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: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
86386  Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health 
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  Promotive Health and Developmental 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
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 provide learners with in-depth knowledge, advanced skills and applied competence in Public Health that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.
  • To provide South Africa with a critical mass of highly skilled person power in Public Health to ensure that the country attains a competitive edge in Public Health Knowledge and innovation.
  • To enhance the capacity of learners to act as change agents in the health system, to promote public health and prevent disease, to develop improved public health policies and practices, to develop improved public health research capacity.

    Rationale:
    The main aim of the qualification, established at this institution in 1992 is to contribute to the transformation of the health sector, from a curative, hospital-based service to quality, comprehensive, community-based system, through developing and strengthening public health practice. Public Health is rightly emerging as one of the key pillars of the health system in South Africa. However, at present, there is a dearth of health professionals trained in Public Health. There is a clear need to fill this void. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning:
    Access to the qualification can also be provided in terms of the institution's Recognition of Prior Learning policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In the Recognition of Prior Learning process learners have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course to support the learner's admission. The Portfolio Development Course will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the learner's interest in Public health as an adjunct to their existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Master of Arts in Public Health, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Minimum credits required at specific levels:
  • 240 credits for the research thesis are at NQF Level 8 of the National Qualifications Framework.

    Duration: 2 years.
    Total credits: 240. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Display expert, highly specialised scholastic and advanced research skills in Public Health and be able to perform complex and highly advanced procedures across health disciplines in highly specialised and unpredictable contexts.

    2. Possess in-depth knowledge in a complex and specialised area of Public Health, be capable of information processing at the level of generation, evaluation and synthesis of highly abstract information and concepts; and be capable of creating responses to abstract problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge.

    3. Communicate effectively, in both oral and written modes, with peers and the broader community using the appropriate structure, style and graphic support. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:

    Learners will present a formal research proposal for the qualification by the end of their first year. This will be assessed by a committee of at least three professors, one of which must be external. Learners will complete a research project to be presented as a thesis. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification is in line with most international Doctorates and has compared well with the equivalent qualification at Flanders University. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal articulation:

    Horizontal Articulation
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    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; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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 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.