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: 

Bachelor of Public Health 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
91996  Bachelor of Public Health 
ORIGINATOR
Monash South Africa 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National First Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  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   2033-06-30  

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 Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) is a distinct non-clinical health science degree which introduces opportunities for graduates to become multiskilled professionals with expanded mobility in both the local and global public health workforce. BPH graduates will be equipped to be employed in positions geared at improving the health of diverse population groups at local, national and international levels through policy, programmes and research. Some graduates may decide to seek entry to a graduate entry clinical programme, others may pursue health qualification and policy work, while others may seek employment in government, pharmaceutical or broader health industries.

The Bachelor of Public Health aims to produce graduates ready to work in a local or global context and who are: critical and creative thinkers; experts within their chosen public health pathway; culturally and ethically competent; and effective communicators. The qualification is a 'new generation' Degree in that it provides flexible options for learners with defined career pathways drawing on sound graduate attributes and course outcomes, while also serving as a substantial base qualification for learners enrolling in graduate entry clinical programmes.

The qualification aims to provide graduates with the skills to:
  • Access, select, critically appraise, interpret and apply best available evidence to inform health policy, practice and systems.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of human rights, justice and equity frameworks as tools for evaluating the effectiveness of public health policy, programmes and practice.
  • Propose, plan, apply and evaluate creative solutions to a range of public health issues relevant to their professional pathway.
  • Identify the potential role and interface of political, cultural, social, behavioural and environmental determinants in the design and delivery of public health programmes.
  • Describe the strengths, limitations and potential complementarities of various paradigms and methods as they apply in public health practice, evaluation and research.

    Rationale:
    The magnitude and extent of delivery of health care services in South Africa is inextricably linked to the availability of sufficient and appropriately skilled and competent trained human resources in both basic and specialised health domains. Public health workforce needs in sub-Saharan Africa are well-documented. Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) graduates could make a valuable contribution to address the shortage in training and development of health professionals, not only in South Africa but also for Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

    Government and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) require graduates with public health policy skills. Needs analysis, policy development, implementation, monitoring, analysis, consultation processes and creation of policy awareness are key components of the skills that will be developed in the BPH qualification. Public Health graduates who can work with professionals from other fields are in demand to develop policies, programmes and research with government, the education sector, the transport sector, and the media. They might collaborate with, for example, environmentalists, demographers, sociologists, laboratory scientists and legal specialists. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    English is the language of instruction and assessment and learners must meet certain English requirements in order to be eligible for admission. It is then assumed that good oral and written communication skills are in place in the relevant medium of instruction which is English at NQF Level 4.

    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The Institution adheres to national requirements for the RPL and has an RPL policy and procedures in place. The Institution thus allows for an educationally appropriate alternative access to the qualification and may recognise the following:
  • Formal learning, such as a course offered by a professional body, enterprise, private educational institution, or by any other accredited provider recognised by the Institution. These may include professional development or on-the job-training.
  • Experience of approximately three to five years working within the industry will be considered in conjunction with the academic record of the candidate based on the institutional policy of Recognition of Prior Learning.

    RPL may also be granted for admission to the programme, where an applicant's previous non-accredited formal study or informal learning is assessed as equivalent to the prerequisite qualification.

    Access to the Qualification:
    Admission requirements for the Bachelor of Public Health are:
  • A National Senior Certificate (NSC).
    Or
  • A Senior Certificate (prior to 2008) with entry into Higher Education. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification consists of NQF Level 6 and 7 compulsory modules and elective modules that will be allocated to learners. All the modules are worth 15 Credits each totalling 360 Credits.

    Modules NQF Level 6:
  • Introduction to Public Health.
  • Data, evidence and Critical thinking.
  • Biological basis of health and disease A.
  • Global Health: Threats and Challenges.
  • Health and Social Care Systems and Policy.
  • Biological basis of health and disease B.
  • First year elective.
  • First year elective.

    Modules at NQF Level 7:
  • Health Promotion.
  • Epidemiology and Statistics.
  • Public Health Science/Public Health Programme Major 1.
  • Health Law and Ethics.
  • Health, Society and Culture.
  • Public Health Science/Public Health Programme Major 2.

