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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Science in Oral Medicine 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
101138  Master of Science in Oral Medicine 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
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
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:
The purpose of the Master of Science in Oral Medicine is to offer training in theories, concepts and research methods appropriate to the emerging field of Oral Medicine. This will contribute to the further development and strengthening of engaged scholarship on issues of great relevance to societies and in Africa in particular. In addition, the qualification will build capacity for effective societal responses to social change. The clinical component is designed to meet the needs of dentists from foreign countries who are also academics and have difficulty in obtaining postgraduate training in their own country.

Rationale:
The qualification will address the need for training of persons who endeavour to pursue a career in clinical practise and/or academic teaching within the field of Oral Medicine.
The clinical training on the qualification is discipline based and imparts the clinician with the added knowledge to limit clinical practise to this area of expertise. It also addressed the need for focused training in the clinical and academic arena for foreign learners whose countries of origin only offer undergraduate training within this field of interest.

The learners need to have the passion for teaching within this discipline, a passion for the clinical work covered within this discipline. The learning is focused and individualised and take the form of seminars, journal discussions and case based teaching, which is provided by the clinical exposure. All academic and clinical work is supervised by the subject specialist.

The mini thesis schools the learner in the basics of research methods and provides the tools to contribute to literature within the field. The research output of these learners is beneficial to the institution and the academic community in terms of the research generated. The additional clinical skills provide the public with a more suitably qualified clinician within the field of expertise. This additional honing of clinical skills equips the learner with a greater earning potential within both the private and public sectors. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning:
The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution in order to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum requirement is:
  • A Bachelor of Dental Surgery, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises of compulsory modules at Level 9 totalling at 270 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 270 Credits:
    First Year:
  • Oral Biology, 15 Credits.
  • Oral Pathology, 15 Credits.
  • Oral Medicine1A, 70 Credits.
  • Research Methods, 20 Credits.

    Second Year:
  • Oral Medicine 2B, 80 Credits.
  • Dentistry Mini-Thesis, 70 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Critically engage with the key scholarly debates, key theories in the field of Oral Medicine.
    2. Have an understanding of research methodologies in qualitative and quantitative research design, and the ability to select those appropriate for their own work.
    3. Identify, analyse, synthesise and undertake independent evaluation of topics relevant to the field.
    4. Present a well-structured and developed piece of research which is of publishable standards.
    5. Critically demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research.
    6. Ability to coherently and logically structure and organise his/her study.
    7. Analytically and conceptually apply research tools to the topic under investigation.
    8. Demonstrate the ability for critical review and analysis of literature in the field under investigation.
    9. Use the techniques offered as part of the clinical training in a professional context. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria applies for Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Assessing the ability to relate theory to practice and vice versa.
  • Assessing the critical understanding of the theory, research methodologies and techniques relevant to Oral Medicine.
  • Demonstrate the required knowledge and procedural skills as per the curriculum relevant to Oral Medicine.
  • Ability to present and communicate the results of the research to general and expert audience.

    Integrated assessment:
    Assessment is both formative and summative. The learner's clinical skills and competencies will be assessed on an on-going basis and corrective action introduced where progress is unsatisfactory. The satisfactory completion of a logbook links skills training and theoretical knowledge to application in clinical practice. A formal formative assessment will be undertaken at three-monthly intervals to gauge the candidate`s progress. Completion of the thesis requires application of knowledge to the student's own clinical training situation. Assessment of the thesis will be carried out where possible by international external examiners. The final exit examination will consist of a case-based oral assessment and the formal examination of the long essay. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Master's degree by coursework and dissertation are comparable to those Masters' Degrees through dissertation and coursework offered by international institutions such as Washington State and Tufts University in the USA which offer a two-year qualification aimed for experienced dental practitioners who wish to develop their skills in the provision of oral medicine. Other universities such as Bristol Harvard and the Toronto offer the Master's degree by research and Clinical work. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Science in Oral Medicine and Periodontology, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Dentistry, NQF 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. University of the Western Cape 


    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.