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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Visual Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
24397  Doctor of Philosophy in Visual Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Post-doctoral Degree  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Visual Arts 
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
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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 
This Postgraduate qualification aims to provide South Africa with specialists in the field of visual communication and visual culture in order to contribute to the development of a visually literate and articulate society. This qualification is in alignment with the post-disciplinary approach that is being favoured internationally.

The primary aim of this qualification is to equip learners with the Postgraduate knowledge, skills, disposition and applied competence to engage critically with the constructs of visual communication in order to empower them to function optimally in their chosen professional capacities. The outcomes are designed to promote lifelong learning.

A related secondary aim it to assist learners in implementing advanced research skills that will enable them to undertake independent research that can be used to advantage as a basis for further learning and enhanced marketability. It is believed that the research capabilities of learners must be fostered in order to create a healthy research culture, thereby contributing to the extension of knowledge about the role and nature of visual culture in South Africa. This qualification thus aims to provide South Africa with a cadre of specialists in the designated field, as well as developing new knowledge frameworks for the extenuation of the Humanities in general.

This qualification will hence assist in equipping learners with the necessary Postgraduate skills, knowledge, disposition and competencies to empower themselves in the competitive workplace. This qualification can be of benefit in many contexts and will provide the field with skilled, versatile professionals who can be enhance many facets of the media and communications industries, and can contribute to the extension of knowledge in tertiary institutions, thereby enhancing the standard of South African scholarship. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Master of Arts in Visual Studies, |NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The qualification offers the learner the opportunity to engage with or develop the following:
    1. Wide-ranging, advanced and specialised scholastic skills and research across the discipline of visual culture. Expert, highly specialised and advanced research, both across the discipline and interdisciplinary.
    2. A full range of advanced procedures in the discipline to apply within complex, variable, and highly specialised contexts. Specialised knowledge of the discipline, including the ability to analyse and evaluate abstract data and concepts towards the creation of appropriate responses to resolve contextual problems. Learners will be empowered to collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information regarding visual culture on an advanced level.
    3. Competency in planning, resourcing, and managing research processes within the broad parameters of academic imperatives.
    4. Accountability for determining, achieving, and evaluating personal and/or group output.
    5. Academic leadership and in-depth knowledge in a complex and specialised area of the field of visual culture.
    6. The creation of responses to abstract problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge, and the competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within the relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines.
    7. Sensitivity with regard to the ethical implications of research, consideration for socially relevant issues and research needs in South Africa, and the ability to relate these issues to international contexts.
    8. The ability to write a comprehensive and systematic report on a research project in the format of a doctoral thesis, and the competence to write research articles suitable for publication in refereed journals.
    9. Scholarly expertise enabling candidates to enter post-doctoral research, education, and research-based occupations. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    To meet the requirement for the PhD qualification the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes of the learner are assessed on the basis of any or all of the following:
  • Performance during oral presentations in front of peers and/or experts.
  • Performance during a formal defence of the thesis before a panel of assessors.
  • Written outputs in the format of essays and reports (including sections and/or chapters of the thesis).
  • Where applicable, written examinations reflecting research competence.
  • A doctoral thesis as the culmination of research efforts.The assessment will be criteria-based, and reliability will be ensured by both internal and external moderation.

    Integrated Assessment incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the Degree is achieved:
    1. Portfolios.
    2. Written examinations.
    3. Oral examinations.
    4. Other:
    The modalities for integrated assessment permit the candidate to demonstrate applied competence. Mainly formative methods set according to specific guidelines and methods related to credentialing the critical exit-level and cross-field outcomes appropriate to contextual and situational achievements are recognised. In addition to the above, modalities such as group discussions, presentations in front of peers and experts, and official defence of the proposed thesis of the doctoral dissertation may also be used. Final assessment by expert external assessors, both academic and non-academic, will be made of the thesis. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers possibilities of horizontal articulation only.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Doctor of Visual Arts in Photography, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts, 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 Pretoria 


    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.