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 Sport Medicine

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
49780	Master of Sport Medicine
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Preventive Health
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	300	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 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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
110987	Master of Sport Medicine	Not Applicable	NQF Level 09	180	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:

The successful learner, on completion of this programme, will be able to practice as a sport and exercise medicine practitioner or apply the principles of sport and exercise medicine in general practice. Please refer to the exit level outcomes for further explication.

Rationale:

The University of the Free State strives to establish innovative programmes which can contribute to the financial stability of the institution and address the needs of the local society. In the country and internationally a need has been identified by doctors for proficiency in the field of Sport and Exercise Medicine, and specifically for post-graduate training in Sport and Exercise Medicine. This has been brought about by the international paradigm shift from curative medicine to healthy lifestyle and preventative health care, which cannot be ignored by this university.

Sport Medicine is a relatively new field and it is imperative that students be trained in this field and that they develop basic research skills in order to be able to make a contribution to the body of knowledge in the field.

The successful learner, on completion of this programme, will be able to practice as a sports and exercise medicine practitioner or apply the principles of sports and exercise medicine in general practice.

A special feature of the programme is that it will be offered on UFS campus where the only Laboratory for the Testing of Prohibited Substances in Sport in the country operates. Close links with this unit will render the programme unique in certain aspects.

Only three similar programmes are offered in South Africa, none in the central region of the country.

The University aims at providing high level education and skilled professionals in the field of medicine to make a contribution to the health and well being of the nation. Sport has become a major activity of thousands of members of our society and through this programme a contribution will be made to the welfare and health of our people, especially in the central region of South Africa, where no similar programmes are available. Furthermore, the benefit of exercise in prevention and risk reversal of chronic disease has been established and will be promoted in the community by graduates of this programme.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

M B Ch B plus the relevant year(s) internship and relevant community service;
OR Equivalent degree on NQF level 7 which complies with Health Professions Council regulations to practice as medical practitioner.

Must comply with the regulations of the University of the Free State.

Recognition of prior learning

Not applicable, as the entry level is at least that of a registered medical practitioner.

Access to the qualification:

M B Ch B plus the relevant year(s) internship and relevant community service;
OR Equivalent degree on NQF level 7 which complies with Health Professions Council regulations to practice as medical practitioner.

Must further comply with the regulations of the University of the Free State.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

Level, Credits and Learning components assigned to the Qualification

NQF Level: 8

Total credit value: 300 credits

Duration: Three years part time residential, at 100 credits per year.

Core learning: 300 credits, incorporating credits for fundamental learning.

Broad qualification outcome: The successful learner, on completion of this qualification, will be able to practise as a sports medicine practitioner or apply the principles of sports and exercise medicine in general practice. The integrated fundamental learning will provide a sound transition from initial MB Ch B or equivalent degree.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

On completion of the qualification, learners will demonstrate an acquisition of the necessary knowledge, skills, professional thinking, behaviour and attitudes required for:

The prevention, diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries and illness - assessment criterium will be when the learner can efficiently diagnose, manage, rehabilitate and prevent exercise-related injuries and illness as demonstrated by completing numerous case studies and formal summative assessment;

Understanding, utilising and promoting the role of physical activity in the prevention, diagnosis and management of illness and disease and be able to administer comprehensive, lifestyle prescriptions on physical, nutritional, mental and occupational level - criteria to be utilized will be the appropriate prescription of relevant management;

The physical rehabilitation of patients with cardiac and other chronic diseases in order to minimise risk of recurrence, improve medical management of these conditions, and improve quality of life - criteria to be utilized will be the appropriate treatment of relevant case studies;

Optimising sports performance in athletes at all levels utilising medical, nutritional, psychological, physiological and physical tools; and

Advanced research in the relatively new field of Sports and Exercise Medicine.

A clinical case record book (logbook) will be kept to assess quality of clinical work and to comply with set professional standards.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Integrated assessment

Assessment in the programme will be based on an integrated and continuing evaluation approach.

Evaluations will be formative in nature to ensure that the processes as well as the end product are regarded as important.

Assessment in each module will be through negotiated or contracted project work related to the learners' own position/role in sports medicine. This may include components of peer-assessment.

Continuing informal evaluations will ensure that the evaluation processes are utilised as learning opportunities.

The end evaluation will comprise written and/or oral examinations and a clinical examination (OSCE) and a research paper (script).

Learners will be required to offer proof of competency through various means, including attachments to accredited Sports Medicine clinics/practices, clinical services to sports teams and completion of a clinical case record book.

Internal as well as external examiners and moderators will be used.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This qualification is in line with qualifications offered in developed countries such as Australia, Canada, etc.

In the case of South African qualifications, international registration will only take place if the respective country's regulations are complied with.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical: Master in Sport Medicine gives learners access to other advanced degrees, e.g. M D, Ph D, D Phil.

Horizontal: Master of Medicine programmes in other specialities.

MODERATION OPTIONS

A system of external peer review and evaluation is in place.

Qualifications: Minimum academic and clinical experience requirements at a level above the level of moderation.

Appropriate professional criteria will apply.

Assessment criteria as determined by the HPCSA.

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:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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 Free State