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 Pharmacy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
87489  Doctor of Pharmacy 
ORIGINATOR
Rhodes 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
Doctoral Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
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 
Purpose:
The aim of the qualification is to prepare specialist pharmacy professional who will be competent to make a significant contribution to the achievement of the relevant objective of the National Drug Policy.

The learner will be competent to provide specialised professional, clinical services at an advanced specialist level, and design and implement professional clinical and health related systems at this level.

The learner will be eligible to be appointed as a specialist in the Health Services of follow an academic career as a tutor in clinical pharmacy, starting at the level of senior lecturer/professor according to circumstances. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Master of Pharmacy, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The learner will be able to:
    1. Deliver advanced professional pharmaceutical services in the specialised field of study.
    2. Provide evidence of in-depth knowledge in a complex and specialised area.
    3. Generate, evaluate and synthesize information and concepts at highly abstract levels.
    4. Create original responses to abstract problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge.
    5. Design new, creative systems and drug therapies based on sound principles. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Learners will be required to provide evidence for their competence to apply advanced, specialised knowledge. They will be assessed in terms of their ability to solve complex problems in appropriate contexts. Assessors will evaluate this evidence in terms of its validity, reliability, authenticity, complexity and sufficiency. The criteria are formulated in accordance with specific outcomes. Accordingly, learners will be expected to demonstrate their ability to:
  • Develop pharmaceutical systems which ensure that the appropriate drugs are available and that they are used rationally in such a way as to improve the quality of life.
  • Develop systems to provide clinical services which include the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of pharmaco-therapeutic guidelines and patient-specific pharmaco-therapy.
  • Provide specialised, advanced, drug information and pharmaco-therapeutic education to other health professionals developing and evaluating drug use policies, formularies and rational treatment protocols, to rationalise and control drug use.

    Integrated Assessment:
    This course has two major components - a distance learning web-based course and on-site collaboration at an approved clinical site. Continuous formative assessment will be provided with the major emphasis on observations, interviews and written documentation such as case studies and portfolios. Summative assessment will use these techniques together with assignments and a research report which is based on case studies in an area relevant to the needs of the clinical site.

    On-site assessment will be undertaken by on-site tutors, and honorary associates/fellows appointed by the Institution in accordance with the institution guidelines. Web-based assessment will be undertaken by trained academicians. These assessors will be experts in their particular fields and will be qualified assessors. The assessment process will be guided by the institution's Assessment policy.

    Final assessment will be undertaken by three external examiners, at least one of which will be from an internationally recognised training institution.

    The following quality assurance procedures from part of the overall evaluation and accreditation system:
  • At least one internal supervisor/examiner.
  • At least three external examiners.
  • Requirements and guidelines of the higher education quality assurance bodies (HEQC committee and SAQA).
  • Requirements and guidelines of the institution as contained in the Higher Qualifications Guide.
  • The institution's policies on Assessment, Curriculum Development, Evaluation and the Supervision of Postgraduates.

    Quality assurance will be reinforced by process and outcome monitoring by the course co-ordinator. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy, 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. Rhodes 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.