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 Laws 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
8885  Doctor of Laws 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
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 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
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 
Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods to demonstrate highly specialised legal expertise at Doctoral level in any chosen profession in the various fields of law. The successful learners will be competent in conducting research at this level and in a particular field of study and will be competent to become a leader in the area of his/her legal expertise.
  • In business and industry.
  • Responding to the needs of the community.
  • In the public sector.
  • In the trade unions.
  • In life-long learning and the appreciation of the value of education and society.

    Qualifiers will demonstrate knowledge, skills and applied competence in the field of study that provide opportunities for continued personal growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning:
    The qualification recognises formal and non-formal prior learning (incorporating experiential learning) at a Higher Education and Training Certificate Level 8 a in law or a functional equivalent.

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

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. The demonstrated ability/skill to achieve the major Skills/Applied Competency of the qualification.
    2. The demonstrated understanding, by the Learner, of the embedded knowledge that underpins the end result/outcome.
    3. The demonstrated ability/skill to integrate or connect our performances and to reflect on, evaluate and adopt the above competencies.
    4. To successfully complete the certificate the learner will have to demonstrate his/her learning via module specific learning outcomes as well as critical cross-field learning outcomes.
    5. Critical cross-field outcomes will include those specified in the learning outcomes for approve modules in the certificate and as appropriate to the learner's field of practice.
    6. Performing specialised functions of the professions of advocate, attorney, legal advisor and academic;
    7. Fulfil a leadership role in the wider legal professions;
    8. Apply legal research methodology in his/her chosen role;
    9. Apply and implement highly specialised knowledge in the selected field of law;
    10. Identify, analyse and methodologically resolve original advanced legal problems and advise accordingly;
    11.Conduct specialised and advanced legal research through accurate assessment of legislation, judgments and other legal developments, using the newest technology in the field of study;
    12.Practically apply communications skills in the provision of specialist opinions;
    13.Effectively participate in advanced legal discourse. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    A learner should provide evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills and attitude) by means of the following:
  • Outstanding leadership, merit and excellence in the field of law;
  • An advanced and detailed research contribution of significant legal impact;
  • Due reference to continued legal scholarship by submitting a thesis of national and international standard.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Competence is achieved, through continuous assessment by demonstrating the ability to achieve the outcomes of the qualification:
  • Oral Examination;
  • Examination of.

    Assessment documents are moderated to ensure that:
  • They conform to the scope and context of the competency as stipulated in the qualification.
  • They are constructed in such a way that the Assessor assesses the critical outcomes applied, during the Learners activity performances, towards achieving an outcome.

    Assessments are:
  • To include confirmation of the Embedded Knowledge component to ensure that the Foundational Competency is achieved.
  • To be verified by Internal Verifiers to ensure valid, credible, true and fair results. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal: The learner will be able to pursue post-graduate studies in the humanities, economic sciences or other interrelated disciplines. 

    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 2006; 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 Free State 


    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.