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 Laws: Research

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
3391	Master of Laws: Research
ORIGINATOR
Rand Afrikaans University
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 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 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2013-06-30

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

The purpose of this qualification is to let learners demonstrate an ability to master at an advanced level the current state of knowledge on a given topic within a particular branch of the law.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

By successfully completing this qualification, learners will have demonstrated an ability to master the current state of knowledge on a given topic within a particular branch of the law. This mastery will have been achieved by a demonstrated ability to define the topic, arrange the subject-matter coherently and accurately, succinctly reflect and interpret scholarly opinion on the topic, identify particular problem areas and develop a lucid line of argument by means of analysis and interpretation. This ability will be invaluable in further research, for example for the purposes of obtaining further postgraduate qualifications, as well as in practice of the law at a high level.

The minimum entry requirement is an LLB (or equivalent qualification) at NQF level 7 and a minimum number of credits of 592. The board of the Faculty of Law recommends to the Senate of the University admission of learners on the basis of academic merit of the learner as well as the research topic.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING;

Recognition of prior learning in the case of learners not complying with the formal entry requirements will be conducted in accordance with the policy and guidelines of the University concerning the recognition of other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. For this post-graduate qualification, recognition takes place only where learning corresponds to the required NQF-level, and on terms of applied competencies relevant to the outcomes of the qualification. Through recognition of prior learning learners may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that they continue their studies at this University.

Recognition of prior learning by the Faculty takes place in terms of an assessment procedure. This procedure includes a motivated recommendation by an assessment panel to the Dean's committee, which takes the final decision.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The learners should be able to:

1.Problem solving skills
Learners will be able to identify, analyse, reflect on and solve high-level legal problems responsibly and creatively.

2. Teamship
Learners' awareness of the necessity of teamwork and their ability to function effectively within a high-level team or organization will be enhanced.

3. Self-responsibility skills
The key to obtaining a masters degree by dissertation is indeed self-responsibility. Therefore, successful learners will have demonstrated an ability for self-study, self-discipline, initiative, and to plan, organise, manage and execute the research and writing of the dissertation responsibly and effectively.

4. Research skills
The research skills of learners will be greatly enhanced by the high-level research required by the writing of the dissertation.

5. Communication skills
Communication and communication skills, both orally and in writing, are keys to the examination and the research into the law and the writing of a quality dissertation required by this qualification and will have been demonstrated satisfactorily be a successful learner.

6. Technological and environmental literacy
The ability of learners to utilize science and technology effectively will be enhanced by the study, research and writing required by the qualification.

7. Developing macro vision
Learners' insight into the interrelatedness of the law with other fields and with society in general, as well as the influence of the law on society and vice versa, will be enhanced by the required high-level, topical research.

8. Learning skills
Being a postgraduate qualification aimed at high-level research and reflective studies, the learning skills of learners will be enhanced substantially

9. Citizenship
As the qualification is aimed at the provision of better qualified lawyers and researchers with a greater awareness and knowledge of societal issues, learner's social responsibility as citizens will be enhanced.

10. Cultural and aesthetic understanding
Learners will be more aware of and sensitive for cultural and aesthetic realities in society.

11. Employment seeking skills
As mentioned the qualification provides learners with a competitive advantage in seeking employment.

12. Entrepreneurship
The qualification provides learners with more opportunities to develop and implement entrepreneurial skills.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Can the learners:

1. Demonstrate, in written or oral form, an ability to identify, analyse and solve high-level legal problems.

2. Display an awareness of and an ability to function effectively in a team.

3. Demonstrate an ability to function effectively, in terms of organization and management, by themselves.

4. Display an ability to conduct a high-level research project successfully.

5. Demonstrate the ability and the confidence to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

6. Demonstrate the effective utilisation of scientific and technological aids.

7. Display, by solving real-life legal problems, an understanding of the place and the role of law in society.

8. Display an ability to master the current state of knowledge on a given topic in the law.

9. Display an understanding of the role of law in the development of people.

10. Display an awareness and sensitivity for societal realities.

11. Display an awareness as to how the qualification can be utilised to access the labour market.

12. Display an ability to develop and maintain, at a high-level, a career in law.

INTEGRATED ASESSMENT APPROPRIATELY INCORPORATED TO ENSURE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE QUALIFICATION IS ACHIEVED.

