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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Laws 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
109045  Doctor of Laws 
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
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  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 replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
6025  Doctor of Laws  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  240  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The purpose of the Doctor of Laws is to empower students with the necessary skills that will enable them to identify, conceptualise, design and implement research projects that address complex and challenging problems within the various fields of Laws. Furthermore, the Doctorate will enable students to either develop or propose solutions through models or theoretical amendments to current Law related problems that would improve economic and social wellbeing. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
This qualification recognises:
Formal prior learning: Students are expected to hold a Postgraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree (i.e. an LLB Degree completed in accordance with the curriculum prescribed before 1998), or to hold a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree.

Non-formal and informal prior experiential learning:
A Doctoral Degree which comprises a thesis only cannot be awarded in part through RPL. Faculties and Senate will debate and decide on the issuing of a Doctorate through RPL.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement is:
  • Master of Laws Degree. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

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

    Compulsory Module: 24 Credits:
  • Doctoral Research Proposal in Law, 24 Credits.

    Elective Modules:
  • Doctor of Law (LLD)-Mercantile Law, 336 Credits.
  • LLD-Private Law, 336 Credits.
  • LLD-Jurisprudence, 336 Credits.
  • LLD-Criminal and Procedural Law, 336 Credits.
  • LLD-Public, Constitutional and International Law, 336 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate expertise and critical knowledge in an area related to own discipline. Contribute to scholarly debates around theories of knowledge within the field of Laws.
    2. Develop new methods, techniques, processes, system or technologies that address a particular research area in the disciple on Laws.
    3. Apply specialist knowledge and theory in critically reflective, creative and novel ways to address complex practical and theoretical problems.
    4. Identify, address and manage emerging ethical issues and to advance processes of ethical decision-making, including monitoring and evaluation of the consequences of these decisions where appropriate.
    5. Produce substantial, independent, in-depth and publishable work which meets international standards.
    6. Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical underpinnings in the management of complex systems.
    7. Demonstrate intellectual independence, research leadership and management of research and research development in the field of specialisation.
    8. Operate independently and take full responsibility for his or her work and, where appropriate, to lead, oversee and be held ultimately accountable for the overall.
    9. Governance of processes and systems. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Identify a research problem.
  • Compose relevant literature resulting from a systematic and purposeful literature search and review.
  • Set realistic aims and objectives for the study.
  • Identify a necessary research methodology with which to address the stated aims and objectives.
  • Use a wide range of specialised skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing and implementing research projects that address complex and challenging problems within the field of Laws.
  • Undertake a comprehensive literature review of leading and current research.
  • Produce a thesis that meets the standards of scholarly writing.
  • Debate and defend chosen theories of knowledge within the area of specialisation.
  • Develop and propose new methods or processes to address complex matters as the thesis aims to bring new thinking and applicable solutions to original contexts of research.
  • Engage in problem-solving contexts where reflective and creative ways will be explored to address the particular research problem.
  • Identify emerging ethical issues related to the study and make appropriate decisions that would address the issues in an ethical manner.
  • Access, process and manage information to such an extent that the final document is either a research proposal of acceptable quality or an examinable thesis.
  • Produce, defend and communicate information regarding the research.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The Doctor of Laws is a Postgraduate programme that does not have Formative and Summative Assessments. This qualification will be achieved through a research proposal and credible research project(s) or cases studies which will contribute to the Body of Knowledge for Law. Qualified supervisors and co-supervisors will guide their students and prepare them for regular seminar and colloquia presentations to peers and fellow students during their tenures and also prepare them for the examination of their Theses. Students must submit a bound research report with published or publishable scientific articles for examination. A completed research proposal serves as the Summative Assessment for the research proposal module while the completed thesis is the final assessment of the qualification. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    International comparators:
    University of South Africa (Unisa) is part of an internationally recognised accreditation system whereby university qualifications are valuated against international comparators and accredited accordingly; for example, Unisa's qualifications are accredited in the International Handbook of Universities and the Commonwealth Universities' Handbook. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for vertical articulation:
  • Postdoctoral Degree. 
    		•

    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.
     
    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.