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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Policy and Development Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
81177  Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Policy and Development Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 7  NQF Level 08  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 
To realise a high Degree of sustained proficiency in both scholarship and professional training at all Postgraduate level in a combination of policy and development studies.

The aims to produce skilled practitioners who can help attend to the needs of governance and development, especially in South Africa, but also incomparable societies. Consequently, this qualification is both academic and vocational in its thrust. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and Development Studies, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of issues, problems, ideas, discourses, processes, structures and trends pertaining to both policy and development, especially in relation to South Africa and comparable societies.
    2. Demonstrate a full understanding of various models of public policy analysis and development.
    3. Demonstrate a comprehension of different research methods, techniques and methodologies applicable to the fields of policy and development studies.
    4. Demonstrate an acquired critical awareness and capacity for research so as to be able to investigate and understand issues, problems and trends in policy and development studies.
    5. Demonstrate independent and original research that can advance scholarship would be the ideal here.
    6. Demonstrate an ability to present research findings that meet appropriate academic and professional standards in policy and development studies.
    7. Demonstrate the attributes to become a scholar: to inculcate a passion for learning and to appreciate the necessity for accuracy, honesty, fairness, generosity, integrity in the context of policy and development studies.
    8. Demonstrate an acquired appreciation of the virtues of being an independent learner, as well as recognising the value of cooperating and collaborating with others in policy and development studies.
    9. Demonstrate an ability to respond to the challenges of democracy and development in South Africa in relation to policy and development studies. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1. Demonstrate knowledge of issues, problems, ideas, discourses, processes, structures and trends pertaining to policy and development.
    2. Demonstrate the extent to which models of public policy analysis and development are understood.
    3. Present arguments, policy designs, reports competently inclusing other written and oral assignments.
    4. Comprehend and apply of research methods, techniques and methodologies.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:
    The institution is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of almost of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.
    Seminars;
    Exercises (research methods, policy designs);
    Visual material;
    Oral presentations Essays;
    Reports;
    Portfolios;
    Research project, dissertation, thesis;
    Examinations;

    These are the various methods that will be deployed. In the case of coursework, differently in a system of continuous content and skills more generally. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Social Sciences, Policy and Development Studies, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Development Studies Honours, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in Social Science and Development Studies, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    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 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/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 KwaZulu-Natal 


    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.