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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Visual Arts in Photography 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96948  Master of Visual Arts in Photography 
ORIGINATOR
Vaal University of Technology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Film, Television and Video 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  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 purpose of the qualification is to:
  • Generate learners who have enhanced levels of professional practice within their domains/disciplines within Visual Art and Design, in such a way that the learner can contribute creatively and critically to the discipline and the profession.
  • Empower the learner to engage in advanced research practice within the selected discipline/domain, either through pure critical and analytical engagement, or through a combination of critical and analytical engagement as well as related professional and creative practice.
  • Foster contributions to academic and professional outlets (such as publications, art and design exhibitions, and time line based productions) that will share such new knowledge with society and the world.
  • Guide and supervise such critical and creative endeavours in such a way as to find their presentations in Higher Education accepted practices such as research reports/dissertations.

    Rationale:

    This qualification applies to persons who wish to further their studies through research within an appropriate discipline related to the photography and media production field. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Because this qualification caters for the enhancement of critical and creative thinking in professions that are burgeoning at an exponential rate, any learner who applies for consideration for entrance to the qualification, who has completed the entrance qualification requirements more than 10 (ten) years before the application consideration, may be subject to an Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.

    Furthermore, under exceptional circumstances, applicants who demonstrate a comprehensive footprint in the relevant industry may apply for RPL consideration. In such a case, and where appropriate, the learner will be compelled to complete a recognised Research Methods course where this has not been completed. In all cases, the RPL process will followed the institution-accepted procedures but the applicant may also be required to submit a substantial portfolio of creative and/or design work as well as any other body of evidence requested by the selected discipline. This is a specific requirement should the applicant opt for the dissertation with body of work approach to the qualification.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Multimedia Design, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Fine Arts, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
  • This qualification comprises of compulsory dissertation or course work with mini dissertation at NQF Level 9 totaling 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Manage the stock and logistics of a retail business following current industry practices for ethics and corporate governance. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Plan an appropriate strategic stock and logistics which will demonstrate knowledge of the logistics function is developed for a business.
  • Plan for a year on stock and logistics of a retail business as well as stock and logistic objectives, policies, strategies, action plans and a logistics budget.
  • Design an effective stock control system.
  • Comply supplier specification policy to ensure the right supply of prescribed products at the required conditions.
  • Determine the best possible way of transporting products from the supplier to the business.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Because the outcome of the degree (as indicated above) is by dissertation or dissertation and body of work, the assessment is only summative in nature. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Within the domains of Visual Art and Design, determining international comparability is a difficult process:
    In the United States of America, the Masters Degrees at the equivalent level fall into two categories: The Master Arts is by a course work and dissertation, but the bulk of the work is theoretical and analytical in nature, with very little requirement for creative and professional practice. At the same level, the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree is predominantly geared to practice of and in the discipline, with very limited critical and theoretical engagement. The qualification being applied for here does not offer specific course work options, arguing that much of the course work may have been undertaken in the previous degrees, and thus attempts to marry the creative practice and the theoretical and analytical justification of the decisions made in the creative design practice, or offers only the theoretical and analytical option.

    In the Master of Arts qualifications in related disciplines in Britain, Finland, Australia and New Zealand, for example, the same "split" suggested in this qualification is evident: some Master of Arts are by traditional research (theory and analysis) only, and some have adopted the PAR (Practice as Research) and PLR/PBR (Practice-Led Research/Practice-Based Research) approaches. For example, Queensland University of Technology, in their Art, Performance and Design domains, offer two Masters degrees: an MA (by theory and analysis) and an MCI or Master of Creative Industries (which fosters a PAR or PLR/PBR approach). The Degree being applied for here attempts to provide both options under one Degree umbrella, thus catering for the advanced academic profession and the advanced creative professional.

    The qualification being applied for here provide the participants with an option to extend their critical practice, or theoretical understanding related to practice. Critical practice projects will be supported by a dissertation that critically contextualises the learners' creative practice, whereas critical theoretical dissertations can promote the theoretical understanding of creative practice as knowledge. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Visual Arts in Multimedia, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Visual Arts in Graphic Design, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Visual Arts in Fine Art, NQF Level 9, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor in Visual Arts in Photography, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Visual Arts, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    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. Vaal University of Technology 


    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.