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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Arts in English 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
73951  Master of Arts in English 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Language 
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 
The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the ability to conduct advanced research, to employ analytical insight within defined area of textual investigation, to record the results of the research in an acceptable format, and to employ these skills in such a way as to promote his/her opportunities for intellectual development, gainful employment and meaningful social activity. 

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

All learners who claim that they have achieved relevant prior learning which should give them access to the qualification need to apply to the Accreditation Committee of the Faculty of Arts for recognition of prior learning.

Potential learners who want to be credited for prior learning and or experience for a particular module or modules need to apply in writing to the Departmental Chairperson of the department offering the module the learner wishes to be credited for, clearly stating the title(s) of the module or modules they want to be credited for as well as the basis on which they believe the accreditation should be granted.

The principles of RPL are subscribed to and will be implemented in a flexible manner. The principle of flexible and open access will, however, be offset against the provision that this is not be to the detriment of the potential learner and that his/her chances to succeed must be reasonable.

The Committee will assess learner's competences in order to determine whether they are eligible for a) access to, b) advanced placement in or c) recognition of status for this qualification.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in English, NQF Level 8.
    Or
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in English Literature, NQF Level 8.
    Or
  • Postgraduate Diploma in English Language Teaching, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Manage his/her time productively and organise his/her context effectively.

    2. Identify and access relevant information using applicable research techniques, will be able to analyse and reflect on this information insightfully using an appropriate theoretical framework and will be able to present his/her findings according to acceptable methodological procedures.

    3. Demonstrate the ability independently to generate a plan of work that includes all aspects of the research project such as statement of aims, motivation for the study, identification of theoretical scheme, description of analytical method, dermacation of scope of investigation, presentation of findings, and recording of bibliographical material.

    4. Demonstrate the ability to identify and access relevant information and to record his/her findings in an acceptable format.

    5. Display skills of clear and effective oral and written communication, including the presentation of ideas in a reasoned and systematic manner.

    6. Demonstrate an ability to use the appropriate technology in accessing and recording information.

    7. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the nature and scope of textual studies and must locate his/her specific area of study within this field.

    8. Display knowledge of a variety of research strategies and the ability to choose the correct strategy for the specific aims of the study.

    9. Demonstrate the value of textual analysis to cultural understanding.

    10. Display an understanding of how the analytical and communicative skills acquired in the course of the research may be applied in a variety of career contexts.

    11. Display an understanding of how the analytical and communicative skills acquired in the course of the research may be applied in a variety of career contexts.

    12. Display an understanding of how the critical and communicative skills acquired in the course of the research may be used for self-development. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The learner can: / Does the learner:

    1. Display both a broad knowledge of the given field of textual study and a specific knowledge of the area under investigation and its associated problems of textual meaning.

    2. Display skills of interpersonal communication, and must listen to and speak to others with understanding and sensitivity.

    3. Demonstrate the ability independently to generate a plan of work that includes all aspects of the research projects such as statement of aims, motivation for the study, identification of theoretical scheme, description of analytical method, demarcation of scope of investigation, presentation of findings, and recording of bibliographical material.

    4. Demonstrate the ability to identify and access relevant information and to record his/her findings in an acceptable format.

    5. Display skills of clear and effective oral written communication, including the presentation of ideas in a reasoned and systematic manner.

    6. Demonstrate an ability to use the appropriate technology in accessing and recording information.

    7. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the nature and scope textual studies and must locate his/her specific area of study within this field.

    8. Display knowledge of a variety of research strategies and the ability to choose the correct strategy for the specific aim of the study.

    9. Display the ability to use techniques of textual analysis as a tool for understanding forms of social communication.

    10. Demonstrate the value of textual analysis to cultural understanding.

    11. Display an understanding of how the analytical and communicative skills acquired in the course of the research may be applied in a variety of career contexts.

    12. Display an understanding of how the critical and communicative skills acquired in the course of the research, may be used for purposes of self-development.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Continuous assessment practices form an integral part of the design of this qualification. Learning outcomes are made explicit to learners, and there is a coherent assessment strategy in place for each module, with a fair balance between formative and summative assessment strategies.

    Formative assessment practices that will be implemented:
    Interaction between supervisor and candidate and assessment of the candidate's progress will occur from the time of submission of the proposal through to the completion of the dissertation, the presentation of the seminar, and the publication of the article.

    Summative assessment that will be implemented:

    The candidate will be assessed on the written dissertation, final examinations, the seminar, presentation and the article produced for publication. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in English Literature, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in English, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Arts in English, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • External processes:

    External Examiners will be appointed for all NQF level 8 modules by the Dean of the Faculty concerned on recommendation by the academic department in which NQF level 8 modules are taken.
  • External examiners and the institutions they represent:

    One external examiner per NQF level 8 module will be appointed. External examiners will be selected from other higher education institutions or from the ranks of practicing professional people outside academia. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
  • Criteria regarding formal qualifications that assessors should have:

    At least a Master's degree in English or appropriate related field of study, and the assessor must be regarded as an expert in the subject field.
  • Criteria regarding job or learning area experience:

    An assessor should be highly skilled in the learning area being assessed.
  • Criteria regarding experience of or exposure to assessment:

    An assessor needs to have extensive prior experience of assessment, have been through a mentoring process and on-the-job training. 
    		•

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

    NOTES 
    This M.A (in English) with the endorsement qualification is registered as a separate qualification only with SAQA. At the Department of Education it is not registered separately, but it is included in the registration of the generic M.A. 

    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 Johannesburg 


    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.