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:

Master of Science: Polymer Chemistry

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
81913	Master of Science: Polymer Chemistry
ORIGINATOR
University of Limpopo
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 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences		Life Sciences
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	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
19712	Master of Science: Polymer Chemistry	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The purpose of the qualification is to produce competent chemistry researchers, capable of presenting their research findings in scholarly journals and before professional bodies. Furthermore, holder of this qualification will be employable in appropriate industrial laboratories, the education sector, as well as the business and sales sector of the chemical industry and economy at large.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

B. Sc. Honours in Chemistry or equivalent qualification

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning will also play an important part in determining entry into this qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

GENERAL OUTCOMES

Independently design and plan a research project

Utilise different resources to do a literature study related to the research project

Use different known synthesis, analysis and test methods to obtain the results needed to address the research hypothesis

Communicate effectively

Effectively interpret, discuss and draw conclusions from the results

Successful completion of a thesis based on the research project

Present the research results in the form of a thesis and publications

Thesis is successfully examined by both internal and external examiners

At least one relevant article is submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal

CRITICAL CROSS-FIELD OUTCOMES

Skills -> the learner has:
(a) Demonstrated analytical reasoning
(b) Shown creativity
(c) Demonstrated data analysis and computation capabilities
(d) Set up experimental design
(e) Develop problem solving and decision-making
(f) Read and comprehend chemistry literature in peer-reviewed journals

Knowledge -> the learner has learned
(a) Background literature to research project
(b) How to validate measurements
(c) Record-keeping
(d) Advanced laboratory knowledge
(e) Specific chemistry

Attitudes -> the learner has become
(a) Curious, goal-oriented and self- starting
(b) Good at playing on teams
(c) Honest, dedicated and flexible
(d) Good communication skills
(e) Safety and security aware

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Research project is designed and the candidate is able to defend the design

Satisfactorily conduct literature search in the relevant research field

Ability is demonstrated

Up-to-date notebook with data and observations is kept

Ability to discuss own results and observations in an authoritative and confident manner

Oral presentations at seminars and workshops

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Continuous assessment of design, methods, materials and techniques

Internal and external examination of thesis

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Progress to doctoral level studies in related field

MODERATION OPTIONS

All theses are moderated both internally and externally

Teaching, research and facilities are externally assessed on a triennial rotation cycle to uphold standards

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Both internal and external examiners holding doctoral degrees (or equivalent) and having extensive research records will be registered as assessors.

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 Limpopo