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: 

Master of Music 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
7163  Master of Music 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch 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 02 - Culture and Arts  Performing Arts 
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 
*to equip students with a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of the issues and problems pertinent to a particular field of music study as part of the humanIties (including the social sciences), including music performance, and of past and current approaches to these and to prepare students to participate succesfully in the searvch for reliable and innovative approaches;

*to enable students to do advanced and independent research through rigorous in research methods, and to introduce them to the world of scholarly communication;

*to ensure that South Africa has sufficient specialists music practioners by equipping students with a comprehensive set of specialised and focused skills applicable achosen area of speciality within the broader field of the performing arts, teaching proffesiion, music journalism and related fields;

*to prepare students for doctoral study;

*to provide students with opportunities for attaining proffessional artistic fulfilment and making an artistic contribution to the South African and international community; 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Senior Certificate with Matriculation Endorsement or equivalent university admission qualification.

In the case of the two-year MMus, BMus degree, or a qualification regarded by the Senate as equivalent as well as supplementary modules equivalent to an Honours degree, BMus degree, or a qualification that is regarded by Senate as equivalent. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Generic/ Critical cross-field outcomes:

Depending on the chosen sub-field, the successful MMus student will have:

1. The ability to think in terms of theory, and to integrate such knowledge with an understanding of the practicalities and problems of the arts and humanities;
2. The ability to work systematically, independently and creatively, yet be able to function within a production team;
3. The ability to organise ideas and communicate them effectively using visual, linguistic and kinetic skills in oral, written, musical and media formats;
4. The ability to participate in scholarly, artistic, policy-making and other debates in the humanities.

Specific outcomes:

The successful MMus student will have:

1. Comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical and methodological traditions in musicology or music education or music performance, within the appropriate contexts;
2. The ability to identify and define complex problems of a theoretical, musicological or performance nature, and provide solutions for these;
3. Mastery of performance or/and research skills and of the art of scholarly or/and artistic persuasion;
4. Familiarity with the standards in the relevant discipline;
5. The ability to proceed with an advanced level of professional and academic training at doctoral level; and
6. (Where applicable) the skills and aesthetic ability to perform professionally in public. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
The assessment of the MMus is based on one of two possible formats: a purely academic study (option I below) or a combined practical and research option (a combination of I and 2 below).

1) The assessment of scholastic skills and knowledge, which takes the form of written and oral examinations, essays and research projects leading to an integrated thesis on a chosen topic of specialisation. Competence in this category will be demonstrated when the information and conceptual content of the work submitted by the student is correct, innovative and when the student demonstrates a clear ability to interpret questions, to analyse and interpret information, to communicate the resulting deductions clearly and logically, utilising the appropriate discipline-specific conventions.
2) The assessment of creative, performance, technical, administrative and other practical skills, which takes the form of an assessment of practical work assignments. Competence in this category will be demonstrated if the student demonstrates a significant degree of competence in the specific skills required of the student's particular area of specialisation, a thorough knowledge of the related theoretical concepts and conventions, and a clear ability to apply these skills, theories and conventions in a persuasive and creative manner within the broader context of a practical performance.

Integrated Assessment:

Integrated assessment takes place on the basis of a full thesis or on a public performance plus smaller thesis, submitted for examination at the end of the period of study. Competence in both thesis and performance will be demonstrated by the student's ability to integrate and activate such skills and knowledge in a comprehensive work of scholarly and/or musical communication. 

ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification(s)

DMus
DPhil 

MODERATION OPTIONS 
The University of Stellenbosch has a system of external peer review and evaluation of departments. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department.

External examiners/assessors are nominated in each field of specialisation in the MMus programme and their appointment is subject to the approval by the Faculty Board in the Faculty of Arts. 

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
The academic staff of the University of Stellenbosch will participate in a manner that conforms to 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; 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. Stellenbosch University 


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.