of obtained results.
8. Demonstrate conclusions, generalisations and recommendations.
9. Develop own learning strategies for independent learning and professional development.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Integrated Assessment:
Examination is in the form of a dissertation, which the supervisor continuously assesses while the dissertation is being written. Examination of the final dissertation is done by at least two examiners, depending on the number of (co-/assistant) supervisors, of which one must be external (from another research institution or from industry), all experts in the field of the dissertation. The examiners' reports are reviewed by the faculty examination committee who make the final decision concerning the awarding of the Degree, based on recommendations from the examiners' reports.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The institution maintains close relationships with national and international higher education institutions, and staff members regularly participate in scientific exchanges, conferences and partnerships. Many external examiners are from international institutions.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification enables the following articulation opportunities:

Vertical Articulation:

A Doctoral Degree in the specialisation in which the qualification has been awarded.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

This qualification includes the following specialisations:

Master of Science in Engineering Sciences in Chemical Engineering (registration end date is 31 December 2018)

Master of Science with internal programme Engineering Sciences in Computer and Electronic Engineering (registration end date is 31 December 2018)

Master of Science with internal programme Engineering Sciences in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (registration end date is 31 December 2018)

Master of Science with internal programme Engineering Sciences in Nuclear Engineering (registration end date is 31 December 2018)

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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.	North West University