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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of City Planning Honours 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94845  Bachelor of City Planning Honours 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
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 12 - Physical Planning and Construction  Physical Planning, Design and Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  168  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  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 primary purpose of the Honours Degree is to educate and train learners in the field of City Planning at the local and metropolitan/city scales, by developing the learner's values, conceptual knowledge and skills related to the various interlinked systems governing urban planning This includes imparting research skills.
A further purpose of the degree is to prepare learners for the linked Degree - the Master's in City and Regional Planning, as the Honours will be a pre-requisite for entry to the Masters.
The Project B (32 Credit) will essentially take the form of a research product dealing with city-wide planning issues.

Rationale:
City and regional planning is a designated scarce skill in terms of the South African Government's Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) as part of its accelerated economic growth programme. It responds to environmental, infrastructural and socio-economic priorities at national, provincial and local levels of governance, and it aims to provide spatial guidance for current and future human settlements.
City and Regional Planning is a recognised profession under the Planning Professions Act of 2003. The current two year Masters in City and Regional Planning is accredited by the SA Council for Planners (SACPLAN) allowing corporate membership of the profession. This Honours Degree together with the linked Masters' Degree will similarly provide the basis for corporate membership of SACPLAN. SACPLAN does not provide professional recognition for learners who have a non-planning Undergraduate Degree, and only one year (the honours year) of planning education. For professional registration a Master's is required. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
For the purpose of admission into the qualification applying admission criteria other than described above, learners could be assessed as per the institution's RPL Policy and Procedures.
The RPL admission route requires that learners submit portfolio of evidence of the knowledge and skills achieved through non-academic means. The information is assessed in accordance with the receiving faculty's rules and regulations. Learners who meet the criteria are allowed to proceed towards registration.

Entry Requirements:
Learners are required to have the following in place in order to be considered for admission:
  • A Bachelors' Degree in a relevant field. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of 11 modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 168 Credits.
    Modules:
  • Planning Theory and Practice, 8 Credits.
  • Urban Infrastructure, 12 Credits.
  • Aspects of City Design, 12 Credits.
  • Natural Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Planning Techniques I, 12 Credits.
  • Planning Project A, 32 Credits.
  • Urban Economic Development Processes, 12 Credits.
  • Planning and Governmental Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Regulatory and Legal Framework, 12 Credits.
  • Planning Techniques 2, 12 Credits.
  • Planning Project B (research project), 32 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Promote spatial development proposals that are informed by principles of equity, justice and mutual learning through sustained community engagement and involvement.
    2. Demonstrate awareness of ethical and political issues in planning theory and practice.
    3. Demonstrate knowledge of the debates on the interface between infrastructure and urban change in different contexts.
    4. Use advanced technical know-how and skills to address planning issues.
    5. Apply appropriate planning strategies to solve planning problems. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Knowledge of the value of the stakeholders and interest groups in the planning process is reflected.
  • Spatial development frameworks at the local scale by working with and learning from community leaders, residents, municipal officials and non-governmental organisation is integrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • An understanding of residents' rights and how they will shape spatial outcomes is demonstrated.
  • Professional ethics related to spatial planning are exhibited.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Effective skills of negotiation, mediation and leadership are exhibited.
  • Knowledge of various intellectual debates surrounding collaborative, communicative, multicultural, pragmatic, agonistic, radical and democratic planning theories is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Technical issues that may potentially impede proper planning are identified and addressed.
  • Residents' concerns are acknowledged and dealt with a consultative manner.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Relevant data in planning appropriate responses to spatial planning is analysed.
  • Areas earmarked for developments are identified and the residents are accordingly notified.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Learning and assessment across Exit Level Outcomes within the qualification should be integrated to ensure a well-structured cohesive qualification. Assessments are based on formative assessments which are in place to assure continuous learning and feedback to learners and summative assessments which ensure a judgement of learning at Exit Level Outcomes. Such assessments should assess the learner's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, competencies and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes, either as a whole or as components of the qualification. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification has been compared with similar qualifications in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. In New Zealand, the University of Auckland offers the Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours). The qualification provides learners with the knowledge and skills required for urban planning practice in an increasingly complex and diverse world. Modules covered include: Urban Planning Economics, Introduction to Urban Planning, Urban Environment Issues and Introduction to Urban Planning Law and Governance.

    The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Urban Regeneration and Planning offered at the University of Liverpool in the UK equips learners with a rounded understanding of factors and forces that are shaping urban areas and the role that planning can play in reconciling conflicting interests. Modules covered include: Urban and Environmental Economics, Living with Environmental Change, Contemporary Town Planning and Introduction to Town and Country Planning.

    Conclusion:
    The comparability studies carried out confirm the fact that this qualification is of a good academic standing and that it can compare well with other similar qualifications from some of the leading world universities. Modules covered in the above cited qualifications are geared to addressing the exit level outcomes of this qualification. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification is designed to articulate within and across the sub-frameworks of the NQF.
    It articulates horizontally in to:
  • Bachelor of Land and Property Development Management Honours in Housing at NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Housing Development and Management at NQF Level 8.

    It articulates vertically in to:
  • Master of City Planning and Urban Design at NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Urban Design at NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    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 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 Cape Town 


    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.