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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
100930  Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering 
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
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

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
72803  Master of Engineering  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  136  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The qualification is aimed at producing competent, ethical and professional practitioners who will meet the needs of South Africa for competent engineers, 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 (PhD) 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 North West University (NWU). The North-West University accepts the principle underlying outcomes-oriented, source-based and lifelong learning in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a meaningful role.

The University also underwrites the view that recognition of previous learning, obtained either by formal teaching qualifications 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 qualification of the University. In recognising previous learning, it deals with provable knowledge and learning that the applicant obtained by following formal teaching qualifications 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 University), 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:
The minimum requirement for admission to the Master's Degree is:
  • A Bachelor's Degree in Engineering. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 180 Credits:
  • Dissertation, 180 Credits.

    Elective Modules, Level 9:
  • Research Methodology, 8 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate the ability to 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.
    2. Design and implementation of a strategy for processing and managing information (a comprehensive, critical and relevant literature survey.
    3. Design and selection of the necessary research procedures and experimental facilities and/or numerical models applicable to a complex research problem.
    4. Execution of either an empirical or numerical investigation in order to address the research problem.
    5. Academic and professional discourses to communicate and defend personal and substantial ideas.
    6. Assessment of the results by means of verification and validation of obtained results.
    7. Conclusions, generalisations and recommendations; and finally.
    8. Development of 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. A supervisor may not fulfil the function of examiner. External examiners are appointed through the postgraduate faculty board. 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 South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) level descriptors for Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) Level 9 were used to design the qualification standard. The faculty 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 allows vertical and horizontal articulation:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Mechanical Engineering will empower to continue with learning and research on Level 9 in other cognate fields.

    Vertically Articulation:
  • A Doctoral qualification in Master of Mechanical Engineering at Level 10. 
    		•

    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. North West University 


    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.