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 Housing 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
72913  Master of Housing 
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal 
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 12 - Physical Planning and Construction  Building Construction 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  256  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 objective of the Masters of Housing Programme is to offer students an educational discipline and professional training in housing and shelter related issues. The programme aims to make a contribution in training housing specialists who will be conversant in different topical housing issues, and who appreciate the importance of the skills obtained in addressing the historical imbalances in housing delivery in the South African context, while gaining from experiences within the international context

This programme provides both conceptual and applied skills to enable graduates to work in a variety of planning and development oriented organisations, with the public and private sector and within, NGOs. Such academic, vocational and skills based trainings is crucial in South Africa given the stress on reconstruction and development, particularly within the sphere of urban and regional development, and the new emphasis on integrated development planning as a key element of developmental local government. This programme provides learners with the skills to operate in a dynamic and changing field 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Completion of any undergraduate degree at a satisfactory pass rate. Previous housing and development experience is a major advantage to post graduate students. Maturity and general life experience is also taken into account for purposes of admission.

For all the programmes students are assessed according to their marks, a motivation, a short essay based on a set reading, and relevant experience. The requirement for selection entry into the programmes will be an upper second pass rate in their preceding degree. Students are expected to demonstrate good writing skills and be able to communicate both orally and written form in English

Recognition of prior learning procedures are also used for access to this programme as follows:

Previous development experience is a major advantage to post graduate students. Maturity and general life experience is also taken into account for purposes of admission

Learners with non-university qualifications may enter the MTRP and Housing programmes- with a B.Tech degree as indicated above, or even a diploma and some years experience

Credits for courses which form part of the degrees, but are acquired before the degree are recognised 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. An understanding of substantive housing knowledge, in particular housing theory ad philosophy, as well as the social, economic, developmental, physical, legislative and policy links in housing

2. An understanding of human settlements, and processes affecting them

3. An understanding of political and economic processes and their impact on housing and human settlements

4. An understanding of the fundamental systems that need to be put in place for housing delivery to take place at the rate and scale required

5. An ability to undertake and assess a variety of methods of data collection and surveys

6. An ability to carry out settlement and layout planning and design

7. An ability to communicate clearly at a professional levels through written, oral and graphic means

8. An understanding of various social interests and methodologies for participation

9. A knowledge of current policy concerns and outcomes, and their impact on social and economic development

10. An ability to identify policy related issues 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
1. Show a firm grasp of substantive housing knowledge, in particular housing theory and philosophy, housing history, comparative housing delivery methods, housing policy and the relationship between housing and other political, social and economic fields and processes

2. Show an understanding of human settlements, and processes affecting them

3. Show an understanding of current housing frameworks, delivery mechanisms, institutional structures and legislation in SA.

4. Communicate clearly at a professional levels through written, oral and graphic means

5. Show an understanding of various social interests and methodologies for participation

6. Show a knowledge of current policy concerns and outcomes, and their impacts on social and economic development

7. Identify policy related issues and evaluate their importance

8. Show an understanding of the social context in which development policies are constructed, and demonstrate a concern with enhancing the life chances of all persons


INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT


The programme includes studio based courses, in which students develop plans and policies for real case study areas. These projects develop and test learners ability to integrate knowledge and apply theory to practice. The adequacy of projects developed is assessed in terms of their ability to understand and conceptualise the relevant planning issues, to develop moderately realistic plans, and to understand the exigencies of context as it affects planning processes. These courses include both individual and group work, both of which are assessed through written work, graphic and oral presentation

Many of the courses include assignments, essays and projects where learners are required to apply their knowledge to particular planning problems or questions in contemporary South Africa. Similarly, a research dissertation tests learners ability to structure , conceptualise and conduct a research process, derive relevant concepts from literature and apply them to current problems in contemporary South Africa, to integrate information and to derive appropriate recommendations for policy and planning.

Learners are assessed by class work, dissertation and examination in accordance with the rules pertaining to the modules and the level at which they are studying. 

ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
All this programmes encourages a multi-disciplinary approach in terms of access as well as fields of enquiry and skill acquisition within the modules comprising the programmes. The MTRP, MSc URP (Development Planning) and Housing are highly flexible with regard to initial access, accepting students from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds. The MTRP has further flexibility in that students with Technikon degrees and diplomas in Town and Regional Planning may be admitted, as indicated in integrated assessment.


Students may take certain approved relevant electives in other programmes with the permission of the programme director.

The MSc URP (Development Planning) is already a combination of selected courses within the MTRP programme and the development Studies programme, while the MSc URP (Environment and Planning) is a combination of selected courses within the MTRP programme and those offered within the Geographical and Environmental Studies post graduate programme. A number of electives offered in the programme are cross listed and are available to other post graduate students. Many modules are shared between Planning and Housing. 

MODERATION OPTIONS 
The programmes will make use of both internal and external assessors/examiners, and will be subject to Faculty requirements and rules. The MTRP programmes also have an overall advisor from the planning profession. The MTRP course is accredited by the South African Council for Town and Regional SACTRP has finalised its stance on the scope of planning. 

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that, on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staff are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of Faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66% of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to a qualification are externally examined. 

REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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 KwaZulu-Natal 


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.