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: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
72991  Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health 
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
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  128  Level 7  NQF Level 08  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 programme will provide people interested in pursuing a career in public health, whether as practitioners, managers or researchers, with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes. The neglect of public health training has contributed to the poor performance of health services in South Africa. This programme will begin to redress the backlog in public health training within the region.

The DPH will enhance the effectiveness of health workers at all levels by providing them with basic skills in the principles and methods of public health. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Applicants for the programme must have:
i. At least a three-year Bachelors degree or recognised equivalent.
ii. Adequate writing and numeric skills.

The number of places on the programme is limited. Applicants will be selected by a selection committee on the basis of:
  • prior work experience
  • future career plans
  • employer support
  • commitment to public health
  • academic merit
  • addressing representivity 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Understand the social, economic and political context of health and health services;
  • Be able to gather and analyse the necessary data to describe the health status of a population;
  • Be able to identify and evaluate health risks in the physical, social and psychological environment;
  • Be able to use public health principles and methods to address health problems in a population;
  • Understand the organisation of health services in South Africa and how to operate effectively within them;
  • Understand and interpret published studies on public health problems. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Demonstrate knowledge of current health policy and legislation;
  • Demonstrate the ability to engage with debates on current health policy;
  • Demonstrate the ability to answer integrated practical assignments and case studies;
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply learning to own work situation;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of implications of policy for health managers;
  • Demonstrate the ability to understand and evaluate public health studies.

    Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:

    Integrated assessment will be used for formative and summative assessments. Assignments and examinations will primarily focus on the application of learning to specific problems and contexts rather than the reproduction of theoretical knowledge. Real problems and case studies will be used wherever possible.

    Assessment methods will include:
  • Evaluation of class preparation and participation
  • Individual and group written assignments
  • Individual and group oral presentations
  • Case studies
  • Written, practical and oral examinations
  • Computer-based examinations 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Articulation possibilities with related qualifications (either generic or specific arrangements for articulation). Articulation possibilities will increase as public health modules and programmes are developed within the region and throughout the country. Completion of the DPH will allow students with a three-year Bachelors degree to enter the Masters in Public Health (MPH) Programme.

    The University of Natal is a member of the Eastern Seaboard Association of Tertiary Institutions (esATI). One important initiative of esATI is to collaborate on the development of public health training in the region. The School of Family and Public Health Medicine is participating in the development of a regional DPH programme and it is envisaged that modules would be transferable between postgraduate programmes of the esATI institutions. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under Assessor Criteria suffice. 

    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), staffs 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 qualifications 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.