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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Philosophy in Clinical Neuropsychiatry 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
79309  Master of Philosophy in Clinical Neuropsychiatry 
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
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Preventive Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  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 
Purpose:

The purpose of this programme in Clinical Neuropsychiatry is to equip psychiatrists and neurologists with the knowledge and skills required to appropriately assess and treat those conditions that have both psychiatric and neurological manifestations. This also includes basic knowledge of other, associated disciplines such as imaging and neuropsychology. The programme strives to equip clinicians with the skills to meet the increasing need for appropriate knowledge in this field in South Africa.

Graduates from this programme will be able to deal with complex issues intelligently, solve problems creatively and be autonomous in their field of specialization in terms of knowledge, skills and understanding. Graduates will contribute to the pool of academics and professionals with critical intellectual skills and capabilities to ensure the healthy continuation of the field of Neuropsychiatry.

Rationale:

Across the world Neuropsychiatry is increasingly being practised as a sub-speciality to address the knowledge and service gap between psychiatry and neurology. There are many reasons for this, including the increased prevalence of HIV and AIDS and the neuropsychiatric complications that accompany these disorders, as well as the realisation that many neurological disorders, including conditions such as Parkinson's disease, stroke and neurodegenerative disorders, have psychiatric manifestations that deserve treatment in their own right. Similarly, there is an increasing awareness of the neurological components inherent in many so-called psychiatric disorders, including the dementias, psychoses and other psychiatric disorders. There is therefore a considerable area of overlap between the specialities of neurology and psychiatry that requires specialised skills which cannot be addressed adequately in current specialist training.

The purpose of this qualification in Clinical Neuropsychiatry is to equip psychiatrists and neurologists with the knowledge and skills required to appropriately assess and treat those conditions that have both psychiatric and neurological manifestations. This also includes basic knowledge of other, associated disciplines such as imaging and neuropsychology. The programme strives to equip clinicians with the skills to meet the increasing need for appropriate knowledge in this field in South Africa. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Learning assumed:

It is assumed that learners are:
  • Fluent in written and spoken English.
  • Fluent in at least one other official South African language commonly used in the Western Cape (Afrikaans and isiXhosa).
  • Computer literate.

    Recognition of prior learning:

    The qualification conforms to the University of Stellenbosch's policy regarding Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning. The policy stipulates that the responsibility for implementation of the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning resides with the Dean of the Faculty. Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning policy and practices at departmental level is subject to an in-depth and thorough process of self-evaluation and external peer evaluation as a compulsory requirement in the process of periodical and comprehensive departmental evaluation. The Faculty of Health Sciences has an Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning policy, to which any application for Recognition of prior learning must comply.

    Access to the qualification:

    Access to the qualification is open to learners in possession of a Masters in Medicine (Psychiatry/Neurology) or who have successfully completed the exit examination from the College of Psychiatrists, South Africa (FC Psych) or FCP (South Africa) Neurology which allows the graduate to practice as a psychiatrist or neurologist. Learners must also be eligible for Registration as a professional with the appropriate Health Sciences related body (the Health Professions Council of South Africa). 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Level, credits and learning components assigned to the qualification:

    All learning is at NQF Level 9. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Graduates will be able to:
  • Be an independent learner and will have accepted the responsibility for lifelong continuous professional development.
  • Perform independent analysis of new data and clinical problems using a wide range of methods and techniques appropriately.
  • Plan, execute, interpret and publish research relevant to the discipline.
  • Read and interpret computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain, understanding the output in terms of relevant clinical diseases in psychiatry, neuropsychiatry and psychosomatic medicine.
  • Accurately assess and incorporate new, evidence-based research results when these are disseminated to the mental health field.

    Graduates will demonstrate:
  • Comprehensive and specialised knowledge of applied medicine in the area of their subspecialty, and mastery of the relevant advanced theories.
  • Mastery of advanced technical and procedural skills required for the independent practice of neuropsychiatry.
  • Well-developed research skills within their chosen subspecialty, and a mature appreciation for the international standards of Good Clinical Practice in Clinical Research.
  • Familiarity with the literature and state of research in areas related to Neuropsychiatry.
  • A comprehensive and specialised knowledge of the need and application of neuropsychological assessments in clinical practice.
  • Knowledge of the physical principles underlying clinical imaging methods in clinical psychiatry, as well as the clinical indications and limitations of each of these methods. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated assessment:

    The University of Stellenbosch has a specific policy to ensure high standards in assessment practices. The programme coordinator is responsible for ensuring that staff involved in the programme adhere to the policy and to ensure explicitness, validity and reliability of assessment practices. Module assignments, as well as the thesis, will be assessed by faculty appointed internal and external examiners. The University also employs a system of internal and external moderation of assessment of all exit level modules.

    The Senate decision that all programmes be re-evaluated and improved on a yearly basis is implemented at all levels. The programme coordinator is responsible for initiating this process and reports to the faculty's programme committee. The evaluation process includes an internal and external evaluation as well as a self-evaluation process.

    The exit examination is under the auspices of The College of Psychiatrists of South Africa. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    International comparability:

    This qualification complies with the requirements for a master's degree as required internationally in terms of both the carrying out and reporting of research and the developing of appropriate and relevant knowledge to enable the graduate to operate ethically and professionally in the field. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Articulation possibilities with related qualifications:

    The qualification articulates vertically with a Doctor of Philosophy. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The policy for External and Internal Moderation regulates the practices and procedures around moderation in programmes. The document "Quality Assurance of learning and teaching programmes at faculty level: Duties and responsibilities of Programme Committee Chairs and Programme Coordinators" spells out the details of these practices.

    Ongoing monitoring and appropriate intervention based on the informal and formal monthly feedback system has been common practice in the Department of Psychiatry for the past 20 years and is firmly based on ethical considerations relevant to clinical practice. Reports from moderators and external examiners are discussed in detail at a series of workshops held by the department of Psychiatry each year. 

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

    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.