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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Education 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
3801  Master of Education 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
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 05 - Education, Training and Development  Higher Education and Training 
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 
The degree provides advanced training in the field of study including techniques of research, data analysis and Scholarly presentation appropriate to the discipline. The degree will equip the candidate with the knowledge and the skills necessary either for employment in a related field (including teaching and research positions) or for further independent research toward the degree of Ph D. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Minimum Entrance Requirements
A degree of Honours bachelor or its equivalent, in the discipline or a cognate discipline recognised by the Faculty.

Assumptions.

People who have shown by examination or publication or a record of appropriate training that they have reached a level in the subject or a cognate subject equivalent to an honours degree may be permitted to register for the degree.

1. Senior certificate with Matriculation Exemption or Equivalent university admission qualification
2. First degree, BA
3. Honours degree, BA (Honours)

Recognition of prior learning (e.g. Work or field experience (if applicable)

Non-Honours graduates who have shown by examination or publication or a record of appropriate training that they have reached a level in the subject or a cognate subject equivalent to a bachelors degree may be permitted to register for the degree. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
(a) Critical cross-field outcomes (generic to all teaching and learning)

(i) The Masters graduate is able to demonstrate mastery to depth of a theoretically sophisticated subject matter
(ii) The Masters graduate is equipped with the proficiency in research methodology sufficient to proceed to a PhD. Graduates have mastered the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, collection and analysis of data, and effective written communication.

(b) General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

Depending on the discipline, the research masters graduate is able to:

(i) Conduct independent research in a discipline (or inter-disciplinary field);
(ii) Apply in-depth and specialised disciplinary knowledge and research skills to specific empirical cases and topics;
(iii) Demonstrate an awareness of the limitations of research and an ability to make claims with appropriate conditions;
(iv) Draw on discipline based knowledge to identify appropriate cases to devise hypothesis creating and answering comparisons;
(v) Analyse and critique communications of an academic and popular nature;
(vi) Prepare research reports and literature studies to established academic standards required for publication in professional journal and effectively present research in readable form to lay audiences;
(vii) Appreciate the ethical issues associated with research and knowledge production in the discipline;
(viii) Understand the processes whereby knowledge in the specific field of Humanities is constructed.

(c) Specific Outcomes, including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated)

Depending on the discipline the research masters graduate is able to:

(i) Identify and understand at an advanced level the main trends, themes and debates within the field;
(ii) Identify, debate and apply at an advanced level the main theoretical approaches developed in related knowledge areas;
(iii) Apply relevant methodological approaches and key research techniques;
(iv) Conduct advanced literature searches to inform reviews of specialised literature in the field;
(v) Prepare professional papers for peer review
(vi) Where relevant, apply cross-disciplinary knowledge to respond to practical problems facing society in transition in Africa generally and South Africa in particular;
(vii) Prepare and present research proposals and to act as a research and policy consultants in relevant fields. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
(a) The achievement of these outcomes is assessed in the integrated assessment of the programme.

(b) The achievement of these outcomes is assessed by means of the dissertation itself.

The outcomes are assessed as follows:
  • Completion of written assignments, oral presentations, projects and term papers in relevant competence areas;
  • The completion of a research dissertation that includes components.

    Integrated assessment

    The integration of skills learnt in the Masters degree is assessed by means of a supervised dissertation not exceeding 50,000 words. The dissertation must demonstrate competence in the following areas, all of which are assessed in the examination of the dissertation:
  • Adequate research problem formulation and development;
  • Familiarity with and integration of the relevant and specialised literature that informs the research question; I
  • Application of relevant theoretical approaches and key research techniques at an advanced level;
  • Systematic and sustained discussion and argumentation and integration of findings;
  • Ability to address the normative issues that might attend the study;
  • Appreciation of the methodological limitations of the study;
  • Use of the publication and style conventions of the discipline.

    The dissertation is subject to external examination.
    It is not essential that the dissertation submitted by the candidate constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the subject nor that the research projects(s) undertaken necessarily be original. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Title(s) of related qualification(s)
    PhD

    This qualification serves as an entry Point to the related to the qualification(s).

    Entry to qualification in mid-stream
    Not possible

    Other higher education programmes which articulate with this qualification without 'going back to square one':

    The Masters Degree articulates with the PhD in the Faculty of Humanities. When dissertation progress is reviewed at the end of each academic year, the Faculty Board, on the recommendation of the supervisor and the Head of the Department, may recommend that the candidate's registration be up-graded to a PhD and that the period of Masters registration beyond the minimum period of one year be recognised towards the two year minimum period of study for PhD. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The University of Cape Town has a system of external peer review and evaluation of each course. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The academic staff of the University of Cape Town will be used in a manner, which is consistent with the quality assurance system of the University. 

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

    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 Cape Town 


    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.