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: 

Higher Certificate: Military Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
73560  Higher Certificate: Military Studies 
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
National Higher Certificate  Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Safety in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 5  NQF Level 05  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 
This qualification includes the various specialisations in Military Studies. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

Purpose:

The Parliamentary initiative, the Military Skills Development Strategy (MSDS), aimed at improving the quality of the human resources available to the Department of Defence (DOD), and through the DOD to the South African citizens in general, was initiated during 2002. Prospective officers recruited from the annual MSDS intake are required to enrol for the HCMS. The HCMS was designed to address the need for higher education for officers (first qualification) as defined by the SANDF's Human Resource Strategy 2010. The Qualification: HCMS therefore will provide the student (prospective officers in the SANDF) with:
  • A firm Education, Training and Development foundation on the entry-level of HE allowing access to further contracts and functional training required for their further military careers.
  • Provide the successful candidates with a first (HE) qualification in a career of life-long learning, facilitating articulation to degree studies.
  • Transferable skills and attitudes that will improve the quality of the human resources available to the Reserve in particular and the body of South African citizens in general.

    The HCMS will promote knowledge, aptitudes and skills regarding the five focus areas (Human and Organisational Development, Organisational and Resource Management, Military Technology, Technology and Defence Management and Security and Africa Studies) in the military context:
  • Contributing to and facilitating professional and personal growth.
  • Providing such depth to successful candidates that they may gain access to further studies in the BMil Programme in one of the focus areas.
  • Providing education in one of the focus areas on the introductory level enabling successful candidates to effectively function on his/her applicable level and to assist his/her commanders/managers in the SANDF in relating matters.

    Rationale:

    The HCMS will be presented within the framework of the standing agreement between the Department of Defence and the University of Stellenbosch dd 31 Jan 1961 as amended (see Addendum to the agreement dd 7 Dec 1999):
  • Participation in and contributing to the success of the Parliamentary Initiative of the Military Skills Development System (MSDS) through the HCMS, thereby assisting the DOD in improving the educational level of it's officers corps, will not only contribute to the SU's posture as institution of excellence, but will confirm the SU's commitment to a new democratic SA and its position as a national asset. Indirectly contributing to a security environment that will ensure a stable platform for NEPAD and the RSA's position and role in the AU.
  • The contribution of the SU and the Faculty of Military Science to the professional and personal growth of the South African National Defence Force's (SANDF) future leaders (prospective career officers) by positively contributing to their scientific capacity through this entry-level qualification, as a first step in a career of life-long learning, will be further institutionalised through the HCMS.
  • Participation in and contributing to the success of the HCMS would ensure the SU's and Faculty of Military Science's position as centre for academic scholarly and scientific practice enabling SA and the SANDF to remain the regional leader in the security sector.

    The interest of the SANDF in terms of it's Institutional Mission and Plan will be served as follow:
  • The HCMS as medium through which a 1st HE qualification would be obtained, will contribute to the strategic focus of the DOD "acquiring the optimal level of competencies to become a modern and balanced defence force" through higher education.
  • The HCMS serves as platform on which further officer education would be based, providing knowledgeable leaders through which the DOD would be able to enhance national, regional and global security. The stable security environment would provide the platform for the successful implementation of initiatives like NEPAD and facilitate the effective functioning of organisations like the African Union.

    Military Academy's Institutional Mission and Plan:
  • Presenting the HCMS would contribute to the institutionalisation of HE as integral part of officer development in not only the SANDF, but eventually also at a regional level in Southern Africa and the African continent.
  • Presenting the HCMS would facilitate the integration of the Military Academy in the ETD system of the DOD and would contribute to the Military Academy's stature as an Academy in benchmarking with other military academies. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Applications are considered in accordance with the SU and Faculty "Policy for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning" and decisions are reported to the Executive Committee of Senate (SU).

    Access to the Qualification:

    Matriculation Exemption :
  • Module requirements: Mathematics and Military Physics; D symbol (Higher Grade) or B symbol (Standard grade) in Mathematics.
  • Military Geography: E symbol (Higher Grade) or D symbol (Standard grade) in Mathematics or Geography.

    The HCMS is a NQF Level 5 qualification with articulation possibilities to the NQF Level 6 BMil Degree. The minimum admission requirements for the BMil degree therefore apply. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Exit Level of programme; NQF Level 5.
    Duration; 1 year full-time.
    Total Credits; 120.

    Learning Component; NQF Level:
  • Core; 5. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    N/A 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The programme involves contact teaching, tutorials and practicals. A student-centred approach, encouraging students to assume responsibility for their own learning and actively participate in class and tutorial discussions, is followed. Guidelines applicable to specific modules are explained in comprehensive study guides provided to all students.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Regular assessment and feedback will be provided to students.

    The objective of academic support enjoys a very high priority, with the following support provided for:
  • Academic Support Programme.
  • Personal Development.
  • Diversity Accommodation.
  • Generic modules supporting general academic performance.

    (Computer Skills, English Studies)
  • Subject-specific academic support.
  • Language development.
  • Information literacy. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    N/A 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Articulation on Entry: Matriculation Exemption/FTC .

    Articulation During: None.

    Articulation on Exit: BMil. Should the student opt to continue with degree studies immediately on completion of the HCMS, the HCMS will not be awarded. Continuing with Degree studies at a later stage will be treated through the normal RPL processes.

    Articulation; Non-Professional Programme:
  • With the preceding qualification; NA.
  • Is the preceding qualification offered at the institution?; No.
  • At the exit level; BMil.
  • With the next level qualification; NA. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    All modules in this programme will have internal assessment, and internal and external moderation. Since contact teaching and learning is the primary mode of delivery for Stellenbosch University, as well as for this programme, the institutional "Assessment policy" and "Regulations for internal and external moderation and the processing of results" apply directly and are appropriate. 

    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 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    This qualification includes the following specialisations:
  • Higher Certificate in Military Studies in Human and Organisation Development
  • Higher Certificate in Military Studies in Organisation and Resource Management
  • Higher Certificate in Military Studies in Security and Africa Studies
  • Higher Certificate in Military Studies in Military Technology
  • Higher Certificate in Military Studies in Technology and Defence Management 
    		•

    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.