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: 

Doctor of Laws: General 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
13810  Doctor of Laws: General 
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
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  400  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0335/25  2024-06-30  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 
This qualification includes the various specialisations in Laws. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifiers with the highest level of postgraduate knowledge, applied competence and outcomes in law. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Matriculation Certificate
First Degree
Master's Degree
Other:
LLB (five year curriculum: pre-1999) 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
LLD

Learning outcomes:
Qualifiers have all the skills and proficiency necessary to translate into specialist research performance in the field of law.

Critical cross-field outcomes:
As for LLM (General by Research) 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Qualifiers will be assessed to ascertain that they:
  • have the necessary highest level of detailed knowledge of their elected field of speciality, obtained through the disciple of extensive research into this field.
  • are schooled in research methodology to the extent that they would be able to undertake and complete successfully a thesis in their elected field of specialisation and illustrated by their successful completion of a thesis in the chosen area of the law.

    Integrated assessment:
    Simulations
    Oral examinations
    Other:
    Thesis on a specific specialised area of the law
    External evaluation at exit level 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Other articulation possibilities, either generic or specific arrangements:
    Possible inter-disciplinary research for the thesis. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    As with LLM (General by Research.) 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    Doctorate or related relevant degree

    Career experience required:
    Relevant experience in teaching and/or practice of the specific field of specialisation of the law.

    Other criteria
    Professional qualifications and/or standing (e.g. High Court Judge) a recommendation. 

    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:
  • Doctor of Laws in Procedural Law
  • Doctor of Laws in Jurisprudence
  • Doctor of Laws in Mercantile Law
  • Doctor of Laws in Public Law
  • Doctor of Laws in Private Law
  • Doctor of Laws in Human Rights 
    		•

    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. University of Pretoria 


    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.