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 Social Work 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
111473  Master of Social Work 
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  Rehabilitative Health/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 equip Social Workers with specialities that will enhance their work in society. To ensure a cadre of professionals that have the capacity for critical enquiry towards the betterment of our society.

Rationale:
This qualification is designed to provide South Africa and the surrounding communities with an adequate number of competent, professional Social Workers that will assist South Africans with the high demands of an ever-changing society. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning is implemented through the institution's policy.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum requirement for admission into this qualification is:
  • Bachelor Honour's Degree in Social Work, Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory Module at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules Level 9:
  • Dissertation (Social Work) (MASW090), 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Master a theoretically sophisticated subject matter.
  • Master the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, collection and analysis of information and effective professional written and oral communication.
  • Conduct independent research within a specialisation field of Social Work.
  • Apply in-depth and specialised disciplinary knowledge and research skills to discipline-based problems.
  • Apply a range of advanced research methods to research problems.
  • Analyse and critique communications of an academic and popular nature.
  • Appreciate the ethical issues associated with research and knowledge production.
  • Prepare professional papers for review.
  • Understand the processes whereby knowledge in the Social Sciences is constructed. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria are assessed in an integrated manner across all the Exit level Outcomes:
  • Be familiar with contemporary philosophical and theoretical issues in a specialised field of Social Work.
  • Develop specialised knowledge in a critical and comparative manner, depending on the particular field of focus in the courses selected.
  • Debate complex issues orally and in writing.
  • Conduct advanced literature searches to inform reviews of specialised literature.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessment takes place across all learning outcomes. Integrated in the form of all research dissertation. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification, presented by the institution is comparable to similar international qualifications. The qualification is accredited with the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council for Higher Education in South Africa. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for vertical articulation.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Social Work, NQF 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.