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: 

Master of Arts in Fine Art 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
21282  Master of Arts in Fine Art 
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 02 - Culture and Arts  Visual Arts 
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 degree provides advanced training in the field of study, including techniques of research, data analysis, and scholarly presentation appropriate to the discipline. The degree will equip the learner with knowledge and the skills necessary either for employment in a related field (including teaching and research positions) or for further independent research toward the degree of PhD. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience.
In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Fine Art, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Identify and understand at an advanced level the main trends, themes and debates within the field;
    2. Identify, debate and apply at an advanced level the main theoretical approaches developing in related knowledge areas;
    3. Apply relevant methodological approaches and key research techniques;
    4. Conduct advanced literature searches to inform reviews of specialised literature in the field;
    5. Prepare professional papers for peer review;
    6. Where relevant, apply cross-disciplinary knowledge to respond to practical problems facing societies in transition in Africa generally and South Africa in particular;
    7. Prepare and present research proposals and to act as a research and policy consultant in relevant fields. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following associated assessment criteria apply across all Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Conduct independent research in the discipline (or inter-disciplinary field);
  • Apply in-depth and specialised disciplinary knowledge and research skills to specific empirical cases and topics;
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the limitations of the research and an ability to make claims with appropriate conditions;
  • Draw on discipline-based knowledge to identify appropriate cases to devise hypothesis creating and answering comparisons;
  • Analyse and critique communications of an academic and popular nature;
  • Prepare research reports and literature studies to established academic standards required for publication in professional journals and effectively present research in readable form to lay audiences;
  • Appreciate the ethical issues associated with research and knowledge production in the discipline;
  • Understand the processes whereby knowledge in the specific field of Humanities is constructed.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The integration of skills learnt is assessed using a supervised dissertation not exceeding 50,000 words. The dissertation must demonstrate competence in the following areas, all of which are assessed in the examination of the dissertation:
  • Adequate research problem formulation and development;
  • Familiarity with and integration of the relevant and specialised literature that informs the research question;
  • Application of relevant theoretical approaches and key research techniques at an advanced level;
  • Systematic and sustained discussion and argumentation and integration of findings;
  • Ability to address the normative issues that might attend the study;
  • Appreciation of the methodological limitation of the study;
  • Use of the publication and style conventions of the discipline.

    The dissertation is subject to external examination.
    The dissertation submitted by the learner doesn't have to constitute a distinct contribution to knowledge in the subject nor that the research project(s) undertaken necessarily be original. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable to similar qualifications from around the world about outcomes and assessment criteria, the level of depth and complexity involved in the study process, a range of competence in the learning content and with due regard to notional learning time. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both Horizontal and Vertical Articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Masters of Visual Arts in Fine Art, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Fine Arts in Motion Picture Medium, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts, 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 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.