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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Laws 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
23687  Doctor of Laws 
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 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  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 
This qualification includes the various specialisations in Law. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

To offer the ultimate postgraduate degree in law, that of Doctor of Laws, to be obtained by pursuing specialised research in law, culminating in the writing of a thesis, approved by internal and external examiners 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
LLB degree or LLM degree or the equivalent of either for this purpose 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate highly expert and in-depth knowledge of Law
  • Understand and apply theoretical foundations of Law
  • Combine and apply the relevant knowledge, skills and values significant at a highly advanced and specialised level
  • Develop and present a research proposal independently
  • Express knowledge and generic research skills in Law in an integrated, logical and coherent manner through written assignments
  • Conduct delimitation, literature searches, logical analyses, balanced interpretation, structuring and expressing, abstract thoughts in a logical and coherent way, the consistent use of a system of references 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Highly expert and in-depth knowledge of Law is demonstrated in all projects and processes engaged in
  • Theoretical foundations of Law understood and applied
  • The relevant knowledge, skills and values are combined and applied consistent with a highly advanced and specialised level
  • A research proposal developed and presented independently
  • Knowledge and generic research skills are expressed in Law in an integrated, logical and coherent manner through written assignments.
  • Abstract thoughts are expressed in a logical and coherent way
  • Delimitation, literature searches, logical analysis, balanced interpretation, structuring and expressing is conducted through consistent use of a system of references

    Integrated assessment:
    Thesis examined by internal and external assessors 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Registration for the LLD degree may be converted into registration for the Ph D degree or LLM degree by dissertation in appropriate circumstances 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    External moderation of the course in the final years and assessment of student progress will be done by external moderators, appointed by the Department on an annual basis and approved by Senate. Internal moderation will occur through the department. The moderation body is the Council for Higher Education 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The current senior lecturing staff of the Faculty of Law holding doctorates in law, will continue to act as internal assessors.
    External assessors will continue to be selected senior colleagues from the other SA universities specialising in the field concerned, as a general rule also holding doctorates in law 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    This qualification includes the following specialisations:
  • Doctor of Laws in Comparative Labour Law
  • Doctor of Laws in Constitutional Theory
  • Doctor of Laws in Criminal Law
  • Doctor of Laws in Disability Law
  • Doctor of Laws in Environment Law
  • Doctor of Laws in Human Rights Protection
  • Doctor of Laws in Law State and Multilevel Government
  • Doctor of Laws in Mercantile Law 
    		•

    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.