SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Master of Nursing

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
19665	Master of Nursing
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch 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	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

a) To provide a pool of specialised Nurse Practitioners with the necessary clinical, managerial, research and educational knowledge, skills and attitudes to assume positions of leadership within the field of Nursing Science

b) To provide Nurse Practitioners who can act as specialist consultants in public and private health care services, within the chosen area of specialisation.

c) To equip the qualifying learner with a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of phenomena pertinent to the field of Nursing Science

d) To ensure mastery of the chosen area of specialisation in Nursing Science, by high level analysis of new information, the ability to deal with complexity and to find workable solutions to problems and challenges

e) To enable the qualifying learner to do advanced and independent research through rigorous training in research methods

f) To introduce the qualifying learner to the world of scholarly communication, inter alia through assistance in publishing own research reports

g) To contribute to the pool of nursing academics and professionals with the competence and critical intellectual abilities to ensure future advancement of the field of Nursing Science

h) To address the country's need for nurse specialists of the highest calibre in the workforce

i) To provide benefits for the South African community and economy by:

Allowing South African citizens of all population and ethnic groups, who meet the necessary admission criteria, to obtain advanced qualifications in the field of Nursing Science

To provide the community with specialist nursing expertise

j) To fulfil the objectives of the National Qualification Framework by laying the foundation for further post-graduate studies and ongoing professional development

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Senior Certificate with Matriculation Exemption or equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree: For admission to the MCur programme, qualfifying learners should be in possession of the four-year BCur degree in Nursing Science.

Honours degree: HonsB degree of the university of Stellenbosch

Other qualifications:

Applicants not in possession of a BCur or HonsB-degree must be in possession of an equivalent qualification as approved by the Senate

or

A matriculation certificate or matriculation exemption certificate, a four-year Diploma in Nursing (or equivalent qualification) and at least one post-basic university Diploma* as approved by the Senate.

* Applicants must have remained professionally active after having obtained the post-basic university Diploma

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1). GENERIC / CRITICAL CROSS FIELD OUTCOMES

The qualifying learner will:

1. Effectively apply health sciences and technology and demonstrate mastery of advanced theory and its application to the chosen area of specialisation in the field of Nursing Science.

2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of health service delivery within a systems model, in which problem solving contexts cannot exist in isolation.

3. Demonstrate as an advanced nurse practitioner, responsible participation in the promotion of the quality of life of the local community, the South African population and the global community.

4. Demonstrate advanced understanding of cultural, religious and ethnic diversities and their influences on the health care consumer's perception of health and illness

5. Identify, and find solutions to health related problems through research and the use of critical and creative thinking.

6. Demonstrate leadership of health care teams and groups in the community.

7. Demonstrate the capacity for organising and managing comprehensive nursing services

8. Be able to submit research findings for publication in an approved scientific publication

9. Communicate research findings effectively to colleagues, in order to improve service programmes

10. Collect, analyse, organise and critically appraise information.

11. Reflect on and explore a variety of research strategies to promote rigorous scientific investigation.

2). SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

The MCur graduate will have:

1. Comprehensive knowledge in his/her chosen area of specialisation within the field of Nursing Science.

2. Mastery of advanced theory and its application to the specialised field in Nursing Science

3. Familiarity with the literature and state of research on his/her chosen area of specialisation

4. An understanding of the constructed and provisional nature of knowledge

5. Well-developed research skills

The MCur graduate will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate relevant literature

2. Identify and define complex problems and apply appropriate knowledge and skills for their solution

3. Perform independent analysis of new data and problems and confidently use a wide range of appropriate methods, techniques and research skills

4. Critically review evidence from the body of scientific literature and from own research findings, to support conclusions

5. Extrapolate implications and impact of given data and use higher cognitive skills to relate date to new, broader issues through deductive reasoning

6. Identify contradictions, challenge orthodox theory and practices, and suggest new methodologies

7. Interact and engage in debate with a learning or professional group and produce detailed and coherent reports

8. Take initiative, negotiate effectively and manage conflict in intellectual debate

The Mcur graduate will demonstrate:

1. Mastery of advanced theoretical subject matter within the specialised field of Nursing Science

2. Capacity for independent study and research through the completion of assignments, projects and or a thesis

3. Understanding and application of appropriate academic and professional values and ethics

4. Academic self-reflection and adaptability

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

2).

The assessment used for the qualification of MCur ensures that the purpose of the qualification is achieved.

The assessment used meets the standard and level of achievement for NQF level 8a

For the Mcur by thesis only, a thesis and oral examinations are used

For the MCur by course work, a range of formative and summative assessment methods are used, such as assignment methods are used, such as assignments, projects, presentations, case-studies, a research assignment and written examinations

The qualifying learner's written and oral presentations must be of an acceptable academic standard in terms of the use of Afrikaans or English language and the structural organisation of presentations.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

a). For a Master's degree (without a preceding Honours degree):

At the end of the first year of study the qualifying learner must achieve a minimum of 50% in the written examinations and have satisfactorily completed all compulsory assignments

Qualifying learners must submit a research assignment containing a report of their research. This report must meet the standards and requirements of a Master's research assignment and should demonstrate proof of successful integration of theoretical constructs and research competencies at a Master's level.

b). For a Master's degree (with a preceding Honours degree):

qualifying learners must submit a thesis that meets the standards and requirements of a Master's thesis. The thesis should demonstrate proof of successful integration of theoretical constructs and research competencies at a Master's level.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical articulation into Doctoral programmes at any Department of Nursing Science or any other appropriate department at a university in South Africa, is ensured.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The university of Stellenbosch has a system of external peer review and evaluation of departments. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department.

In addition to one or more internal examiners (who are usually staff members of the university of Stellenbosch), standard university regulations require that one or more external examiner(s) or international scholarly repute in the field of Nursing Science, have to assess Master's research assignments / theses.

The reports on the Master's research assignments / theses submitted by the internal and external examiners are considered at the Faculty Board (usually acting on the advice of an Faculty Committee) and are approved by Senate.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic staff of the university of Stellenbosch will be used in a manner in accordance with the quality assurance system of the university.

In addition to one or more internal examiners (who are usually staff members of the university of Stellenbosch) standard university regulations require that one or more external examiner(s) of international scholarly repute have to assess Master's research assignments / thesis in terms of a list of standard criteria, and submit written reports.

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.	Stellenbosch University