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 Medicine in Internal Medicine 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
123026  Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine 
ORIGINATOR
Walter Sisulu 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
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
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
Registered  EXCO 0628/24  2024-11-21  2027-11-21 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-11-21   2031-11-21  

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 Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine is to equip learners with specialist knowledge of the health systems and the impact of the health environment on healthcare delivery and outcomes of medical disorders. The qualification is designed for the trainees to acquire knowledge, skills, and competency in Internal Medicine. Learners will also be equipped with assessment, prevention, and management of simple and complex medical disorders skills in society. The qualification will provide a comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation and management of patients with medical illnesses. Other skills that will be taught include dissemination of health education pertaining to medical disorders.

On completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:
  • Assess and manage patients.
  • Acquire new information and critically evaluate its quality and utility.
  • Function as an effective team member in the broad context of healthcare.
  • Play an active role in training other healthcare workers.
  • Design and implement a research project and write a mini dissertation.

    This qualification will assist learners in writing the Fellowship of the College of Physicians Examination and the Dissertation Examination required by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), to register as a specialist physician who can practice independently.

    The graduate of this qualification will be a clinician, manager, researcher and academic who has excellent skills in clinical assessment, interpretation of relevant laboratory data and therapeutic skills relevant to the management of patients in the private, public, academic and research fields with good balance and versatility of these skills across these different working environments.

    Rationale:
    Internal medicine is a medical speciality focused on preventing, diagnosing, and treating adult diseases. Physicians who specialize in internal medicine are trained to manage a wide range of conditions that affect the internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, dermatology system, haematology system, rheumatology system, and endocrine system. The qualification will equip learners with the requisite skills to manage complex medical conditions in both private and public settings, with a specific emphasis on communities with poor socioeconomic status. It will improve the long-term management of patients with chronic communicable and non-communicable diseases to improve their life expectancy, work productivity and livelihood in general. This qualification will help achieve the long-term goals of the National Health Insurance which is universal coverage of healthcare provision for all, irrespective of their background or socioeconomic status.

    The qualification fits with the vision and mission of producing career graduates who will embrace technological advances during their learning and as future clinician experts in Internal Medicine, will be equipped with skills that will enable them to embrace and manage common and complex medical conditions encountered in the African context with an impact on the long-term health status of the societies in which they practice. The qualification is structured to produce graduates of high scholarly ability with a deep sense of ethical responsibility to their patients and workplace, who will be able and prepared to share their skills and knowledge with future generations of scholars for the benefit of society. Their learning is predominantly work-based which will ensure that they are ready to practice in an environment in which they learn on completion of their studies.

    The memorandum of understanding between the Department of Health (DoH) and the institution allows for the employment of postgraduate learners as registrars in Internal Medicine, employment of DoH staff as the institution's joint staff employees and use of the tertiary hospitals within the province as satellite sites for provision on service and training for the qualification. This professional qualification is based on experiential learning in the workplace where learners are employed. The qualification was approved by the Dental Board of the HPCSA. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

    The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy approved by the Dental Board of the HPCSA and subsequently transferred to the institution The RPL Policy is applied to qualifications for admission into the qualification to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications.

