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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Commerce 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
80847  Master of Commerce 
ORIGINATOR
Walter Sisulu 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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
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 
Purpose:

The purpose of the Specific Business qualification is to:
  • Prepare graduates for advanced and specialised professional development.
  • Offer the highest standardised curriculum to ensure that our learnerlearners compete and respond effectively to the needs of the business world.
  • Empower learnerLearners to conduct independent research in the business world.
  • Empower learnerlearnerss to make informed decisions based on research.
  • Empower and assist learnerlearners to improve the efficiency in advanced business management related issues.

    Rationale:

    The rationale for the development and implementation of the qualification is to:
  • Create and provide a suitable post-graduate commercial degree that provides upward mobility in the business and academic world.
  • Prepare learners with the necessary theoretical and practical business background and to expose them to advanced specific fields in the business world.
  • Provide an opportunity to carry out rigorous research on which business decisions can be made.
  • Allow learners to participate in most spheres of the economy.
  • Allow learners with the qualification to further their studies to Doctoral level. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The qualification targets all the learners who have completed a relevant Honours degree or a professional Bachelor's Degree, Level 8 or a Postgraduate Diploma, Level 8 and who wish to pursue advanced business related careers.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Recognition of Prior Learning may be used to grant access to the qualification to learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements.

    Access to the Qualification:
    The minimum entry requirement is:
  • Bachelor Honours Degree in Commerce, Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Commerce, Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce, Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification consists of one compulsory module at level 9 worth 180 credits, namely:
  • Master of Commerce Dissertation. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    After successful completion of the qualification learners will able to:
  • Demonstrate sound advanced theoretical knowledge in a specific specialist management area.
  • Provide advanced information for management decision making such as planning, organizing, leading and controlling, but in specialised areas.
  • Conduct independent research.
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses within an organisation and opportunities and threats outside the organisation) by means of continuous research in specialised areas.
  • Assess challenges in specific management areas.
  • Identify, process and communicate useful data.
  • Understand and apply advanced management theories in the own specialised areas. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:

    Learners in appropriate stages of their learning progress are assessed through proposal writing, seminar presentations, workshop activities, referencing techniques, advanced research project writing. This is meant to ensure that outcomes have been sufficiently grasped. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    All the Republic and international Higher Education institutions do offer most of the qualifications in Business since this qualification largely deals with all aspects of Business related matters. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers horizontal and vertical Articulation options.
    Horizontal articulation:
  • Master of Commerce, Level 9 in a range of fields.

    Vertical articulation:
  • Doctor of Commerce, Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce, Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The research dissertation is moderated by Senior Academics from other SA Universities. These academics have a PhD or a D Com and relevant experience (e.g. articles in refereed journals). 

    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. 

    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. Walter Sisulu 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.