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 Science Honours in Physical Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96659  Bachelor of Science Honours in Physical Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
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 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Physical Sciences 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  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 qualification is Postgraduate specialisation qualification that serves to consolidate and deepen the student's expertise in Physical Science, and to develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques of that discipline. The qualification will include the conduction and reporting on a research topic under supervision, in a manner that is appropriate to Physical Science.

Rationale:
To provide South Africa with significant numbers of Postgraduates in the field of Physical Science in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity is widened.

The qualification will embody aspects of practical training essential for functioning as a professional scientist in a work environment. The qualification will also equip learners with the tools necessary for them to enter a path to be professional academic practitioners in their particular disciplines: again, most South African Universities insist on a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours level qualification as the minimum entry standard for further Postgraduate training. Accordingly, the qualification must embody aspects of academic training such as understanding of the scientific literature as well as furtherance of the requirements of literacy, numeracy and computer literacy first introduced in the BSc qualification. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Access to the qualification can also be provided in terms of the university's RPL policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. Students can also undergo a Portfolio Development Course (PDC) to support the student's admission. The PDC will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the candidates' interest in the discipline as an adjunct to their existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project. In addition, an application can be made in terms of rule A.2, the competency rule via Senate.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
A Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree or a relevant qualification. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Stream: Material Science (MATSCI):
Compulsory (select all modules) Credits:
Research Module 709, 20.
Applied and Computational Physics 720, 30.
Theoretical Material Science 724, 20.
Applied Material Science 725 20.
Advanced Techniques 726, 30.

Stream: Accelerator and Nuclear Physics (MANUS):
Compulsory (select all modules), Credits:
Research Module 709, 20.
Applied and Computational Physics 720, 30.
Accelerator Science 721, 20.
Quantum and Statistical Physics 722, 20.
Nuclear Physics, 30.

A Full-time student must complete the compulsory modules and electives as prescribed within a particular stream. A Full time student must complete the qualification in one year but if the student successfully attained 90 Credits. The student will be allowed to continue to complete the qualification in one additional year.

A Part-time student must complete the compulsory modules and electives as prescribed. A part time student must complete the qualification in two years. If the student successfully attained 90 Credits after two years, the student will be allowed to continue to complete the qualification in one additional year. 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the ethical and social responsibility and implications of apply knowledge to particular contexts.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the social and ethical implications of applying knowledge to particular contexts and the development of lifelong learning attributes.
3. Possess advanced academic skills to identify information needs and retrieve information; critically analyse and synthesise quantitative and/or qualitative data.
4. Ability to engage with journal articles, scholarly reviews and primary sources; and communicate information through presentation skills, using the full resources of an academic/professional discourse appropriately.
5. Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and solutions in order to be able to deal effectively with a range of concrete and abstract problems.
6. Ability to work in a team environment and to be able to manage a project in this context. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Comprehensive knowledge base in Physical Science (critical understanding of the principles, concepts and theories); and a depth of knowledge in some specialist areas, informed by current developments in the field.
  • Demonstrate the ability to engage with multiple sources of knowledge in the area of specialization that includes an understanding and application of the key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories related to the area of Physical Science.
  • Collect, understand, communicate and present an in-depth knowledge of Physical Science.
  • Identify and understand prescribed organizational and professional ethical codes of conduct.
  • Select an appropriate research approach and topic and conduct research using the prescribed quantitative/qualitative research methods in Physical Science.
  • Collect data and use a variety of analytical techniques and information technologies relevant to the area of Physical Science.
  • Grasp relevant problems, appropriate theoretical and practical assignments and case studies.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The University adopted a Continuous Assessment System. Assessments consist of number assessment events throughout the year and a variety of assessment instruments are used (for example, tests, essays, practical reports, project reports and oral presentations). 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares favourably with a similar Honour's qualification at University of Adelaide Australia. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for Vertical Articulation:
  • A relevant Master's Degree. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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 Western Cape 


    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.