    If the candidate spends a year or more as a medical officer in Internal Medicine in a recognized training institution before they register as registrars and complete the fellowship training within 3 years of their training time, candidates may apply for recognition of that learning time to register as specialists.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery or equivalent, NQF Level 8.
    And
  • Completion of internship and community service training.
  • Registration with HPCSA as an independent medical practitioner. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 480 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 480 Credits:
  • Basic Medical Sciences, 120 Credits.
  • Principles and Practice of Medicine I, 120 Credits.
  • Principles and Practice of Medicine II, 120 Credits.
  • Principles and Practice of Medicine, 60 Credits.
  • Mini dissertation, 60 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate the ability to integrate scientific knowledge and skills to treat and manage simple and complex conditions presented by patients in the speciality of internal medicine, implement a research project and write a mini dissertation.
    2. Effectively co-operate with other colleagues in the discipline and across medical and other health disciplines as a member of a team.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to organize and independently manage themselves and the activities responsibly and efficiently.
    4. Demonstrate the ability to acquire and create new specialized information in the internal medicine discipline.
    5. Communicate effectively through all mediums to present and defend information in a scientific and accountable manner.
    6. Utilize clinical practice in internal medicine to improve patient quality of healthcare, better management of resources and access to healthcare.
    7. Conduct appropriate and ethically sound scientific research in the specialised field of internal medicine and complete a Master of Medicine Research Project and Mini Dissertation. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Identify, interpret and solve clinical problems in the field of internal medicine.
  • Formulate working diagnosis for clinical problems by making medically grounded creative decisions using critical and creative thinking.
  • Integrate scientific knowledge and skills to manage simple and complex conditions presented by patients in the internal medicine speciality.
  • Identify and solve clinical problems in the field of internal medicine.
  • Formulate working diagnoses for clinical problems by making creative and medically grounded decisions using critical and creative thinking.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Effectively lead colleagues in diverse teams by recognising the roles other healthcare workers play to foster cohesion and effective clinical team dynamics in the broad context of healthcare.
  • Effectively mentor, teach and direct the learning of junior staff and MBChB learners.
  • Apply and maintain high ethical standards in all aspects of internal medicine training.
  • Effectively co-operate as a member of a team with other colleagues in the discipline and across medical and other health disciplines.
  • Foster cohesion and effective team dynamics in the broad context of healthcare by recognising the distinct roles other health workers plan and effectively leading a team of colleagues in diverse settings.
  • Effectively recognise the roles other health workers play in cohesion and team dynamics.
  • Effectively supervise Junior Staff and MBChB learners during their clinical clerkship and training in internal medicine.
  • Apply the highest ethical standards in areas of internal medicine training and practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Apply independent, responsible, and effective management of themselves and their activities.
  • Organise and manage the activities responsibly and effectively.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Critically evaluate the quality, utility, and application of new information.
  • Actively engage in continuing professional development activities.
  • Critically appraise the quality, relevance, and utility of new information using electronic and traditional methods.
  • Create and acquire new specialised information in the internal medicine discipline.
  • Critically evaluate and apply information through the habit of frequent referral to extant literature and all other extant sources concerning internal medicine.
  • Actively undertake continuous professional development activities.
  • Critically appraise the use of technology and traditional methods to the quality, relevance, and utility of information.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Communicate effectively and professionally with the patient, the patient's family, the health care team, and the community.
  • Use written and oral debate as a tool to communicate effectively.
  • Use current information and technology to present and defend information in a scientific and accountable manner.
  • Effectively and professionally communicate with the patient, patient's family, health care team and the community.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Demonstrate humaneness and sensitivity to ethical issues, cultural norms, and diversity in health care concerning patients, community, and colleagues.
  • Critically identify barriers to healthcare and evaluate the rationale use of resources.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Create responses to abstract problems that either expand or redefine existing knowledge in the Internal Medicine practice.
  • Conduct new, appropriate, and ethically sound scientific research in the internal medicine field.
  • Expertly complete a research project and mini dissertation in compliance with research ethics norms.
  • Create responses to abstract internal medicine problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Country: Uganda
    Institution: University of Makerere
    Qualification Title: Master of Medicine- Internal Medicine
    Duration: 3 Years Full time
    Entry Criteria: Relevant undergraduate medical degree, 2-year probation period

    Exit Level Outcome:
  • Consolidate and improve clinical skills, improved clinical skills including laboratory and imaging investigations and rational approach to drug prescription.

    Compulsory Modules:
  • Neurology.
  • Infectious Diseases and Immunology.
  • Cardiology.
  • Health Systems Management.
  • Dissertation Defence comparable to Mini dissertation.
  • Advanced clinical and emergency medicine 2.
  • Integrated Medicine comparable to Basic Medical Sciences.
  • Advanced clinical and emergency Medicine 1.
  • Endocrinology.
  • Disease surveillance.
  • Clinical Practice and Emergency Medicine 2.
  • Pulmonology.
  • Rheumatology.
  • HIV/AIDS Clinical Care.
  • Oncology and Haematology.
  • Critical Care Medicine, Palliative Care and Radiology.
  • Dermato-Venereology.

    University of Edinburgh
    Duration: 3 Years part-time
    Credits: 180-credits
    Entry Requirements:
  • Undergraduate medical degree.
    And
  • General Medical Council (GMC) registration or relevant medical council.
  • 2 reference letters.

