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 Health Sciences 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
87513  Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences 
ORIGINATOR
Walter Sisulu 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  260  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 program is designed to develop promising scientists into critical thinkers capable of initiating and implementing independent research in the health sciences. The graduates will also have the potential to become educators at the tertiary level.

Rationale:

South Africa has severe challenges in the Health Sector. There are significant inequities in access to quality health care between and within provinces, and between rural and urban areas. Part of the problem is the inadequate number of highly trained health scientists capable of training other health care delivery personnel, and in conducting research with the potential to address the unmet needs in human health. This programme is designed to increase the number of highly skilled health scientists in the country. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Prospective candidates must have completed modules dealing with statistics and research methodology. Exceptional applicants who have not completed all the pre-requisite course work may be accepted provided that the necessary levelling work is taken during the first year. A personal interview may be required.

Access to the Qualification:

Candidates for entry into the Doctor of Philosophy program must be graduates with a minimum of 600 tertiary level credits, usually in biomedical sciences or in clinical medicine. But graduates in Chemical and Physical Sciences are also encouraged to enrol as long as their field of study relates to the broad field of health sciences. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
N/A 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Doctor of Philosophy: Health Sciences Degree, learners will be able to display detailed knowledge and understanding of the health science they are specialising in. A Physiology graduate, for example, should have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the human body functioning at all levels of biological activity, from the sub-cellular to cellular, to the synergistic integration of biological function.

Specific Outcomes: Specific goals include the graduate's abilities to:
  • Critically review, appraise and synthesise the health sciences literature.
  • Plan, conduct and defend original research that creates or tests new concepts, hypotheses, models or theories.
  • Demonstrate competency in oral, written and electronic modes of communication.
  • Advance knowledge in a specific area of Health Sciences by ongoing research and scholarship.
  • Identify specific research problems and formulate testable hypotheses related to these problems.
  • Apply research findings in the design or evaluation of new approaches to patient diagnosis and treatment services, to health care delivery systems, and to health professions education.
  • Integrate principles of ethics and cultural sensitivity in all professional activities.
  • Function in a leadership role in the research, academic and clinical settings. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:

    Examination of the thesis by independent examiners, including eminent scientists external to the University, constitutes the method of assessment. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This programme compares favourably with other programmes offered internationally. The staff members linked to the programme are well grounded scientists well recognised by their peers. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Generic Articulation:

    Graduates from Masters programme in Health Sciences (biomedical, clinical, or public health). Graduates from Masters Programme in other Science disciplines (Zoology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Human/Mammalian Biology, Chemistry and Physics) can also enrol for this course.

    Specific Articulation:

    This is an Advanced Degree suitable for individuals seeking a career in academia and in research. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The Research proposal will have to be approved by the Faculty ethics Committee and by the Faculty Postgraduate Committee. These committees are composed of eminent scientists within the Faculty. The specifics of the research design, the research methods and/or experimental techniques to be employed, the data collection and analysis strategies, the statistical treatment and analysis of data, and the handling of ethical issues involved are interrogated by these committees. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Supervisors and co-supervisors shall be selected on the basis of specialisation and skills and will be drawn from the Faculty of Health Sciences. All Supervisors must possess a Doctoral Degree. There shall be three assessors (one internal, and two external). Assessors must possess a Doctoral Degree and must be scientists of repute in their field of specialisation. 

    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. Walter Sisulu 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.