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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Advanced Diploma in Drama 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
101889  Advanced Diploma in Drama 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Diploma  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Performing Arts 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this qualification is to facilitate the progress of learners into postgraduate study through a deepening of their knowledge, research competencies and practical skills in the field.

Rationale:
The Advanced Diploma in Drama facilitates the onward development of learners exiting with an undergraduate Diploma in Theatre and Performance. Currently such learners cannot readily move on to advanced postgraduate qualifications and this limits their career choices and employability. The Advanced Diploma in Drama will make it possible for learners to proceed into postgraduate qualifications such as Honours NQF Level 8) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education. There is a need to create a learning pathway for Diploma learners in order to facilitate their development into postgraduate study.

Currently, while the Diploma and Bachelor of Arts (BA) stream learners study alongside each other for three years the BA learners go on to a fourth year while the diploma learner exit at the end of third year and their modules often overlap, the ratio of practical to academic courses in the BA stream overall is 6:4, and in the diploma stream overall it is 8:2. The diploma learners therefore require additional academic input if they are to move on to postgraduate study, hence the need for the Advanced Diploma in Drama.

The Diploma learners enter the university with a diploma endorsement from the National Senior Certificate (NSC). The department provides diploma learners with additional academic support in order to help them to succeed in their academic modules. However, the fact that diploma learners enter the university with only an NSC Diploma endorsement makes it impossible for those who adapt well and show great improvement and are succeeding at university with the option of moving to a BA and qualifying at NQF Level 7. This seems counter to the need for academic redress and therefore the Advanced Diploma is intended to facilitate such learners' onward mobility by providing them with an opportunity to achieve NQF Level 7 qualification.

Completion of the Advanced Diploma will also open up further opportunities for career development and will enable those who qualify to use their skills more flexibly in the job market particularly in priority areas such as education and social development. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
A learner who demonstrates in a portfolio of evidence that includes at least five years relevant experience post Matric will be eligible to apply on the basis of RPL. The portfolio of evidence must also include evidence of non formal learning. As the Advanced Diploma in Drama is orientated towards developing learners' academic competencies, the applicant would also need to complete a theoretical course at NQF 6 or an academic essay task at the discretion of the head of department.

Entry Requirements:
  • A Diploma in Theatre and Performance, Level 6. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.
  • Contemporary Performance, 30 Credits.
  • Introduction to Directing, 30 Credits.
  • T&P Studiowork 3C: Advanced Practice, 30 Credits.
  • Research Methods and Writing, 30 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate advanced content-knowledge in the theatre and performance studies.
  • Develop practical theatre arts and performance skills and capacities.
  • Produce solutions to both familiar and novel creative problems as they arise in the course of professional activity. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be assessed in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Develop skills in a specific professional area of choice and should be in line with the available resources in the department at the time.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly to others in a professional context.
  • Show an appreciation of the specific context in which particular professional activity occurs and an ability to adapt and apply competencies to match issues arising as a result of such contextual particularities.
  • Show an appreciation of the ethical behaviours and issues related to work in the theatre.
  • Demonstrate the ability to receive and give critical comment on work activities.
  • Demonstrate the ability to function in a professional context as an individual and as part of a team.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The field of Theatre and Performance requires a complex mix of assessment strategies that includes ongoing assessment of the process of practical skills acquisition over time (formative assessment); the assessment of practical application of skills in particular assignments at a specific point in time (summative assessment); assessment by means of writing tasks such as essays and written projects; oral presentations; as well as more formal written examinations. The following breakdown indicates the different assessment strategies in the different courses.

    Contemporary Performance and Introduction to Directing modules are existing courses in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Theatre and Performance programme and the Drama major of the general BA Degree. Assessment for these modules includes a combination of practical assignments (group or solo performance presentations based on a particular task in line with the content of the course), essay tasks, and written examinations on theory. For Contemporary Performance module: (i) Coursework counts for 50% of the final mark; (ii) a two-hour examination counts for 50%. A sub-minimum of 50% must be achieved in each of (i) and (ii). For Introduction to Directing module: (i) Coursework counts for 65% of the final mark. A portion of this work is submitted to the external examiner. (ii) A two-hour written examination counts for 35%. A sub-minimum of 50% must be achieved in the coursework and the examination.

    Research Methods and Writing will be assessed by means of oral presentation, short writing tasks and an extended research essay. Coursework will count 40% of the overall mark and the extended essay 60%.

    T and P Studiowork 3C: Advanced Practice will be assessed by means of small group practical assignments (for example a scene study or performed monologue) and participation in production projects (the role in such projects to be determined by the area of focus the learner has identified). (i) Coursework during the first three quarters, classwork and in-house performances count 50% of the final mark. (ii) Final practical examination counts 50% of the final mark. In order to pass, learners must obtain at least 50% in both (i) and (ii) above. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    To reiterate, exact equivalences between the proposed qualification and similar international qualifications are hard to identify (as many Diploma courses have been converted into Degree course recently, particularly in the UK Drama Schools, through the Bologna process). Most diplomas in Drama at international institutions are wholly practically orientated while the Advanced Diploma in Drama at UCT develops an articulation route to postgraduate study. It is similar to the purpose and outcomes of the Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts (Drama) offered by Flinders, which is a postgraduate qualification for the enhancement of students creative and practical skills but allows for articulation into a Master's. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers articulation opportunities with the following qualifications offered at the University of Cape Town.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Further Education and Training Teaching, Level 7.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Bachelor Honours Degree in Drama, Level 8.

    This qualification also offers vertical systemic articulation with qualifications offered at other institutions provided the learner meets the minimum admission requirements.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Bachelor Honours Degree in Drama, Level 8. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.