    The qualification is designed to support early career doctors and associated medical professionals to develop their knowledge understanding and professional practice of Internal Medicine. In addition to providing a grounding in the Internal Medicine discipline the qualification supports both career and skills development and works in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The first two years of the qualification are designed to complement and expand upon the Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) curriculum and are suitable as preparation for the Royal College of Physicians exam.

    The aims of the qualification are to:
  • Provide a flexible online qualification that allows you to study while still meeting professional and personal commitments.
  • Provide a sound understanding of the principles, practices, and current research in Internal Medicine.
  • Provide a supportive online learning environment where learners can confidently develop new academic and research skills.
  • Provide access to many high-quality, interactive online resources, e-journals, and online textbooks.
  • Offer an internationally recognised qualification from one of the world's leading academic institutions.
  • Provide options for study, such as a Postgraduate Certificate (1 year of study), Diploma (2 years of study) or Master's degree (3 years of study) or study single or multiple courses via the Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) scheme.
  • Provide training in allied healthcare areas such as health informatics, translational research, patient safety and clinical decision-making.
  • Provide a solid grounding in research methods, including basic statistics and research project planning.
  • Provide guidance in presenting research, from learning how to write for publication to podcasting.

    Exit Level Outcomes
  • Acquire knowledge and skills as assessed by the MRCP or case-based discussion to provide a solid foundation for entry into speciality training.
    Assessment: e-portfolio, Case based discussion, OSCE, Dissertation

    Qualification structure:
    The full Internal Medicine qualification is a part-time 3-year Online Master. However, the qualification is flexible and allows exit after each consecutive year for qualifications at Certificate, Diploma and Master's. Within each year learners will have options to choose what and how to study. The qualification is split into 10- or 20-credit core modules and 10-credit elective modules. Each year will contribute 60 credits towards awards.

    Year 1: Certificate, 60-credits
    Compulsory Modules combined with optional modules contribute to the 60 credits required for completion of year 1. Within year 1 Science of Medicine is offered which is specifically designed to prepare learners to take the MRCP exams or similar certifications.

    Year 2: Diploma, 60-credits
    Year 2 has two compulsory modules but there is a wider selection of electives available. The electives include modules from the MSc Internal Medicine and other qualifications at the University of Edinburgh including both MSc Pain Management and MSc Surgical Sciences.

    Year 3: Masters, 60 credits
    Total 180 credits gained from years 1, 2 and 3.

    Year 3 has two different options for study; taught or dissertation. The options allow learners to either develop as researchers or widen their knowledge in the field.

    Dissertation - undertake a research project that will be the basis of the Master's dissertation for 60 credits
    Or
    Taught - A fully taught Year 3, containing both core courses and electives for 60 credits.

    Compulsory Modules:
    Acute Medicine and Clinical Decision Making, Clinical Skills Principles, Introductory and Generic Skills, Imaging in Medicine, Principles of Laboratory Medicine, Principles of Clinical Pharmacology, MSc Dissertation, Science of Medicine

    Elective Modules:
    Cardiology, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Haematology, Neurology, Oncology, Palliative Care and Pain Management, Renal, Respiratory, Stroke (Cerebrovascular Medicine)

    Similarities:
  • The University of Edinburgh (UE) and the South African (SA) qualifications require applicants who completed the undergraduate medical degree and the registration with the medical council of the country.
  • Both qualifications provide managerial skills such as patient management, health service organisation and legal frameworks.
  • The UE and the SA qualifications culminate into the Dissertation.
  • Both qualifications utilize similar assessment methods.

    Differences:
  • The UE qualification takes 3 years of part-time study whereas the SA qualification takes 4 years of full-time study.
  • Although the Master's Degree consists of a minimum of 180 credits, the SA qualification consists of 480 credits.
  • The UE qualification is flexible and allows exit after each consecutive year for qualifications at Certificate, Diploma and Master's levels whereas the SA qualification does not allow for the early exit.
  • The UE qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules while the SA qualification consists of compulsory modules and no electives. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Philosophy in Cardiology, NQF Level 9
  • Master of Philosophy in Pulmonology, NQF Level 9> Master of Medical Science in Critical Care, NQF Level 9
  • Master of Philosophy in Critical Care, NQF Level 9

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Medicine, NQF Level 10
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine, NQF Level 10
  • Master of Medical Science in Critical Care, NQF Level 9

    Diagonal Articulation
    There is no diagonal articulation for this qualification. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    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. Walter Sisulu 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.