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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Medicine: Medical Microbiology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
21420  Master of Medicine: Medical Microbiology 
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  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 programme provides for the training of medical practitioners as specialists in Medical Microbiology. It aims to provide sufficient training in Medical Microbiology to enable competent practice as a Medical Microbiologist. Candidates must hold an HPCSA approved registrar post in a teaching hospital during the training period that is usually four years. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
MBChB, MBBCh or equivalent qualification. Current registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner.

Senior Certificate with Matriculation Exemption or Equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree:
MBChB 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Specific Outcomes, including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated)

1. Be able to provide a laboratory diagnostic service in medical microbiology including both clinical and public health aspects.
2. Be able to apply knowledge of the microbiological basis of disease processes to solve clinical diagnostic problems.
3. Be able to establish and maintain an infection control service.
4. Be able to formulate policies relating to infection control, antibiotic usage and public health in the field of infectious diseases. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
1. Ability to process clinical specimens for microbiological investigation.
  • Ability to identify micro-organisms and assess their clinical significance.
  • Ability to perform and interpret serological and immunological investigations.
  • Ability to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of micro-organisms.
  • Ability to explain the theoretical principles of all generally used microbiological diagnostic tests.
  • Ability to ensure a high standard of laboratory test results by applying appropriate quality control programmes.
  • Ability to describe and explain the theory and principles of operation of all widely used microbiological diagnostic instruments.
  • Ability to apply management skills.
  • Ability to formulate and implement appropriate research and to interpret the results.

    2. Ability to critically assess clinical information in cases of suspected infectious diseases, in order to determine appropriate laboratory investigations, probable causative micro-organisms and empiric therapy.
  • Ability to analyse microbiological laboratory data and interpret it in terms of clinical diagnostic value.
  • Ability to critically assess literature on the mechanisms of disease and the use of microbiological tests.
  • Ability to successfully liase between clinicians and technical laboratory staff to optimise the clinical value of the laboratory.

    3. Ability to apply knowledge of the modes of spread of micro-organisms to the prevention of infection in the hospital and community.
    4. Ability to collect and analyse relevant data in order to draw conclusions which inform policy decision making.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

    Certification by the head of the training department that at least four years of learning have taken place in an appropriate training post (3 ? years required before writing of the final examination).

    Passing an examination that consists of a written paper (3 hours), a practical lasting at least two days and an oral examination. The overall pass mark is 50%.

    Submission of a dissertation demonstrating the ability to perform, analyse and report the candidates own original research. 
    		•

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

    FCPath (SA) (Microbiology)

    This qualification provides credits for the related qualification(s).

    The training time satisfies the requirements of the College of pathologists of SA for the degree but a separate examination must be written.

    Other articulation possibilities, either generic or specific:

    There is a possibility of future articulation with qualifications in Infectious Diseases as a sub-speciality of Medicine. 

    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 that 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. 

    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.