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 Science in Computer Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
21623  Master of Science in Computer Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
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  Information Technology and Computer 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 purposes of the qualification are:
  • To provide qualifiers with specialised knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a natural science discipline that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.
  • To provide South Africa with significant numbers of post-graduates in a number of natural sciences in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity is widened. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • A Bachelor of Science: Honours in a natural science discipline
  • A Postgraduate Diploma in a natural science discipline
  • A Masters Diploma in Technology with a minimum 3 years appropriate experience
  • B.Tech with a minimum 3 years appropriate experience. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Display specialised scholastic and advanced research skills in a natural science discipline and perform a full range of advanced procedures in complex, variable and highly specialised contexts.
  • Possess specialised knowledge of a major natural science discipline, capable of information processing at the level of analysis, transformation and evaluation of abstract data and concepts, and capable of formulation of appropriate responses to resolve contextually abstract science problems.
  • Communicate effectively, in both oral and written modes, with peers and the broader community using the appropriate structure, style and graphic support.
  • Assume responsibility for planning, resourcing and managing processes within broad parameters and functions and assume complete accountability for determining, achieving and evaluating personal and/or group output. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:
    Assessment may consist of any of the following combinations:
  • A thesis
  • A thesis and an oral examination
  • A thesis and written papers
  • A thesis and an oral and a written examination. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification articulates vertically with all qualifications in the same discipline at level 8 of all other higher education institutions. It will be the additional criteria that these other higher education institutions will apply which will determine whether students from the Faculty of Science at the University of the Western Cape will be admitted to the next qualification at other institutions. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Examination at this level will be moderated through an external examiner appointed by Senate. The moderating body for this qualification is the Council for Higher Education. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    An assessor will have at least a Masters or a Doctorate degree in the appropriate subject plus a minimum of three to five years experience in teaching the course. 

    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 the Western Cape 


    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.