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: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
21686  Doctor of Philosophy 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
Doctoral 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  360  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  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 
  • To provide qualifiers with in-depth knowledge, advanced 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 highly skilled person power in a number of natural science disciplines to ensure that the country attains a competitive edge in innovation and the knowledge-based economy. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirements for this qualification are:
  • Master of Computer and Information Sciences, NQF Level 9.
    Or
  • Master of Science in Computer Science, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Display expert, highly specialised scholastic and advanced research skills in the Computer Science discipline and be able to perform complex and highly advanced procedures across disciplines in highly specialised and unpredictable contexts.
    2. Possess in-depth knowledge in a complex and specialised area of Computer Science, be capable of information processing at the level of generation, evaluation and synthesis of highly abstract information and concepts; and be capable of creating responses to abstract problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge.
    3. Communicate effectively, in both oral and written modes, with peers and the broader Computer Science community using the appropriate structure, style and graphic support.
    4. Assume responsibility for planning, resourcing and managing and optimising all aspects of processes within complex and unpredictable contexts and assume complete accountability for determining, achieving and evaluating and applying personal and/or group output. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1. Expert, highly specialised scholastic and advanced research skills are displayed in the Computer Science discipline and complex and highly advanced procedures is performed across the Computer Science context.
    2. In-depth knowledge in the complex and specialised area of Computer Science discipline is demonstrated, highly abstract information and concepts are processed at a level of generation, evaluation and synthesis and responses are created to abstract problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge.
    3. Oral and written modes or communication with appropriate structure, style and graphic support are demonstrated effectively in the broader Computer Science community.
    4. Responsibility for planning, resourcing and managing are demonstrated whilst processes within complex and unpredictable contexts are assumed.
    5. Personal and/or group output is optimised by complete accountability for its determination, achievement and evaluation.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessment consists of any of the submissions of a thesis of original research. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Doctor of Science in Computer Science, NQF Level 9.
  • Doctor of Commerce in Computer Science, NQF Level 9.
  • Doctor of Education in Computer Based Education, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    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 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.