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 Laws 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
87172  Master of Laws 
ORIGINATOR
Nelson Mandela University 
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 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  170  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 produce graduates with advanced knowledge of a specific field (or fields) of law and enhanced capacity for independent research. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Prospective students should be able to express their thoughts and ideas coherently in either English or Afrikaans and have acquired such research skills as would adequately equip them for postgraduate studies.

Specific admission requirements:

The Baccalaureus Legum degree or the equivalent thereof. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Specific Outcomes

Foundational Competencies (F)

Graduates should demonstrate:
1. Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a chose field or fields of law.
2. The ability to critically analyse and evaluate the sources of law and literature in the relevant field.
3. An understanding of the broader socio-political context of the law and the potential application and effect of the research results in that context.


Practical Competencies

Graduates should demonstrate:
1. Effective oral and written communication skills.
2. Adequate mastery of the appropriate research tools and techniques.
3. The ability to identify and define problems, uncertainties, inconsistencies and lacunae in the chosen field of law and generating appropriate solutions.

Reflexive Competencies

Graduates should demonstrate:
1. The ability to generate new scientific knowledge or a new systemization of existing knowledge or both.
2. Competent engagement in debate with a panel of experts or a peer learning group around topical issues in the chosen field of law.
3. The ability to produce a dissertation or treatise which meets the criteria for publication.

Critical Outcomes

The critical outcomes referred to in SAQA regulation 7(3) are embedded in the abovementioned specific outcomes as follows:
1. Identifying and solving problems using critical and creative thinking
2. Effective teamwork
3. Effective management of oneself
4. Collecting, analysing ad critically evaluating information
5. Effective communication
6. Effective use of science and technology
7. Understanding the inter-relation of systems in the world
8. Full personal development of the learner 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Integrated Assessment

The forms of assessment which are employed differ depending on whether it concerns a full research programme or a coursework programme:

1. Research Programme

Formative assessment takes place in two ways:
  • An oral examination of the candidate by a panel of experts;
  • Continuous assessment by the candidate's supervisor through discussion sessions and the writing of draft research reports.

    Summative assessment takes place through examination of a research report in the form of a dissertation

    2. Coursework programme

    Formative assessment takes place through structured peer group discussions as well as written assignments

    Summative assessment takes place through written examinations and a treatise 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal articulation:
    Students in a coursework programme may receive credit for outcomes achieved at another institution.

    Vertical articulation:
    Students can gain admission to the LLD or PhD degree at any University. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Research programme:
    The oral examination and the dissertation are both co-examined by at least one external examiner from another university.

    2. Coursework programme:
    The written examinations are all moderated by external moderators, and the treatise is co-examined by at least one external examiner from another university. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    A Masters degree in Law and proven expertise in the proposed field of research. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    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. Nelson Mandela University 


    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.