    Second Year Electives:
  • Research Design and Analysis.
  • Disease Prevention and Control.
  • Global Health Inequities.

    Third Year Electives:
  • Public Health Science/Public Health Programme major 3.
  • Public Health Science/Public Health Programme major 4.
  • Public Health Science/Public Health Programme major 5.
  • Public Health Science/Public Health Programme major 6. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Access, select, critically appraise, interpret and apply best available evidence to inform health policy, practice and systems.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of human rights, justice and equity frameworks as tools for evaluating the effectiveness of public health policy, programmes and practice.
    3. Propose, plan, apply and evaluate creative solutions to a range of public health issues relevant to their professional pathway.
    4. Identify the potential role and interface of political, cultural, social, behavioural and environmental determinants in the design and delivery of public health programmes.
    5. Describe the strengths, limitations and potential complementarity of various paradigms and methods as they apply in public health practice, evaluation and research.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
  • The Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are embedded in the qualification and will be assessed appropriately. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Health information from diverse sources is retrieved and evaluated in order to inform and improve the practice of public health.
  • Quantitative and qualitative techniques for data collection and basic descriptive analysis for reporting data are described.
  • Available information is critically appraised, synthesised and applied to develop a proposed health policy.
  • Own values and assumptions regarding health, development, equity and social justice reflected within the context of a globalising world.
  • Own practice and identify strategies are critically reflected on for professional enhancement.
  • Health systems comparatively, including their political underpinnings, and the role of politics and policy in determining the architecture of health and social care systems are analysed.
  • A variety of tools and approaches available to improve population health and how public health is organised within health systems are identified.
  • Political and social systems are compared to the existing structure, functions and funding of health and social care systems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The effectiveness of public health policy is evaluated.
  • An understanding of human rights, justice and equity in the design of public health programmes is applied.
  • The history and evolution of public health in country-specific contexts with emphasis on broad influences and social movements and how they have impacted on the health of the public are described.
  • An appraisal of public health practice is written in terms of human rights, justice and equity.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • A variety of public health issues is analysed.
  • Solutions are planned and proposed for a range of health issues.
  • The importance of demographic and epidemiologic transitions in determining health outcomes at a global, regional, national and local level are explained.
  • Existing solutions to health issues and possible suggestions for improvements to these are evaluated.
  • Effective health promoting interventions are designed for communities, organisations and populations using theory and evidence to guide the selection of strategies and measurement of outcomes.
  • Strategies to address issues of capacity building, sustainability and appropriate technology transfer in public health development projects and programmes are developed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Emerging future health challenges and their behavioural, socio-cultural, environmental, economic and political determinants are identified.
  • Social, economic, environmental and cultural factors and determinants that create health and cause ill-health and inequalities are discussed.
  • The principle approaches for health issues are applied for selected populations, sub-groups and/or communities.
  • Issues of cultural context and ethical principles in data collection and interpretation are identified.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • The principles, frameworks and ideological underpinnings of various disciplinary perspectives on global health challenges are compared and their implications for practice examined.
  • A variety of tools and approaches available to improve population health and how public health can be organised within health systems are identified.
  • Public health values from different paradigms are examined.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated assessment implies that theoretical and practical components will be assessed together. Modes of assessment are integrated and include formative and summative assessment by means of: essays, literature reviews, reports, debates, case studies, oral presentations, group tasks and reflective activities.

    Learning, teaching and assessment are interwoven in that the acquired knowledge and skills are applied in the analysis of case studies, debates and group tasks. The latter two also provide an opportunity to assess the development of communication and presentation skills.

    The outcomes and associated assessment criteria are stated clearly in the unit guides. Assessment practices are open, transparent, fair, valid and reliable and this ensures that no learner is disadvantaged. This integrated approach to assessment is incorporated into each module of the programme. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    There are universities worldwide offering a Bachelor of Public Health degree. Prospective learners evaluating public health colleges have many criteria to consider, including career and education goals, available degree programmes and concentration areas. Although many careers in public health require an advanced degree, some universities also offer bachelor's degrees in public health.

