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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Bachelor of Property Studies Honours 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
88282  Bachelor of Property Studies Honours 
ORIGINATOR
University of Witwatersrand 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Engineering and Related Design 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  143  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 EXCO 0410/22  2021-07-01  2022-08-03 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2023-08-03   2026-08-03  

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
119722  Bachelor of Science Honours in Property Studies  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

The Bachelor of Property Studies with Honours aims to provide advanced knowledge in Property Studies. After completion the learner will have acquired comprehensive, systematic and integrated knowledge and techniques in property investment, property management, facilities management, property valuation and appraisal, research and team work skills. Research forms an integral part of the curriculum that will equip learners with the skills to collect and analyse data, using quantitative and qualitative methodology to produce and communicate research findings and recommendations at an appropriate level.

The Qualification aims to:
  • Provide learners with qualifying-level knowledge, skills and competence appropriate to a vocation in Property Studies.
  • Equip learners with a foundation for further intellectual development and opportunities for gainful employment and rewarding contributions to society.
  • Provide learners with the ability to solve well defined and frequently encountered problems, using well established procedures and techniques.
  • Contribute towards meeting the prerequisites for professional registration with the South African Council for the Property Valuers Profession and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, as well as to proceed for further postgraduate studies.
  • This Qualification will provide the profession with graduates who possess contextually specific fundamental skills, thereby facilitating upliftment, empowerment and transformation.

    To achieve the required outcomes in the curriculum, the modules and topics are coherently integrated in terms of the educational aims as articulated in the qualification outlines, and the sequencing of the topics as well as the learning interactions and connections between modules and topics vertically and horizontally. In this regard, the pedagogies for each module are aligned with the Purpose and Outcomes.

    Career opportunities are available in related fields such as Real Estate, Property Development, Property Investment and Property Valuation, which have been classified by the Government as being scarce skills. In both private and public sectors, graduates will find employment in companies such as banks, consultancy firms and Government departments from National to Municipal levels. Career opportunities also exist with housing associations and utility companies.

    Rationale:

    South Africa, as a developing country, should strive to improve and maintain its physical and economic development, and further development is essential to meet the aspirations of society. Such development is dependent on the provision of the appropriate forms of infrastructure, facilities and processes. But more importantly, there is a dire need to develop, manage and maintain these facilities in order to provide efficient functional service. Provision of these skills and competencies is dependent on the availability of graduates in this important field.

    Property and Real Estate studies have in recent years been introduced in South Africa. Qualifications in the field have been offered at tertiary institutions as a component of Quantity Surveying, Town Planning or Commerce. The need for Property Studies has increased due to the specialised skills required in the rapidly growing property industry. Professional Bodies such as the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the South African Council of Shopping Centres (CSCM) and the Institute of Property Practitioners of South Africa (IPPSA) have offered short courses to improve skills in the property industry. However, the need for an academic and professional qualification to be offered at tertiary institutions is required to fill the gap for professionals in the property industry, both in the private and public institutions that own, develop, use or manage land and property. In this regard, the University has developed an Honours Degree in which graduates, proceeding from the Bachelor of Science Construction Studies undergraduate qualification, can specialise and advance in Real Estate in order to contribute to the environment in which we live, its development, technological, legal, economic and financial implications of modern land use and development. The new qualification provides learners with advanced knowledge gained both in the classroom and real life work situations. It also allows for articulation into further studies at Master's and eventually, Doctoral levels. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    A typical applicant has a Bachelor's Degree in Property Studies, Construction or Quantity Surveying or other equivalent approved qualification with an appropriate grade.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Applicants who fall outside of the normal admissions process and who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that they have a qualification or experiential or Work-Based Learning which has taken them to a level equivalent to the above, under formally accredited learning, may be considered for admission through the recognition of prior learning. Applicants who, after such assessment, are deemed to have sufficient potential but are in need of further academic development, may be require to broaden their curriculum to include preliminary programmes prior to admission, or parallel programmes after admission.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Any of the following persons may be admitted as a candidate for the qualification:
  • A holder of the Bachelor of Science: Construction Studies or Bachelor of Science: Property Studies Degree.
  • An applicant who has obtained a level of competence and standard (Recognition of Prior Learning) in any other manner as the Senate may from time to time determine.
  • International learners with non-South African qualifications who have acquired a Certificate of Exemption from Higher Education South Africa before admission into the programme. The qualifications must be similar or equivalent to the above admission requirements. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Bachelor of Property Studies with Honours comprises 8 compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 with a total value of 143 Credits.

