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 Biodiversity and Conservation Biology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
22380  Master of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology 
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  Life 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 
  • Provide learners with specialised knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in the field of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to the sustainable management, utilisation and conservation of Biodiversity.
  • Provide South Africa with significant numbers of postgraduates in the field of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity is widened. To increase national and regional capacity for research and decision-making in the field of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology.
  • Provide the skills and intellectual capacity needed to ensure that South Africa has the capacity to implement the International Convention on Biodiversity, to which it is a signatory. 
    		•

    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: Biodiversity and Conservation, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Display specialised scholastic and supervised research skills in the field of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and perform a full range of standard and non-standard procedures, often in non-standard combinations across the sub-disciplines in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology.
    2. Possess specialised knowledge of the field of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, be capable of information processing at the level of analysis, transformation and evaluation of abstract data and concepts, and be able to formulate hypotheses and design research projects and qualifications to test and evaluate hypotheses in collaboration with a supervisor.
    3. Communicate effectively, in both oral and written modes, with peers, using the appropriate structure, style and graphics support, including the joint publication of research in peer-reviewed journals and presentation of research at international conferences with the assistance of a supervisor.
    4. Communicate effectively with the broader community of stakeholders, including the press and the public via popular articles.
    5. Assume responsibility for planning, resourcing and managing research and other projects in the field of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and assume complete accountability for determining, achieving and evaluating personal and group output.
    6. Carry out advanced research under the supervision. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated assessment:
    At Master's level, assessment is based on the presentation of a thesis based on research conducted under the direct supervision of a supervisor or supervisory committee. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Botany, Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology, Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Education, 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.