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 Philosophy: Medical BioScience

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
22376	Master of Philosophy: Medical BioScience
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Promotive Health and Developmental Services
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 091/21	2021-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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

Lifestyle diseases are the biggest killers of modern man. The main causes of human mortality are respiratory disease, diarrhoea, cardiovascular disease, cancer and infectious diseases relating to reproduction. The impact of westernisation, urbanisation and the mass media have drastically changed the lifestyles of the African people with sometimes devastating results on their health. Science has always played a prominent role in the elucidation of the underlying biological mechanisms involved in disease.

The theme of health and life style has been successfully woven into the fabric of the undergraduate Medical BioScience programme. This programme strives to address the important role which basic science plays in the promotion and understanding of health and quality of life

The postgraduate Medical BioScience programme continues this theme by addressing questions, via the methodology of science, concerning the underlying biological mechanisms contributing to issues of lifestyle and health

The purpose of the M.Phil. programme is primarily to provide access to individuals who have obtained the necessary prior knowledge (e.g. + 4 year tertiary qualification in the natural sciences). The programme will provide a solid theoretical foundation in the fields currently present within the departments of Physiology, Anatomy and Medical Microbiology. Secondarily, the programme will expose participants to a broad range of research skills (via technique courses and a hands-on research project, culminating in a mini-thesis) that would stand them in good stead during future research projects

Students who follow the structured M.Phil.course, will have a specialist knowledge of a wide range of health issues in the biomedical field with particular reference to Southern Africa. They will ideally be placed in units for advancing policies on health issues and initiate research in this field

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

An Honours degree in Medical BioScience or any other M+4 qualification with appropriate experience deemed by Senate as equivalent

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The successful candidate will:

o Have a solid foundation in the theory that underpins research in the biological arena of medical science
o Have demonstrable skills in research techniques
o Have the ability to critique published journal articles
o Have the ability to manage a research project
o Have the ability to execute a research project under supervision
o Be aware of current and emerging technologies relevant to the chosen field of research expertise
o Be computer literate and be able to electronically analyse data
o Be able to communicate effectively in both oral and written modes
o Have the ability to present research data and extrapolate trends

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The research component, which will culminate in a mini-thesis, will be assessed by the appointed supervisors/co-supervisors using events within a research project time frame (e.g. submission of a protocol, the presentation of a seminar on reviewed literature, the submission of a mini-thesis)

All other electives will use a system of continuous assessment that consists of a number of assessment events throughout and at the end of the delivery of each module. Methods of evaluation would include tests, impromptu-quizzes, projects, practical assignments, oral presentations and oral tests

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Graduates from this programme will naturally be eligible for the Ph.D (Medical BioScience) degree. Students who complete the M.Phil course will have specialist knowledge of a wide range of health issues in the biomedical field with particular reference to Southern Africa. They will ideally be placed in units for advancing policies on health issues and initiate research in this field

MODERATION OPTIONS

The University Senate will appoint external examiners as prescribed within its External Examining Systems

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