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 Physiotherapy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
97068  Doctor of Physiotherapy 
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
Doctoral Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Rehabilitative Health/Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  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 
Purpose:
To provide learners with in-depth knowledge, advanced skills and applied competence in Physiotherapy that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society as well as to develop improved research capacity in the learners.

Rationale:
To provide South Africa and Africa with highly skilled physiotherapists to improve the quality of physiotherapy education programmes. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning:
Access to the qualification can also be provided in terms of the University's Recognition of Prior Learning policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In the Recognition of Prior Learning process learners have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course to support the learner's admission as Access to the Qualification.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Master of Science in Physiotherapy, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Doctor of Philosophy: Physiotherapy, NQF Level 9, 360 Credits.
    Full Research thesis. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    A physiotherapy education program with community based rehabilitation as the major cornerstone, learners of the doctoral program shall:
  • Display expert, highly specialised scholastic and advanced research skills in Physiotherapy by conceptualising, planning, undertaking and reporting on an approved research project.
  • Possess in-depth knowledge in a complex and specialised area of Physiotherapy; be capable of information processing at the level of generation, evaluation and synthesis of highly abstract information and concepts.
  • Communicate effectively, in both oral and written modes, with peers and the broader community using the appropriate structure, style and graphic support.
  • Integrated assessment procedures to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:
    > The integrated assessment procedures with regard to the research proposal consist of consideration and approval of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, and lastly the Senate Higher Degrees Committee on behalf of Senate.
    > The integrated assessment procedure with regard to the dissertation option consists of the dissertation being examined and adjudicated by the appointed a supervisors, who one internal examiner(s) and two external examiners. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:
  • Formative assessment is provided through seminars, mentoring and supervision.
  • Summative assessment is provided through formal assessment of the thesis. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    An accepted Doctoral study, whether solely research-based or based on a qualification of specified study combined with the production of a dissertation, is required to be of a standard and rigour comparable with international benchmarks. Required quality is assured by the design and implementation of external examination systems associated with doctoral degree qualifications. Where possible and international assessor should be appointed as part of the external examination system. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Physiotherapy, 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. 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.