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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Philosophy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
12157  Master of Philosophy 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
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 07 - Human and Social Studies  General Social Science 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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 
This qualification includes the various specialisations in Philosophy. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The overall purpose of this qualification is to provide persons, who have already obtained a Post-national first degree (Honours Bachelor degree) or equivalent tertiary qualification, but did not receive any previous tertiary training in the Faculty of Humanities, with the opportunity to gain access to postgraduate training in this Faculty.
Specific purposes of this qualification include:
1. To provide learners with integrated knowledge, skills and interdisciplinary application on postgraduate level.
2. New knowledge to be developed through career oriented core modules and reinforced through a problem-solving approach and results-oriented teamwork. Partnerships with business and industry are built through practical work and external quality assurance.
3. To contribute towards facilitating social and economic transformation and co-operation by equipping learners with a variety of knowledge, skills and attitudes. This includes linguistic, interactive, technological, ethical, managerial, and practical skills to function effectively in the interface between Social Sciences, Languages and the Arts without prior training in the Faculty of Humanities.
4. To deepen knowledge in various disciplines and serves as an extension of a number of undergraduate modules.
5. To provide easy access and user-friendly modules in a variety of disciplines contributing towards better understanding between members of different groups, decreases different kinds of risks (technical communication), minimises possible litigation actions, and facilitates optimal use of time and resources. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Matriculation certificate
First degree: Any Post-national first degree (Honours Bachelors degree) or equivalent qualification 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
M Phil

Learning outcomes:
Knowledge of the discipline:
The M Phil graduates will acquire sound knowledge of the principles, major theories, paradigms and methods in a major discipline, and an awareness of the variety of contexts in which these may apply.

Processes:
The M Phil graduate has gained highly specialised scholastic or technical skills, developed advanced research expertise, and can apply the full range of advanced procedures across a major discipline within complex, variable and highly specialised contexts.

Information processing:
The M Phil graduate can analyse, transform, and evaluate a wide range of abstract data directed towards creative and appropriate problem-solving in response to contextual abstract problems.

Responsibility:
The M Phil graduate can take responsibility for the planning, resourcing, and managing processes within the broad parameters and functions, accepting complete accountability for determining, achieving, and evaluating personal and/or group output.

Information technology:
Graduates are competent to use computers and information infrastructures for accessing, processing, storing and managing information, with the view to conduct research, write reports and referrals, and manage a information effectively.

Life-long learning:
M Phil graduates have developed scholastic expertise for entry to doctoral and further research education, and research-based occupations which will advance his/her professional practice and/or senior managerial expertise.

Critical cross-field outcomes:
The graduate is able to:
  • identify and solve problems by making use of critical and creative thinking;
  • work effectively with others in teams (teams of document designers as well as multidisciplinary project teams);
  • collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information;
  • communicate effectively using technological, visual, mathematical and language skills;
  • use science and technology effectively and critically;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation;
  • develop fully as an individual, and as a member of society at large, by:
    - participating as a responsible citizen in the life of the local, national and global community;
    - being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts;
    - utilising entrepreneurial opportunities. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    To meet the requirements of a M Phil degree the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of the learner will, on a continuous basis, be assessed. The learner will be subjected to portfolio assessment, work-place assessment, assessment of research reports, and written examinations, to:
  • Determine whether a specialised knowledge of the major discipline has been acquired;
  • Assess the learner's sensitivity and adaptability to context, medium and style;
    Assess the learner's competence in applying the acquired knowledge and skills appropriately to a variety of contexts.

    Integrated assessment:
    Simulations
    Written examinations
    Oral examinations
    Other:
    A mini-dissertation or research essay is written on a topic related to the student's specific field of specialisation.
    The modalities for integrated assessment permit the candidate to demonstrate applied competence. Mainly formative methods set according to specific guidelines and methods related to credentialing the critical exit-level and cross-field outcomes appropriate to contextual and situational achievements are recognised.
    In addition to the above, modalities such as group discussions, and presentations in front of peers and experts may also be used. Final assessment by expert external assessors, both academic and non-academic, will be done. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Related qualifications:
    Masters' degree

    Masters' degree serves as an entry point to the related qualification

    Other articulation possibilities, either generic or specific arrangements:
    The programme leading to a M Phil is a terminal qualification and does not give direct entrance to a Ph D or D Phil. For this purpose the learner will have to first obtain a Master's degree in a related field. The M Phil qualifies the candidate for further training on postgraduate level offered by the Schools in the Faculty of Humanities, as well as related postgraduate programmes in the Faculty of Economics and Business Management (e.g. M BA) and the Faculty of Natural, Agricultural and Information Sciences. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Measures to ensure that assessment is fair, reliable and valid are in place according to a set of guidelines for internal second examiners as well as external assessors, assessment panels and/or other experts. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    Assessors for the programme leading to a Magister Philosophiae (M Phil) have to comply with the requirements set by the University for persons qualified to train learners in the field of Higher Education and Training. In general all assessors have acquired qualifications at least one degree higher than that for which the candidates are enrolled, namely Honours, Masters and Doctorate level.
    (All persons currently employed in the above departments comply with the set criteria.)

    Career experience required:
    Tertiary teaching experience 

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

    NOTES 
    This qualification includes the following specialisations:
  • Master of Philosophy in Accounting Sciences
  • Master of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics
  • Master of Philosophy in Business Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Communication Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Econometrics
  • Master of Philosophy in Economics
  • Master of Philosophy in Enterprise Risk Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Entrepreneurship
  • Master of Philosophy in Financial Management Sciences
  • Master of Philosophy in Fraud Risk Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Human Resource Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Human Rights
  • Master of Philosophy in Informatics
  • Master of Philosophy in Internal Auditing
  • Master of Philosophy in International Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Labour Relations
  • Master of Philosophy in Management Accounting
  • Master of Philosophy in Marketing Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Marketing Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Mathematical Statistics
  • Master of Philosophy in Municipal Administration
  • Master of Philosophy in Philosophy and Ethics of Mental Health
  • Master of Philosophy in Political Philosophy
  • Master of Philosophy in Public Administration
  • Master of Philosophy in Public Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Public Policy
  • Master of Philosophy in Recreation and Sport Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Responsible Leadership
  • Master of Philosophy in Statistics
  • Master of Philosophy in Strategic Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Supply Chain Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Taxation
  • Master of Philosophy in Tourism Management
  • Master of Philosophy in Workplace Ethics 
    		•

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    LP ID Learning Programme Title Originator Pre-2009
    NQF Level    		 NQF Level Min Credits Learning Prog End Date Quality
    Assurance
    Functionary    		 NQF Sub-Framework
    116446  Master of Philosophy in Philosophy and Ethics of Mental Health  University of Pretoria  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  180       HEQSF 


    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.