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 Laws

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
8387	Master of Laws
ORIGINATOR
University of North West
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was CHE until Last Date for Achievement			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security		Justice in Society
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	150	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 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2013-06-30

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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
72805	Master of Laws	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	180	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The learner will:

1. Engage in research in a specialized area of the law;

2. Confidently apply research skills in the public or private legal employment sectors;

3. Pursue research projects, including academic research, through identification of complex problems and achieve solutions through the application of appropriate skills;

4. Prepare for further study at NQF level 8;

5. Make a contribution to the community and its legal system through scholarship.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Formal prior learning:

LLB degree or a qualification deemed equivalent for this purpose.

Informal and non-formal prior learning:

A recognition of prior learning policy will be implemented in accordance with decisions taken by professional bodies.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate ability in collecting and evaluating information in the area of law or socio-economic legal policy

2. Demonstrate ability in analysing the law or socio-economic legal policy

3. Demonstrate research skills and independent competence in pursuing research

4. Demonstrate a creative approach to solutions of complex legal issues and social policy matters in the area of law and social policy

5. Bring to a conclusion the process of research design, information retrieval and evaluation through the production of a minor dissertation

Specific outcomes

1.1. Collect information, showing familiarity with the possible sources of information

1.2. Evaluate the relevance of the information in relation to the topic of research

2.1. Analyse topics in law or socio-economic legal policy

2.2. Comment critically on topics in law or socio-economic legal policy

3.1. Prosecute research in a systematic way without extensive supervision

3.2. Make accurate judgments as to the direction of the research process

4.1. Utilise legal dogmatics and theories of law and society to elucidate the topic of the research

4.2. Propose appropriate, rational and logical solutions to the research problem

5.1. Write a logically organised dissertation presenting the findings of the process of research

5.2. The dissertation respects the rules of grammar, syntax and spelling of the language in which it is written.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1.1.1. The learner collects information using appropriate research tools

1.1.2. The learner understands the importance of the hierarchy of legal sources

1.2.1. The learner is able to select information relevant to the topic of inquiry

2.1.1. Demonstrate competence in analysing topics in the law and socio-economic legal policy using recognised theoretical approaches to the analysis of law

2.1.2. Demonstrate the capacity to come to responsible conclusions regarding the law or socio economic legal policy based on the analysis

2.2.1. Demonstrate competence in commenting on the law and socio-economic legal policy critically

2.2.2. Demonstrate the capacity to prepare submissions on the law and socio-economic legal policy based on the analysis

3.1.1. The learner makes progress without close supervision

3.1.2. The learner works in a systematic and methodical way

3.2.1. The learner makes appropriate and justifiable decisions concerning the direction of the process of research

4.1.1. The learner utilises appropriate theoretical approaches

4.1.2. The theories adopted are properly integrated with the corpus of knowledge under investigation

4.2.1. The solutions suggested are fully justified by the research findings

4.2.2. The research conclusions are rational and logical

5.1.1. The dissertation is logical

5.1.2. The arrangement is rational

5.1.3. The conclusions are justified

5.2.1. There are minimal spelling errors in the dissertation

5.2.2. The grammar, style and syntax are correct and appropriate

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Continuous assessment will take place through the evaluation of essays and reports prepared by the candidate

Summative assessment will consist of the production of a minor dissertation

Formative and summative assessment are closely integrated by means of the production of the minor dissertation

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Horizontal articulation

The qualification will give and receive recognition for equivalent qualifications at other tertiary educational institutions, enabling mobility.

Vertical articulation

The qualifications toward which the LLM graduate may proceed are doctoral degrees in law.

There are no exit level outcomes articulating with other qualifications.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The taught modules and dissertation will be externally assessed. The programme and qualification will be reviewed periodically by a panel of external assessors appointed by the Senate of the University. This review will include teaching and learning methodologies; assessment practice and programme and qualification fitness for purpose.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

University of North-West staff will be utilised as assessors in accordance with the quality assurance and promotion system of the University.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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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.

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