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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Science in Physics 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
19154  Master of Science in Physics 
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  Physical 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 produce highly skilled graduates in the field of pure and applied physics who would be able to demonstrate the ability to teach at tertiary institutions, perform independent theoretical and experimental work, solve practical problems related to industries, and conduct/promote academic and industrial research. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of prior learning:

To enter masters a student is required to have (a) passed B Sc honours degree (Physics) with at least 60% Aggregate mark or must have research working experience of at list 2 OR (c) pass an entrance examination that may be given by the Faculty of Science with the approval of senate. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Exit Level Outcomes:

Learners should be able to:

1. demonstrate the capacity to design, conduct independent research. They should be able to write dissertations that can respectably stand alongside refereed and published research in the same field.

2. demonstrate the ability to use, for the enhancement of his studies, to retrieve information from scientific journals and other research scientist in his field and be able to write scientific papers for presentation in conferences and publications in journals. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Assessment Criteria:

The Learner can:

1. Write research proposal that indicate that learners are able to identify a problem or problems in their field of study and formulate research problems and subsets of problems.
  • Formulate hypothesis
  • Select and utilise research instrument that are relevant to their research problems.
  • Conduct experimental or theoretical research work and report the findings of their research.

    2. Critically study, interpret and analyze literature from different sources
  • Search for literature on the identified research problem
  • Draw conclusion from the experimental work and create theoretical framework provided by the literature review
  • Compile a complete bibliography

    Integrated Assessment:

    Formal examination; and research project.
    Submission of a thesis reflecting independent research done by the candidate. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    M Sc degree (Physics) graduates may proceed to Ph. D degree (Physics) 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internally the policy of the Department is to request other staff members to moderate internal and external examination papers, and evaluate research proposals. Other members of the Faculty on request, which includes peer evaluation, also offer suggestions. The examination committee and Professorial Committee form internal moderation bodies which evaluate the examination results and approves to Senate and promotion of candidates. External promoters/examiners are appointed on the basis of
    their experience and expertise of a particular subject matter chosen for the candidate research as well as having broad understanding of the programme. All new programmes are forwarded to external academics before submission, to ensure the academic credibility of the programme before they can be approved internally by Faculty board and Senate. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Individual assessors, who will serve as external examiners/promoters are selected and approved through screening of their curriculum vitae. They are expected to be of good academic standing with expertise in one of the fields of Physics especially in the same field as that of the candidate. Internal examiners and co-examiners will be selected and approved by the department and Faculty, and should be members of academic staff within the department with outstanding academic record and good research record. 

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

    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.