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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Science in Botany 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
16233  Master of Science in Botany 
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare 
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 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Environmental Sciences 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The purpose of this qualification is to equip the learner with the research tool in order to constructively and critically analyse data. Learners will be required to plan, execute, and write up a Master's thesis dealing with a topic of interest in Botany contributing to society at large. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Science Honours in Botany, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The learner has to demonstrate the following:
    i) The capacity to design, conduct and write dissertation that can respectably stand alongside referred and published research in botany.
    ii) An understanding of the literature related to the research problem.
    iii) An understanding of scientific procedures and an ability to cope with research techniques.
    iv) The ability to write a dissertation that is linguistically, technically and scientifically correct. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    (b) Associated Assessment Criteria:
    Learners:

    1. Will use specialised principles in the analysis and interpretation of Botanical problems.
    2. Will be able to explain specialised Botanical principles.
    3. Will use the knowledge of the pertinent fields in solving problems within those fields.
    4. Will be able to identify the appropriate techniques in solving basic and specialised Botanical problems.
    5. Will be able to plan and execute more advanced experiments and undertake surveys and collections to a level appropriate to the Degree.
    6. Will be able to interpret their results in terms of background information.
    7. Will be able to present reports of their investigations.
    8. Will be able to prepare manuscripts for publications.

    Integrated Assessment:

    a) The learner is expected:
    i) To write a research proposal that indicates that the learner is able to identify a problem and formulate a research proposal and hypothesis.
    ii) Critically read, interpret and analyse literature from different sources.
    iii) Search for literature on the identified research problem.

    b) To select and utilise research instruments that are relevant in the research problem in Botany.

    c) To conduct fieldwork or laboratory experiment during the actual investigation.

    d) Report the finding of the investigation, and formulate recommendations that emanate from the findings.

    e) To write a dissertation that is linguistically and technically well presented, and has an acceptance layout. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Philosophy in Education in Botany, NQF Level 9.

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

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    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 Fort Hare 


    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.