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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Medicine in Forensic Pathology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
102896  Master of Medicine in Forensic Pathology 
ORIGINATOR
University of Limpopo 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to produce qualified, appropriately trained professionals in Forensic Pathology for South Africa with the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable them to register as specialists with the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Rationale:
The Master in Medicine in Forensic Pathology is designed to increase the number of properly trained health care workers and to train and inspire a new generation of clinical researchers and university teachers. This qualification provides opportunities for future training and development of registrars in Forensic pathology in the medical schools in South Africa. It also aims to provide qualifying learners with the foundation for continued personal and intellectual growth, gainful economic activity, and for contributing to society at large through advanced patient care, innovation, scholarship, and leadership in the field of Forensic Pathology. The applied competence and skills derived from their training in Forensic pathology is sufficient to allow them to be accredited specialists with registration recognition with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). This qualification is structured according to the guidelines of the HPCSA and the College of Medicine of South Africa. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
For this qualification, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be predominantly used for returning learners with an incomplete Master's qualification and for learners who have an incomplete Master's qualification obtained at another institution. The RPL process involves matching the learner's current knowledge and skills to the learning outcomes of the qualification to determine whether a returning learner should be given credit for specific units of competency. RPL may also be used to grant access to the qualification to learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements.

Entry Requirements:
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at Level 9 totalling 720 Credits:
  • Forensic Anatomical Pathology, 140 Credits.
  • Mini-Dissertation (Forensic Pathology), 180 Credits.
  • Forensic Pathology, 400 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Perform medico-legal investigations into deaths using appropriate investigative techniques in order to assist and facilitate the administration of justice, statistical and related socio-economic functions.
    2. Advise and assist in the development of policies relevant to medico-legal investigation of death in South Africa.
    3. Interpret scientific literature relevant to own field and through reflection adapt new developments in the field of Forensic Pathology into his/her clinical practice.
    4. Conceptualise, plan and implement, and interpret research relevant to the practice of Forensic Pathology.
    5. Train junior colleagues in training and/or working within the field of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Pathology, including stakeholders within the criminal justice system.
    6. Demonstrate awareness of the importance of community outreach programmes within the field of Forensic Pathology. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Function and practice as a Forensic Pathology practitioner by using medico-legal investigative techniques of scene and post-mortem examination, autopsy, histology, post-mortem, and medico-legal report writing and court professional and expert testimonies in public and/or private medico-legal matters.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Conduct medico-legal investigations of death in all sorts situations and circumstances other than natural deaths that happen in South Africa using a variety of specialised medico-legal and pathology technical skills.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Make a significant and original contribution to knowledge and practice in their professional context and more generally to scholarship within a discipline or field of study

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Conduct research in an area of Forensic Pathology.
  • Present a cogent dissertation on research conducted.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Participate adequately in teaching seminars.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Participate adequately in teaching seminars
  • Participate in the maintenance of professional competence on a continuous basis.

    Integrated Assessment:
    In order to ensure that all Exit Level Outcomes are met, an integrated assessment approach is used throughout the qualification, which includes continuous assessment by specialist clinicians. and portfolios. Formative assessments are carried out throughout the duration of the modules in the form of written assignments on each topic class tests. Weekly presentations, portfolios, composition of log-book, WIL also forms part of formative assessment.

    Summative assessment take place in the presence of an external examiner in the form of written examinations, oral examinations, Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE), as well as an assessment of an Autopsy. Assessments ensure integration of all learning requirements to ensure that the learner exits with specialised knowledge in the field of Forensic Pathology.

    The research component forms an integral part of the qualification in that a problem within the research focus of the division is studied in more detail. Learners must produce a mini-dissertation and a publishable article for assessment by internal and external examiners. Master of Medicine learners first have to submit their dissertation before they may sit for the exit examination for specialists through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable to similar international qualifications.

    While qualifying learner with this qualification with specialist training in the branch of Forensic Pathology may be registered at the level of specialist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, learners may have to meet additional country specific requirements to work in many of the sub-Saharan countries in Africa, the Middle Eastern countries, Europe and other parts of the Commonwealth including Canada. Additional examinations have to be written in some countries even though the length of the training, outcomes and assessment standards are compatible.

    The Competency Framework for this qualification is derived from the CanMeds Standards. These standards have been adopted in Canada and the Netherlands.

    The University of Calgary, Canada offers Forensic Pathology as a sub-specialisation of Pathology, embedded in the anatomical pathology course. Qualifying learners with a primary medical Degree spend five years doing a pathology qualification, after which they can sub-specialise through two additional years in forensic pathology. The pathway to specialisation is thus different to the South African route.

    The University of Maastricht in the Netherlands offers a Master of Science in Medicine, which is only open to learners who have obtained their Bachelor's in Medicine at Maastricht University. The qualification familiarises learners with medical practice through clinical rotations in different fields of Medicine. Learners are gradually given more responsibility in dealing with patients. A research project is also included in the curriculum. Forensic Pathology is a newly established specialty.

    The University of Helsinki, Finland, offers a specialist degree in Medicine that can be taken by professionals licensed by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. Specialist Medical Training in the discipline of Forensic Medicine at the University of Helsinki in Finland requires at least 5 to 6 years of medical practice including 9 months of service in public health stations, passing theoretical and administrative courses and passing the national exam. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Medicine in Anatomical Pathology, Level 9.
  • Master of Medicine in Cardiovascular Pathology, Level 9.
  • Master of Medical Education, Level 9.

    Vertical articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine, Level 10.
  • Doctor of Medicine, Level 10. 
    		•

    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.