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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Doctor of Psychology

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
81221	Doctor of Psychology
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
Doctoral Degree	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 10	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 091/21	2021-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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.

This qualification replaces:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
20916	Doctor of Psychology	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 10	128	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

To provide students with a broad and relevant range of applied psychological skills for assessment, diagnosis and intervention that will enable the student to complete practical training towards registration with the Professional Board for Psychology as a Psychologist.

To introduce students to basic and advanced elements of professional practice of psychology as defined by Statutory Professional Bodies.

To acquire knowledge of theories and methods of psychology and related disciplines for the critical understanding of self, others and society. This knowledge base is used in the service of the application to various settings for psychological intervention

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Students are eligible to apply for selection for admission to the D Psych degree after completion of the B Psych (Professional Studies) degree or equivalent four-year degree, the M Psych degree, or a relevant recognised masters or Honours degree with psychology as a major.

Students will be required to have passed courses in research methods and statistics in their curriculum at level 7, as well as in other areas of professional and academic competence specific to their chosen field of study at the doctoral level, as specified by the School of Psychology.

Due to this being a professional training course recognised by the Professional Board for Psychology with a limited number of places and staff resources, acceptance to the course is by selection procedures designed by the School of Psychology.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Demonstrate competence to execute tasks and responsibilities of a professional psychologist at the Doctoral levels as defined by Statutory Professional Bodies.

Demonstrate capability of critically evaluating and applying psychological theories and methods of enquiry with respect to individuals, groups and social institutions.

Demonstrate the capacity to apply basic psychological understanding and procedures in the realm of work with individuals, groups and social institutions.

Demonstrate appreciation of and respect for diversity of human and social experiences and institutions.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The assessment criteria for exit point qualifications are directly linked to the exit level outcomes relevant of the tasks of a professional psychologist as defined by Statutory Professional Bodies. The learner will need to demonstrate theoretical and practical competence in those tasks necessary to assess competence and responsibilities of a professional psychologist at the Doctoral level as defined by Statutory Professional Bodies.

Students will meet all requirements for the award of the degree, as well as passing the requirement to produce an integrative, reflective and original dissertation.

Integrated Assessment

Competence to execute tasks and responsibilities of a professional psychologist. Capability of critically evaluating and applying psychological theories and methods of enquiry with respect to individuals, groups and social institutions. The capacity to apply basic psychological understanding and procedures in the realm of work with individuals, groups and social institutions.

Learner's professional competence will be assessed by means of assessment portfolios that will include the following methods:

Written examinations designed to assess learner's capacity to integrate material from various sections of a module and construct a critical argument and opinions aimed at researching and/or resolving a psycho-socio problem.

Seminar papers designed to elicit learners' skills in researching a topic, to synthesise information, to analyse a statement or question, to develop a reasoned argument, and to present their work as a coherent written and/or oral submission.

Paragraph and essay tests and examinations, designed to assess learners' capacity to integrate material from various sections of a module and construct a critical argument.
Essay assignments, designed to elicit learners' skills in researching a topic, to synthesise information, to analyse a statement or question, to develop a reasoned argument, and to present their work as a coherent written submission.

Tutorial assignments, designed to assess the capacity of learners to execute specific tasks related to the material incorporated into the module. Practical assignments, designed to examine learners' competence to perform psychological tasks and to integrate findings into a theoretical or practice framework. Tutorial and practical presentations, designed to assess learners' capacity to present work, orally or in written format.

Research reports, designed to assess learners' abilities to synthesise existing knowledge and to report on the theoretical and methodological features of their own research. Capstone modules and/or capstone requirements within a module - such as an integrative essay, report, or dissertation.

Together, these portfolios of assessments are designed to evaluate learners' competence in the exit level outcomes of the programme. That is:

Knowledge and understanding of psychological theories and methods of enquiry with respect to individuals, groups and social institutions

Capacity to apply foundational psychological understanding and procedures in the realm of work with individuals, groups and social institutions

Ability to conduct psychological enquiry at the level of the exit qualification

Appreciation of and respect for diversity of human and social experiences and institutions

1. Practical assignments designed to examine the learners' competence to perform psychological tasks and to integrate findings into a theoretical and/or practical framework.
2. Reflective self-reports by learners to assist them in monitoring their personal progress and capacity to integrate theory and practice into coherent professional and personal development.
3. Independent research projects required to assess the learners' capacity to apply psychological theories and methods to researching particular questions or issues.
4. Oral examinations designed to assess the capability of learners to integrate all components of Professional Practice and to apply them efficiently and ethically to particular problems and situations.
5. Reports from case work supervisors designed to evaluate the learners' professional development in terms of the core skills for a psychologist as well as in the ethical professional behaviour.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

The articulation possibilities of the programme are limited by the professional nature of the programme. Credits can be transferred from the B Psych to the Advanced Diploma in Social Science and to the Honours Degree in Psychology in the Programme of Psychological Studies as well as from modules in the Advanced Diploma and Honours Degree to the degrees in the Professional Programme. The similarity of the module credit structure of these courses allows for flexibility of transfer of credits according to the approval and satisfaction of the Board of the School of Psychology.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Programmes in psychology are subject to rules and regulations laid down by the Professional Board for Psychology Regular inspection of the programme by the Professional Board for Psychology National Accreditation Examination of the College of Psychology. Appointment of external examiners and detailed consideration of examiners' reports and comments.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that, on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staffs are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of Faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66 % of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to a qualification, are externally examined.

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 KwaZulu-Natal