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 Dental Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
79136  Master of Dental Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of Limpopo 
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
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 
PRIMARY PURPOSE
To provide qualifiers with specific knowledge, skills and competence to do independent research in one of the branches of dentistry.

SUBSIDIARY PURPOSE
To provide future teaching staff for the dental schools of South Africa 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Applicants who want to register for the MDS degree must be in possession of a BDS or equivalent degree and must be registered as dentists with the medical and Dental Profession Board of the health professions Council of South Africa. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
A newly qualified Master of Dental Sciences must:
1. Know how and be able to identify a research topic of his choice.
2. Know how and be able to write a protocol for a research project.
3. Know how and be able to do a literature search and review on the chosen topic.
4. Know how and be able to find the necessary funding for research project.
5. Know how and be competent to do and manage the field /laboratory/clinical work for the chosen research project.
6. Know how and be able to do the statistical analysis of the research data.
7. Know how and be ale to interpret the results of the research.
8. Know how and be able to write as dissertation based on the results of the research.
9. Know the laws and ethical rules and regulations controlling research South Africa.
10. Know how to engage in lifelong learning through well-developed learning skills. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Integrated assessment.

In order to assess whether the exit-level outcomes have been achieved a range of formative, and summative assessments are carried out throughout the two years of study. These include written and oral tests, examinations and the writing of a dissertation based on research done by the student. The qualifier is evaluated on the aforementioned basis for both depth and width of knowledge and application and through the assessment must have proved that s/he has achieved the NQF level 8A standards. 

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
Various masters degree programmes in Europe, the Americas and Australia. 

ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
1. Articulation with qualifications at other institutions
Presently None

2. The qualification toward which the MDS graduate may proceed is the PhD degree.

3. Exit level outcomes articulating with other qualifications are
None 

MODERATION OPTIONS 
The Faculty maintains a bank of external examiners as approved by Council, with the necessary knowledge, academic qualifications and clinical/practical expertise and national and international standing, from which the external examiners are appointed. Quality assurance is achieved by the internal and external examiners who must ensure that the material contained in the dissertation is of a standard that will be acceptable for publication in an accredited international scientific journal. 

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
Staff members of the Faculty of Dentistry with the necessary academic qualifications and experience are used as internal assessors. 

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 Limpopo 


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.