    The Indiana University Bloomington in United States of America offers a four year Bachelor of Science in Public Health. The Qualification prepares learners to meet those challenges of seeking ways to maintain or improve the quality of health care in the United States. The Health Administration major prepares learners for health management careers by developing their organisational, analytical, managerial, and leadership skills. Graduates often pursue careers in the public, private, or non-profit sector in areas such as public health, environmental health, health administration, epidemiology, or health policy and planning.

    Modules:
    Public Health Course Requirement:
  • Community Health.
  • Public Health Program Planning.
  • Human Disease and Epidemiology.
  • Introduction to Health Information and Statistics.
  • Introduction to Public Health.
  • Health Care Management and Policy.
  • Environmental Health.

    Health Course Requirement:
  • Multimedia in Instructional Technology.
  • Health Care in Diverse Communities.
  • Field Experience in Public Health Education.
  • Personal Health.
  • Research and Evaluation Methods in Health and Safety.

    The qualification also consists of additional required modules that relates to Anatomy and Physiology of Human.

    Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, offers a three year Bachelor of Public Health. This qualification aims to provide learners with the knowledge, skills and professional expertise to work in a wide range of public health professions. It claims to develop a deep understanding of how good health and wellbeing may be promoted, how to protect ourselves against injury and disease, how to prevent ill-health, and of public health hazards and environmental health issues in the wider community.

    The qualification focuses on the systems and practices that shape the health of nations, communities and individuals and the environments, in which they live, work and take their leisure. Issues that help determine our total quality of life are investigated, such as globalisation, technology, environmental degradation and population trends, lifestyle and nutrition, control of existing and emerging communicable diseases, industry pollution management and food and drug safety. The qualification also integrates knowledge and practice from a range of fields such as nutrition and dietetics, occupational health and safety, occupational rehabilitation, and industrial relations.

    The University of Adelaide in Australia also offers a three year Bachelor of Health Sciences. A major in Public Health can be taken as part of the Award of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (B.Health Sc.). The major aims to provide learners with a broad-based education covering all the main disciplines required for a Public Health career.

    The qualification was designed to address the increasing demand for skilled graduates who can manage government and private agencies and programs in the context of changing public expectations, an ageing population, and a worldwide trend toward a more integrated and multidisciplinary approach to health care.

    The overall aim of the qualification is to produce graduates who are committed to advancing knowledge of health and disease and improving the health of the public. Depending on the choice of stream within the programme, graduates will have the capacity to work in a variety of health settings including government, academia, industry, business and the community, in a range of areas such as laboratory or community-based research, provision of health services, surveillance and evaluation, health promotion and policy. The graduate will possess a firm foundation for further study and be equipped for a lifetime of learning.

    Conclusion:
    The Bachelor of Public Health compares favourably with what is offered internationally, in the USA and in Australia, in terms of minimum eligibility requirements, modules offered, time allocated for teaching and tutorials, learning packages offered to students, staff qualifications and expertise in the modules offered and the assessment methods used.

    The Bachelor of Public Health also compares favourably as it offers a stronger focus on practical skills, and has a hands-on component with public health agencies.

    The technology platform, using Moodle, will play a key role in shared teaching and learning opportunities for Bachelor of Public Health learners. There will be opportunities for learners to collaborate in virtual or real learning spaces on particular projects. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal articulation:
  • Learners of this qualification may transfer from and to another Bachelor degree programme, or equivalent NQF Level 6 qualification at an accredited institution providing they adhere to the Recognition of Prior Learning credit transfer and other relevant institutional requirements.

    Vertical articulation:
  • After completion of the Degree, upward vertical articulation may occur to qualifications offered at NQF Level 7, typically an Honours Degree or postgraduate Diploma. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The Institution has also implemented a policy according to which all academic staff are obliged to obtain formal qualifications in higher education teaching during their probationary period unless they already have an equivalent qualification. 

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

    NOTES 
    The accreditation of this qualification was transferred from Monash SA to the Independent Institute of Education (IIE) in November 2018. 

    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. The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 


    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.