    Modules:
  • Treatise, 39 Credits.
  • Facilities Management, 18 Credits.
  • Property Marketing and Management, 17 Credits.
  • Advanced Property Finance and Investment, 17 Credits.
  • Advanced Property Valuation, 17 Credits.
  • Property Economics, 17 Credits.
  • Simulated Project, 18 Credits.
  • Practical Training, 0 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Analyse and solve problems related to the property and real estate sector.

    2. Manage legal, commercial, entrepreneurial and management issues.

    3. Communicate effectively on all matters within the property and real estate sector.

    4. Apply and/or use information technology appropriate to the built environment.

    5. Conduct research within the context of the built environment, including consideration of interdisciplinary aspects.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    The qualification offers the opportunity to develop all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Create and innovate systems of identification, assessment, formulation and solving of convergent and divergent problems encountered in the day-to-day work of the property professional.
  • Assess the impact, risks and benefits of property.
  • Exercise judgement commensurate with knowledge and experience.
  • Perform management tasks including analysis and evaluation of alternative solutions to problems or queries.
  • Identify and solve open-ended property valuation, investment and management problems.
  • Apply techniques and principles of valuation, appraisal and management to property.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of management skills.
  • Apply management principles appropriately for managing resources in facilities and maintenance of properties.
  • Apply processes of quality control and assurance within relevant legislation.
  • Adopt processes within the requirements of relevant legislation to ensure that client needs are met and customers are satisfied.
  • Demonstrate understanding of legal environmental, social and community issues as they relate to properties and facilities.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Demonstrate knowledge, ideas or concepts through effective writing and formatting of applicable letters and reports.
    > Range of effective writing includes, but is not limited to: Excellence in spelling, grammar, use of vocabulary, citing and referencing sources.
  • Impart information at meetings, interviews, in negotiations or telephonically, using presentations or any other appropriate technology.
  • Develop discernment through effective listening.
  • Use basic techniques of graphical communication.
    > Range of graphical communication includes, but is not limited to: Plans, diagrams, maps drawn to various scales, pictures, graphs and models.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Use relevant information systems with competence.
    > Range of relevant information systems includes, but is not limited to: Software systems, facilities management packages, general construction and/or design packages, communication systems, specific software for valuation and appraisal.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Implement sound research techniques, identify research problems, and formulate hypotheses, objectives and methodologies.
  • Conduct research, draw conclusions and make recommendations.
  • Participate in teamwork, recognise the roles and consider motives and viewpoints of team members.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Integrated Assessment will be both formative and. summative.

    Formative Assessment will take place during seminar presentations, discussions and tutorials. Learners are expected to participate in self-assessment, peer assessment and assessment by members of the academic staff.

    The summative component will take the form of a research project, which has design and methodological components. The assessment will thus integrate practical, theoretical and reflective competence and will be examined as an integrated piece of work in an oral examination, incorporating verbal, written and visual submissions. In addition there will be objective and structured practical and oral examinations which will require integration of information from different areas of the course content. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Wittenborg Business University in the Netherlands offers a Degree with European 240 EC Credits. The Bachelor International Business Administration with the chosen specialisation (Minor) of Real Estate Management consists of modules that include:
  • Real Estate.
  • Value and Investment.
  • Property and Inheritance Law.
  • Real Estate and Taxation in the EU.
  • Real Estate and Economics.
  • Buildings and Construction.
  • Architecture and Design.

    The University of Queensland, Australia, offers an Honours Degree in Real Estate and Development. The graduates of the Bachelor of Business Management (Honours) in Real Estate and Development can expect to find employment in the following areas: Property investment; Property development; Property management and Valuation.

    The qualification consists of following modules:
  • Regulatory Frameworks for Environmental Management and Planning.
  • Applied Demography.
  • Research Philosophy.
  • Design and Implementation.
  • Qualitative Business Research Methods.
  • Quantitative Business Research Methods.
  • Honours Thesis.
  • Four Elective modules selected from a given group.

    This Bachelor of Property Studies with Honours compares very favourably with the qualifications offered in the Netherlands and Australia. The length of the qualification, the course content, practical training, methods of evaluation, as well as the intensity of the training are fairly similar. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualification articulates with a Postgraduate Diploma or Honours Degree in Property Studies at NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with any Master's Degree in Property Studies or any other cognate Master's Degree at NQF Level 9. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal University requirements govern how and by whom moderation is performed. External examiners are appointed. The University ensures that its activities are moderated quinquennially by internal and external review. The Senate Standing Orders on Assessment of Students' Academic Performance regulate such matters. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The Human Resources members conduct interviews and appoint assessors. HR policies emphasise staff development. The Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development offers staff induction programmes where the University's policy and standing orders on assessment are explained to new academic staff. The Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development offers targeted education and training courses, and there is a strong focus on improving assessment practices, e.g. the annual Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development colloquium on assessment. 

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

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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 Witwatersrand 


    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.