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 Medical Biosciences 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
22377  Master of Science in Medical Biosciences 
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  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 
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 lifestyle has been successfully woven into the fabric of the undergraduate Medical BioScience qualification. This qualification 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 qualification 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.Sc. qualificationis to prepare learners for 'hard core' research, either in the private sector or at Ph.D level. Learners who exit at the M.Sc level should be able to formulate research questions, develop a rationale for their research, initiate new research and publish their research findings in the international academic press.

They will ideally perform independent research in a wide range of environments including medical schools, research institutes and private research units. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Science Honours in Medical Bioscience, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Formulate research questions.
  • Develop a rationale for their research.
  • Initiate new research.
  • Publish research findings in the international academic press.
  • Communicate and present research results to the scientific community. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:
    The research component, which will culminate in a 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 thesis). The thesis will also be assessed by two external examiners, appointed by the University's Senate. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Medical Science: Pharmaceutical Sciences, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Bioscience, 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 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.