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 Policy and Development Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
81365  Master of Social Science 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
Master's 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  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 
  • To realise a high degree of sustained proficiency in both scholarship and professional training at all postgraduate levels in a combination of policy and development studies.
  • The aim is to produce skilled practitioners who can help attend to the needs of governance and development, especially in South Africa, but also in comparable societies. Consequently this programme is both academic and vocational in its thrust. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    At least a good second class pass (ca. 65%) in obtaining a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Policy and Development Studies; or a substantial equivalent deemed adequate by the University of Natal. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • 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.
  • Understand various models of public policy analysis and development.
  • Comprehend different research methods, techniques and methodologies applicable to the fields of policy and development studies.
  • Acquire a critical awareness and capacity for research so as to be able to investigate and understand issues, problems and trends in policy and development studies. Independent and original research that can advance scholarship would be the ideal here.
  • Present research findings that meet appropriate academic and professional standards in policy and development studies.
  • Demonstrate attributes to become a scholar: to inculcate a passion for learning, and to appreciate the necessity for accuracy, honesty, fairness, generosity, and integrity in the context of policy and development studies.
  • Acquire an 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.
  • Respond to the challenges of democracy and development in South Africa in relation to policy and development studies. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Demonstrate the level of competence in carrying out an independent research project on policy and development studies.


    Integrated Assessment

    The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all / most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.
  • Seminars
  • Exercises (research methods, policy designs?)
  • Visual material
  • Oral presentation
  • Essays
  • Reports
  • Portfolios
  • Research project; dissertation; thesis
  • Examinations

    These are the various methods that will be deployed. In the case of coursework, different assignments are assessed differently in a system of continuous assessment. The final examination is holistic, seeking to see how learners are able to integrate content and skills more generally. This accumulative approach might also apply to the research project for the Masters degree. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Exit points: Postgraduate diploma; Honours degree; advanced postgraduate diploma; Masters degree; PhD. Credits obtained for modules could readily be granted in other programmes; and qualifications acquired could be used as a means of entry to another programme.

    Entry to the programme at any level is possible, provided the requirements for admission have been met. In some instances, it will be possible for learners to be given the opportunity to attain the entry requirements should their prior qualifications not have enabled them to do that.

    On the Pietermaritzburg campus, links at various levels with other programmes in:
  • General Studies (Arts)
  • General Studies (Social Science)
  • Government, Business and Ethics
  • Heritage Studies
  • Information Studies
  • African Studies
  • Environment and Development
  • Nutrition
  • Food Security
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Rural Community (Systems) Development

    Modules in Policy and Development Studies - especially at the Honours level - are, or could be, included in the programmes just listed. By the same token, modules from these programmes, as they unfold, will augment the offerings in Policy and Development Studies. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under Assessor Criteria will suffice. Internal and external examining, which is supplemented by a review process of higher degrees carried out by the Faculty of Human Sciences. 

    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.