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 Laws 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
10701  Master of Laws 
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
Master's Degree  Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Level 8 and above  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 
The programme aims to enhance the basic knowledge and skills of entry-level lawyers in specialised areas, by providing an opportunity for law graduates to tailor their basic qualifications to a rapidly changing world work. The degree provides training in research methods to equip the candidate with the skills necessary either for employment in a variety of fields or for further independent research for the degree of Ph D in the same or a related subject area. It is not essential that the dissertation submitted by the candidate constitute a distinct contribution to knowledge on the subject, nor that the research project(s) undertaken necessarily be original. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Minimum entrance requirements: A Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB or BProc), having achieved a good average academic standard throughout. Practical experience as a lawyer my be relevant, and can in rare instances provide the sole basis for admission as a candidate for the degree

Senior Certificate with Matriculation Exemption or equivalent university admission qualification

First degree:
LLB or BProc 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
a). Critical cross-field outcomes (generic to all teaching and learning):

The Masters graduate is able to:

1. Demonstrate mastery to depth of a theoretically sophisticated subject matter.
2. Is equipped with proficiency in research methodology sufficient to proceed to a Ph.D. Graduates have mastered the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, collection and analysis of data and effective professional written and oral communication.

b). General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

The Masters graduate is able to:

1. Conduct independent research in the discipline.
2. Communicate verbally and orally with professional audiences.
3. Apply in-depth and specialised disciplinary knowledge and research skills to discipline-based problems.
4. Analyse and critique communications of an academic and popular nature.
5. Appreciate the ethical issues associated with research and knowledge production in the discipline.
6. Understand the processes whereby knowledge in Law is constructed.

c). Specific outcomes (including professional outcomes contextually demonstrated)

The Masters graduate will be:

1. Familiar with contemporary philosophical and theoretical issues in law.
2. Able to apply a range of advanced research methods to legal research problems.
3. Able to conduct advanced literature searches to inform reviews of specialised literature.
4. Able to prepare professional papers for review.
5. Able to write reports for a variety of clients and stakeholders.
6. Able to debate complex legal issues orally and in writing.
7. Able, depending on the particular field of focus in the courses selected, to develop specialised knowledge in a critical and comparative manner. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
a). The achievement of these outcomes is assessed through the integrated assessment of the programme

b). The achievement of these outcomes is assessed by means of a series of oral and written assessments throughout the programme

c). The outcomes are assessed as follows:

1. The completion of term papers and any written or oral examinations required in all competence areas listed.
2. The completion of a research dissertation that includes the components listed under the integrated assessment.


INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The integrated assessment consists of written papers in four approved courses or the equivalent, and completion of a research dissertation of 20 000 words under supervision on a subject approved by Senate which must be in a subject of legal interest related to one of the approved courses.
The rules provide for an oral or written examination on the subject matter of any approved course taken by a student.
External examiners are appointed for every paper written to examine any work submitted as part of coursework and to examine the required dissertation.
The required dissertation must demonstrate competence in the following areas, all of which are assessed in the examination of the dissertation:

1. Precise research problem formulation
2. Familiarity with and integration of the specialised literature that informs the research question
3. Appropriate design and execution of the research
4. Use of appropriate methods of analysis
5. Integration of findings
6. Ability to address the ethical problems that might attend the research
7. Appreciation of the methodological limitations of the study
8. Use of the publication and style conventions of the discipline.

The faculty Board considers the recommendations of the external examiner and decides whether to award the degree and whether to award it with distinction. 

ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
This qualification provides credits for the related qualification
Postgraduate Diploma in Law.

Other articulation possibilities, either generic or specific

Subject to the provisions of the Joint Statutes, these courses are likely to be recognised by another institution in part fulfilment towards a similar Master's degree. A course completed towards an LLM degree may be accepted as a credit towards the Postgraduate Diploma in Law in appropriate circumstances. 

MODERATION OPTIONS 
The University of Cape Town has a system of external peer review and evaluation of each course. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the Department 

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
The academic staff of the University of Cape Town will be used in a manner which is consistent with the quality assurance system of the University 

REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

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. University of Cape Town 


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.