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 Social Science in Gender Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
81353  Master of Social Science in Gender 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
Master's 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 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 
This qualification provides for graduate training in the field of gender studies. The purpose is twofold:

1. To develop capacity in research in the field of gender studies in Southern Africa.
2. To provide well educated and trained graduates to contribute to transformation in the new South Africa through their work in the public service, NGOs, research and development agencies, education, gender desks in the corporate sector, gender sensitive researchers and policy makers in both public and private sectors. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Appropriate Honours degree. Entry is also possible through University of Natal's Rule 33 for postgraduate study. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate satisfactory competence in the substantive issues presented in the core course Gender, Politics and Theory
  • Demonstrate critical judgement in relation to theoretical debates in gender theory
  • Work in a collaborative capacity on research and / or development issues in gender studies
  • Understand the social construction of femininities and masculinities
  • Show evidence of gender sensitivity in relation to a diverse range of issues
  • Compare, analyse and synthesise academic sources from South Africa on gender issues
  • Locate questions of local and national significance in South Africa in the broader context of the region and the global context of contemporary South African life
  • Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of a selected range of legislative and policy issues in post 1994 South Africa and the capacity to critique these using gender as a category of analysis
  • Provide evidence of the capacity to undertake research under supervision
  • Demonstrate a mastery of concepts, theories and substantive issues of relevance to development in South Africa through study of elective courses in gender studies
  • Demonstrate mastery of the literature in the field of inquiry and show the ability to compare and evaluate this literature as well as to synthesise
  • Select appropriate methodologies for the design and analysis of research data in gender studies
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply gender as a category of analysis to a selected range of issues in gender studies
  • Manifest an understanding of the intersection of gender with other important social variables such as class, race, age, ethnicity, religion and sexuality
  • Handle a range of sources of academic material on gender issues
  • Conduct independent research towards a dissertation
  • Where appropriate, demonstrate the capacity to translate research findings into policy recommendation and materials or develop instruments to disseminate the research in a manner that promotes transformation. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the core elements of the programme as prescribed at each level
  • Demonstrate specific research skills such as the ability to critically evaluate text using one or more of a range of gender theories as categories of analysis
  • Present, using academic conventions, the findings of research
  • Address an audience based on background research and engage them in interaction on a topic in gender studies
  • Apply Gender Theory to personal and/or professional environment in written and oral presentations
  • Carry out a substantial independent research project conforming to acknowledged scholarly protocols


    Integrated Assessment

    Assessment employs a range of methods including oral and written assignments, applications of theory to the work place and/or personal experience of student, multimedia presentations, essays and critical reviews.

    Details are provided in the module template. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
  • Vertical - below: Recognised Honours degree
  • Vertical - above: PhD
  • Horizontal - Within the University: with the approval of the programme directors, coursework modules from other approved disciplines may be incorporated into this qualification and modules from this discipline may be incorporated into other approved qualifications.
  • Horizontal - Outside the University: subject to University recognition of qualifications and/or credits obtained at other institutions. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Both internal and external moderation are in place and are subject to Faculty and Graduate School requirements and rules. 

    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 


    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.