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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Arts: English Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
14685  Master of Arts: English Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Language 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  192  Level 8 and above  Level N/A:Pre-2009 was L8+  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2018-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31   2022-12-31  

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 course work degree provides training in the techniques of research, analysis and scholarly presentation appropriate to English Studies, by means of a structured two-year programme. The structured nature of the programme seeks to give fuller academic shape to the candidate's exploration of issues germane to the discipline and to provide formal seminars for the study and debate of these issues. The degree will equip the candidate with knowledge in the field of research and the skills necessary either for employment in teaching, editing, publishing, journalism, cultural work and other vocations that assume a strong background in critical literacy, research in the liberal arts and sophisticated skills in written and oral expression or for further, independent research for the degree of Ph D in English Language and Literature. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Minimum Entrance Requirements
A degree of Honours bachelor or its equivalent, in the discipline or a cognate discipline recognised by the Faculty.

1. Senior certificate with Matriculation Exemption or Equivalent university admission qualification
2. First degree, BA
3. Honours degree

Assumptions.

People who have shown by examination or publication or a record of appropriate training that they have reached a level in the subject or a cognate subject equivalent to an honours degree may be permitted to register for the degree.

Recognition of prior learning (e.g. Work or field experience (if applicable)

Non-Honours graduates who have shown by examination or publication or a record of appropriate training that they have reached a level in the subject or a cognate subject equivalent to a bachelors degree may be permitted to register for the degree. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
(a) Critical cross-field outcomes (generic to all teaching and learning)
  • The Masters graduate is able to demonstrate mastery to depth of a theoretically sophisticated subject matter
  • The Masters graduate is equipped with the proficiency in research methodology sufficient to proceed to a PhD. Graduates have mastered the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, collection and analysis of data, and effective written communication.

    (b) General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

    The Masters graduates is able to:
  • Conduct independent research in a discipline (or interdisciplinary field).
  • Communicate verbally and orally with professional audiences
  • Apply disciplinary knowledge and research skills
  • Analyse and critique communications of an academic and popular nature
  • Appreciate the ethical issues associated with research and knowledge production in the discipline
  • Challenge orthodoxies and redefine existing knowledge, while demonstrating awareness of the nature of knowledge in the field

    (c) Specific Outcomes, including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated)

    The MA graduate in the course-work English Studies degree will be:
  • Familiar with contemporary philosophical and theoretical issues in canon formation and the history and theory that informs the rise of canon and the counter-action of dissident voices
  • Familiar with contemporary philosophical and theoretical issues in South African literature and culture
  • Able, through an elective system, to take at least one course outside the discipline and so engage more fully in interdisciplinary exploration
  • Able to apply a range of advanced research methods to research problems in English Studies
  • Able to conduct advanced literature searches and critique current literature in the form of the review
  • Able to prepare professional papers for peer review
  • Able to write research and funding proposals 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    (a) The achievement of these outcomes is assessed in the integrated assessment of the programme

    Formative assessment includes papers on theoretical and literacy critical approaches to English texts; oral seminar presentations and portfolios of work that may include review essays, critical commentaries, summaries and precis; and submission of a research proposal.

    Summative assessment will be through substantial essays for each course, a minor research project at the end of the first year (after which the candidate may exit with an Honours degree), and a major research project at the end of the second.

    Integrated assessment

    The integration of skills learnt in the MA in English Studies is assessed by means of essays and seminar presentations in each of the 8 courses (4 in the first year of the programme, 4 in the second. In addition, the first year is summatively assessed by means of a dissertation. Both the research project and the dissertation (at appropriately different levels of scope and sophistication) must demonstrate competence in the following areas:

    * Research problem formulation
    * Integration of literature
    * Breadth and depth of knowledge in the fields covered by the courses
    * Appropriate design and execution of research
    * Use of appropriate methods of data collection and analysis
    * Integration of findings
    * Appreciation of the limits of the study.
    * Use of publication style conventions of the discipline

    All written work for the programme is subject to external examination. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Title(s) of related qualification(s)

    1. MA in Linguistics.
    2. MPhil in Applied Language Studies
    3. MA / MPhil in research
    4. Interdisciplinary research & coursework masters programmes (MPhil)

    This qualification serves as an entry Point to the related to the qualification(s).

    Entry to qualification in mid-stream
    Not possible

    Exit from qualification in mid-stream
    Credit is given for modules of the course completed

    Other higher education programmes which articulate with this qualification without 'going back to square one'
    Subject to the provisions of the Joint Statute, this work may be recognised by another institution in part fulfilment towards a similar degree of honours bachelor. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The University of Cape Town has a system of external peer review and evaluation of each course. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The academic staff of the University of Cape Town will be used in a manner, which is consistent with the quality assurance system of the University. 

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

    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. University of Cape Town 


    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.