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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Pharmacy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
109014  Doctor of Pharmacy 
ORIGINATOR
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences 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
Doctoral Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 10  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2019-02-13  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 the qualification is to prepare pharmacist to practice as specialist pharmacists and to function at an expert level within the multi-disciplinary team in health care. The professional Doctorate provides education and training for a career in the professions and/or industry and is designed around the development of high level performance and innovation in a professional context. Candidates are required to undertake a combination of coursework and advanced research leading to the submission, assessment and acceptance of a research component comprising an original thesis or another form or research that is commensurate with the nature of the discipline or field and the specific area of enquiry. The research component should comprise at least 60% of the Degree. Professional doctorates may also include appropriate forms of work-integrated learning. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that in addition to the demonstration of high level research capability it requires the ability to integrate theory with practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of professional contexts.

The purpose is to train advanced level pharmacists at a professional Doctoral Degree Level Doctor of Pharmacy (DPharm). "Advanced Practice is practice that is so significantly different from that achieved at initial registration that it warrants recognition by professional peers and the public of the expertise of the practitioner and the education, training and experience from which that capability was derived."

Rationale:
This qualification is for those learners who wish to practice in a specialised field of pharmacy. The research and course work will prepare the student for specialisation in his/her chosen field of expertise. In addition, the profession has been transformed from one that mainly supplies products, to one that, in co-operation with other health care providers, also provides other health care services. It is therefore critically important to health care in this country to produce specialist pharmacists who are able to satisfy the need for integrated pharmaceutical care and services. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be considered for entrance into the programme, as per the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) General Rules (G 37.2.3) Admission to Doctoral Study.

If a candidate does not have a Master's Degree, he/she may be admitted to the Doctoral study provided that Senate through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is satisfied that such a candidate has reached the standard of a Master's Degree.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum requirements for admission into the Doctor Degree:
  • An appropriate Master's Degree in the fields of specialisation, Level 9. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.

    Elective Modules Level 10, 144 Credits (Choose one):
  • Advanced Practice in Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 144 Credits.
  • Advanced Practice in Clinical Pharmacy, 144 Credits.
  • Advanced Practice in Industrial Pharmacy, 144 Credits.
  • Advanced Practice in Public Health Pharmacy and Management, 144 Credits.
  • Advanced Practice in Radiopharmacy, 144 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules Level 10, 216 Credits:
  • Pharmacy thesis, 216 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Research Component: (Compulsory):
    To demonstrate a high level of research capability. To apply the principles of the research process, interpret data and write a research report or technical project or a series of smaller projects demonstrating innovation or professional expertise.

    Elective Component: (One subject compulsory):
    Elective Advanced Practice in Clinical Pharmacokinetics:
    To demonstrate the ability to integrate theory with practice through the application of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of clinical conditions. To demonstrate the ability to apply therapeutic medicine monitoring to a wide range of medicines.

    Elective Advanced Practice in Clinical Pharmacy:
    To demonstrate the ability to integrate theory with practice through the application of clinical pharmacy knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of clinical conditions. To demonstrate the ability to apply pharmaceutical care and monitor medicine use to a wide range of clinical conditions.

    Elective Advanced Practice Industrial Pharmacy:
    To demonstrate the ability to integrate theory with industrial pharmacy practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of professional contexts.

    Elective Advanced Practice in Public Health and Management Pharmacy:
    To demonstrate the ability to integrate theory with industrial pharmacy practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of professional contexts.

    Elective Advanced Practice in Radiopharmacy:
    To demonstrate the ability to integrate theory with practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of professional contexts. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Research Component:
    The candidate must be able demonstrate the ability to perform advanced research leading to the submission, assessment and acceptance of a research component comprising a mini-thesis or another form or research that is commensurate with the nature of the discipline or field and the specific area of enquiry.

    Elective Component:
    Elective Advanced Practice in Clinical Pharmacokinetics:
    The candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to integrate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics theory with practice in recommending dosing strategies in a wide range of clinical conditions.

    Elective Advanced Practice in Clinical Pharmacy:
    The candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to integrate theory with practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of clinical pharmacy applications.

    Elective Advanced Practice Industrial Pharmacy:
    The candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to integrate theory with industrial pharmacy practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of professional contexts.

    Elective Advanced Practice in Public Health Pharmacy and Management:
    The candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to integrate theory with practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of professional contexts.

    Elective Advanced Practice in Radiopharmacy:
    The candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to integrate radiopharmacy theory with practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of radiopharmacy applications.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The qualification will be assessed using formative and summative assessment methods. The research component should comprise at least 60% of the Degree. The Doctor of Pharmacy (DPharm) will include appropriate forms of work-integrated learning. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that in addition to the demonstration of high level research capability it requires the ability to integrate theory with practice through the application of theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems in a wide range of professional contexts. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Similar Doctor of Pharmacy (DPharm) Degrees are offered at several universities in the United Kingdom (e.g. Aston University, Keele University, University of Bradford, University of Birmingham, University of Brighton) and Australia (e.g. James Cook University, University of Queensland, University of South Australia).

    Universities in the United States of America (USA) also offer Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Degrees but the structure of those Degrees is different from the proposed one as they do not require a Master's Degree as entry criterion. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • A Doctoral Degree, 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.
     
    1. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences 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.