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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Laws 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
110938  Doctor of Laws 
ORIGINATOR
North West University 
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
19207  Doctor of Laws  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The learner will be competent to:
  • Engage in advanced research in a specialised area of law or social and economic legal policy.
  • Apply highly specialised research skills in the public or private legal employment sectors.
  • Give leadership and direction in research projects, including supervising academic research, and in the social and economic policy analysis of law. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Formal Prior Learning:
    Master of Laws (LLM) Degree, or a qualification equivalent for this purpose.

    Informal and Non-Formal Prior Learning:
    A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree and relevant experiential learning acquired by working in a legal environment. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit Level Outcomes:
    1. State a research thesis in an area of law or socio-economic legal policy and address this though recognised research practice at an advanced level.
    2. Demonstrate advanced ability in collecting and evaluating information in the area of law or socio-economic legal policy.
    3. Demonstrate advanced research skills and independent competence in pursuing research.
    4. Demonstrate a creative approach to solutions of complex legal issues and social policy matters in the area of the law or law and social policy.
    5. Bring to a conclusion the process of research design, information retrieval and evaluation through the production of a thesis.
    6. Make a substantial contribution to the advancement of knowledge in law, legal philosophy or socio-economic legal policy.

    Specific Outcomes:
    1.1. Prepare a research proposal.
    1.2. Identify an area of the law or socio-economic legal policy worthy of investigation.
    1.3. Demonstrate a high level of familiarity with the current state of research in the field of law or law and social policy.
    2.1. Collect information, showing familiarity with the possible sources of information.
    2.2. Evaluate the relevance of the information in relation to the topic of research.
    3.1. Prosecute research in a systematic way without extensive supervision.
    3.2. Make accurate judgments as to the direction of the research process.
    4.1. Utilise legal dogmatics and theories of law and society to elucidate the topic of the research.
    4.2. Propose appropriate, rational and logical solutions to the research problem.
    5.1. Write a logically organised thesis presenting the findings of the process of research.
    5.2. The thesis respects the rules of grammar, syntax and spelling of the language in which it is written.
    6.1. The thesis demonstrates new insights into the subject or a fresh arrangement of existing knowledge.
    6.2. The contribution to legal knowledge is substantial. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • The research proposal is logical and rational.
  • The research proposal represents a feasible and coherent project.
  • The proposal represents a problem area in the law or in socio-economic legal policy. which is worthy of investigation.
  • The proposal will address an existing or anticipated problem in society which could-be addressed by law.
  • The learner demonstrates knowledge of the current state of knowledge in the field.
  • The learner is able to articulate the areas of the field of research which are worthy of further investigation.
  • The learner collects information using appropriate research tools.
  • The learner understands the importance of the hierarchy of legal sources.
  • The learner is able to select information relevant to the topic of inquiry.
  • The learner is able to evaluate the importance of the information collected relative to the tonic of inquiry.
  • The learner makes progress without close supervision.
  • The learner works in a systematic and methodical way.
  • The Learner makes appropriate and justifiable decisions concerning the direction of the process of research.
  • The learner utilises appropriate theoretical approaches.
  • The theories adopted are properly integrated with the corpus of knowledge under investigation.
  • The solutions suggested are fully justified by the research findings.
  • The research conclusions are rational and logical.
  • The thesis is logical.
  • The arrangement is rational.
  • The conclusions are justified.
  • There are minimal spelling errors in the thesis.
  • The grammar, style and syntax are correct and ammoniate.
  • New insights are demonstrated.
  • The arrangement of the knowledge is novel and original.
  • The learner makes a substantial contribution to legal knowledge.

    Integrated Assessment:
  • Continuous Assessment will take place through the evaluation of the research proposal, and through regular review of the research process by the learner and the supervisor.
  • Summative Assessment will consist of the production of a thesis and such oral or written examinations and practicals as are prescribed by the Senate.
  • Formative and Summative Assessment are closely integrated by means of a periodic review of the research process in meetings between the supervisor and the learner. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    The qualification will give and receive recognition for equivalent qualifications at other universities, enabling horizontal articulation.

    Vertical articulation:
    The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Laws (LLD) Degrees do not articulate vertically as they are terminal degrees. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The thesis will be externally assessed. The programme and qualification will be reviewed periodically by a panel of external assessors appointed by the Senate of the University. This review will include teaching and learning methodologies; assessment practice and programme and qualification fitness for purpose. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    University of North-West staff will be utilised as assessors in accordance with the quality assurance and promotion system of the University. 

    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.