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: 

Doctor of Education 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
7615  Doctor of Education 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 05 - Education, Training and Development  Higher Education and Training 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  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 Education. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

To accredit a final qualification for researchers in the field of Education, Training and Development for academic, professional and occupational purposes. Since it is a high level academic qualification, the programme focuses on developing competence that can be applied to develop new knowledge in a learning area/subject/discipline. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
A recognised university degree at NQF level 8 or equivalent. Candidates are admitted to study for the D. Ed. degree after obtaining an M. Ed. or any other Masters 'degree in Education, or to study for the D. Phil. degree after obtaining any other approved Master's degree. The area of research should be one in which the candidate is deemed to be qualified and must be relevant to education. The general rules specify the general requirements for doctoral degrees. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Qualified education and training researchers have demonstrated the ability to:

1. Identify and formulate a researchable problem that will generate new knowledge

2. Develop a research design to validly and reliably collect and analyse data pertaining to the identified researchable problem

3. Select, justify and employ research methodologies appropriate to address researchable problems

4. Design an appropriate and defensible theoretical framework within which to embed a research project

5. Use technology to collect data and to assist with the analysis of data

6. Respond to ethical issues involved in research

7. Present the researchable problem, theoretical framework, the research methodologies employed, the data and its analysis, research findings, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations in a coherent text of acknowledged scholarly value

8. Organise and manage a research project 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Qualifying students are able to:

1. Identify and solve education problems by using critical and creative thinking

2. Work effectively with others in the context of the school, workplace or research community

3. Organise and manage their professional activities responsibly and effectively

4. Collect, analyse and critically evaluate information on education

5. Use science and technology effectively and critically

6. Communicate effectively as an education and training researcher

7. Demonstrate thorough understanding of education and its relation to other facets of our world.

Integrated assessment: (designed to capture learner capability / applied competence at exit points)
  • Assessment comprises the examination of the written dissertation by at least four experts in the area of study of the student. At least two of these experts must not be attached to the institution and at least three experts must not have been directly involved in the production of the dissertation.
  • Assessment criteria derive directly from the exit level outcomes. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The qualification adds value by providing status as a highly qualified practising researcher in educational research, evaluation and measurement. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The recommended moderating body for this qualification is the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council for Higher Education. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The staff in the Faculty of Education will act as assessors within the quality management system of UWC. This quality management system includes external assessors from other universities. 

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

    NOTES 
    This qualification includes the following specialisations:
  • Doctor of Education in Leadership and Management
  • Doctor of Education in Educational Studies
  • Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies
  • Doctor of Education in Adult Education 
    		•

    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. University of the Western Cape 


    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.