Assessment seeks to (1) evaluate learner performance in order to determine whether learners comply with assessment criteria; and (2) encourage and guide the improvement of the learner performance. Assessment is therefore based on the principle of continuous and regular assessment and complete and prompt feedback. Assessment consists of two components, formative and summative assessment.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT PRACTICES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED:

Formative assessment is aimed at the developing of a life-long learning culture based on continuous self-study. More particularly, in this qualification, formative assessment aims at the preparation of the learners for writing a quality dissertation. Formative assessment is conducted, first, by means of the formal oral examination. The oral examination on prescribed study material serves to assess learners' ability to engage in the type of research, and the writing of the dissertation, required for this qualification.

In the course of the writing of the dissertation, learners are required to take part in a number of seminar discussions on subjects relating to the research topic. The purpose is to assess learners' understanding of the field of the study and their ability to communicate effectively on problem areas and issues related to the research topic. In addition, learners are stimulated and encouraged by their participation in discourse on their field of study and, particularly, their dissertation.

Throughout, regular meetings between learners and their study leaders take place during which all aspects pertaining to the preparation for the oral examination, the research topic, the conducting of the research, and the writing and finalisation of the dissertation are discussed. Study leaders assess learners continuously and, equally important, guide them through the process.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT PRACTICES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED:
Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the exit-level outcomes, will be done by means of

Both in the oral examination and in the dissertation, learners are assessed on their ability to integrate prior knowledge gained in preceding studies with a deeper, high-level knowledge of the research topic gained from the research into the topic and from the scholarly writing on it. The purpose is to demonstrate a reflective and scholarly understanding of the research topic and of the relevant branch of the law. In conjunction with formative assessment, summative assessment determines whether the learner is awarded the qualification. In the summitive assessment, the final dissertation as submitted is examined by a panel of not less than three examiners. The qualification is obtained if the learner passes the oral examination and obtains a passing mark for the dissertation.

As a further demonstration of the learner's ability in this regard, the learner is required to submit a publishable article based on the dissertation which may, at the discretion of the study leader, be submitted for publication in a law journal under the name of the learner or the names of both the learner and the study leader.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

ACCESS TO QUALIFICATIONS ON A LOWER LEVEL;
In principle, it is for obvious reasons not possible for the learners to enter the qualification in mid-stream. Any relevant "credits" obtained elsewhere may, however, impact on the volume of prescribed study material for the oral examination.

ACCESS TO QUALIFICATIONS ON THE SAME LEVEL:
Learners may exit the course in the mid-stream by changing to the LLM degree by course work. In this case, the prescribed study material for the oral examination, if the learner has passed the oral examination, may serve to credit the learner with one semester course of the LLM degree by course work.

ACCESS TO QUALIFICATIONS ON A HIGHER LEVEL:
It is possible for learners to exit the qualification in mid-stream to elevate their research to doctoral level, enabling them to register for the LLD degree. Generally, the qualification enables learners to qualify for doctoral studies, nationally and internationally.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Moderation to ensure fair, reliable and valid assessment is essential.
The following mechanisms are employed:

Criteria for study material and examinations imposed by the University and respective Faculty Boards.

Another oral examination by external moderators in particular or doubtful cases.

Moderation of results by the Dean/Dean's Committee.

Global assessment and moderation by the Faculty Examination Committee

Appeals to the Dean by the individual learners.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

All internal and external assessors (moderators and examiners) will be required to:

Have an appropriate law qualification and/or equivalent practical experience in the relevant branch of the law

Have the ability to assess learners at this level;

Be nominated by the Faculty of Law for this purpose and registered with the appropriate ETQA, requiring them to comply with the other criteria imposed by the relevant SGB.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

NOTES

Old qualification.

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.

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