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 Philosophy: Physiotherapy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
86174  Doctor of Philosophy: Physiotherapy 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Rehabilitative Health/Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  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 0695/12  2012-07-01  2014-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2015-12-31   2018-12-31  

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
97068  Doctor of Physiotherapy  Not Applicable  NQF Level 10  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

To provide students with in-depth knowledge, advanced skills and applied competence in Physiotherapy that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society as well as to develop improved research capacity in the students.

Rationale:

To provide South Africa and Africa with highly skilled physiotherapists to improve the quality of physiotherapy education programmes. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Candidates must be in possession of a Masters level degree in Physiotherapy and have:
  • Prior experience in research.
  • Analytical thought at a level appropriate to conducting advanced independent research and advanced study.
  • Writing and communication skills.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Access to the programme can also be provided in terms of the university's Recognition of Prior Learning policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In the Recognition of Prior Learning process students have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course to support the student's admission as Access to the Qualification.

    Access to the Qualification:
  • Applicants with Masters level degree in physiotherapy.
  • Applicants with an Honours level degree in physiotherapy, and who have extensive experience backed up with publications in peer-reviewed journals, may also at the discretion of the University senate, be accepted into the programme. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Doctor of Philosophy: Physiotherapy, NQF Level 9, 360 credits.

    Full Research thesis. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    A physiotherapy education program with community based rehabilitation as the major cornerstone, graduates of the doctoral program shall:
  • Display expert, highly specialised scholastic and advanced research skills in Physiotherapy by conceptualising, planning, undertaking and reporting on an approved research project.
  • Possess in-depth knowledge in a complex and specialised area of Physiotherapy; be capable of information processing at the level of generation, evaluation and synthesis of highly abstract information and concepts.
  • Communicate effectively, in both oral and written modes, with peers and the broader community using the appropriate structure, style and graphic support.
  • Integrated assessment procedures to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:
    > The integrated assessment procedures with regard to the research proposal consist of consideration and approval of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, and lastly the Senate Higher Degrees Committee on behalf of Senate.
    > The integrated assessment procedure with regard to the dissertation option consists of the dissertation being examined and adjudicated by the appointed a supervisors, who one internal examiner(s) and two external examiners. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:
  • Formative assessment is provided through seminars, mentoring and supervision.
  • Summative assessment is provided through formal assessment of the thesis. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    An accepted Doctoral study, whether solely research-based or based on a programme of specified study combined with the production of a dissertation, is required to be of a standard and rigour comparable with international benchmarks. Required quality is assured by the design and implementation of external examination systems associated with doctoral degree programmes. Where possible and international assessor should be appointed as part of the external examination system. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    It is envisaged that the Doctoral programme in Physiotherapy may articulate with appropriate and equivalent Postgraduate programmes at other institutions nationally and internationally. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The programme will be moderated via a system of external peer review and evaluation. At least one internal supervisor/assessor and at least two external assessors will be appointed. The minimum qualifications for assessor will be a Doctor of Philosophy plus 3-5 years research experience in the specific focus area. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2009; 2012. 

    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.
     
    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 the Western Cape 


    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.