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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Geotechnical Engineering 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
97913  Master of Geotechnical Engineering 
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
Master's 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  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 main purpose of this qualification is to produce learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage effectively and provide solutions to engineering challenges involving the ground control and stability encountered in the field. This professional Masters' Degree programme is aimed at learners who seek careers in fields related to Geotechnical Engineering but not necessarily research based. It will provide an intensive graduate education in Geotechnical Engineering for individuals through a combination of appropriate course scheduling and will suitably serve working professionals as it will include work that develops skills related to workplace needs.

Rationale:
This qualification is developed to cater for learners of other qualifications in Civil/Environmental Engineering or related fields. It will be a practice oriented postgraduate qualification provided as an alternative to the research intensive Master of Science Degree currently undertaken in the department which has proved challenging for learners who are in fulltime employment due to the time demand of the research curriculum. This new coursework centred Master of Geotechnical Engineering Degree is designed to assist graduate Civil Engineers and technical professionals in the development of their careers and to provide the expertise needed in the rapidly changing business, government, and industrial environments ensuring that industry workforce needs are met. 

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 institutional 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:
The minimum entrance requirement is:
  • Bachelor Honours Degree in Engineering or Geometrics. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 181 Credits.
    Compulsory Modules, 117 Credits:
  • Lateral Earth Supports, 16 Credits.
  • Laboratory and Field Techniques, 16 Credits.
  • Foundation Design, 16 Credits.
  • Geotechnical Engineering Project, 45 Credits.
  • Slope Stability, 12 Credits.
  • Geosynthetics Engineering, 12 Credits.

    Elective Modules, 64 Credits (Choose four):
  • Contaminated Land and Remediation, 16 Credits.
  • Ground Improvement Techniques, 16 Credits.
  • Advanced Soil Mechanics, 16 Credits.
  • Advanced Mechanics of Materials, 16 Credits.
  • Structural Dynamics with Applications, 16 Credits.
  • Structural Concrete Properties and Practice, 16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of advanced Geotechnical Engineering principles.
  • Be able to identify the geotechnical data relevant to a given engineering scenario.
  • Generate such data through the employment of appropriate testing techniques, and interpret the data in an engineering context.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyse Geotechnical Engineering problems and apply the knowledge in providing workable solutions.
  • Demonstrate awareness and an understanding of the developing technologies within the field of Geotechnical Engineering.
  • Demonstrate technical competence, innovation or professional expertise in Geotechnical Engineering.
  • Be able to undertake a Geotechnical Engineering project and demonstrate their ability to work independently. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1:
    The following associated assessment criteria apply across all the exit level outcomes of this qualification:
  • An advanced knowledge and understanding of the principles of Geotechnical Engineering and of their applications in a Civil Engineering context is displayed.
  • Engineering properties and characteristics of soils are identified and discussed.
  • The site investigation process from design, through testing and interpretation, to reporting is explained.
  • Creative and innovative designs which provide optimal solutions to geotechnical problems are developed.
  • The geotechnical design process, the design of foundations, slopes and earth retaining structures are outlined.
  • The geotechnical data relevant to a given engineering scenario is identify and interpreted in an engineering context.
  • Ideas, concepts and data are selected and applied from both science and engineering context, in order to generate creative and innovative designs which provide optimal solutions to geotechnical problems.
  • The ability to communicate by means of well prepared, clear and confident presentations as well as by concise and grammatical written documents is demonstrated.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative and summative modes of assessments will be used to evaluate learner progress in this qualification.

    Assessment procedure will determine how well the learner has met the intended learning outcomes of the qualification. In order to pass, the learner will need to demonstrate to the geotechnical teaching staff and an independent External Examiner that their performance against the program outcomes has been satisfactory. The learner will do this by completing an assessed assignment, sitting a written examination or completing a design project where applicable. Verbal and written feedback on assignments and projects will be provided on an ongoing basis. Learners will receive internal and external examiners reports on their research projects. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification was compared with cognate international qualifications and it was found to be comparable.

    The Master of Engineering Studies in Geotechnical Engineering offered at the University of Auckland in New Zealand is designed to develop learners with enhanced ability to contribute to geotechnical engineering practice.

    In the United Kingdom, a Master's of Science in Advanced Geotechnical Engineering offered at the University of Surrey is developed to equip learners with the skills they need to address real-world ground engineering issues and technological challenges faced by the Geotechnical Engineering profession.

    Learners will have an opportunity to carry out advanced soil testing and scaled model tests in the new Geomechanics laboratory, equipped with a range of state-of-the art advanced soil testing apparatus including Dynamic Simple Shear, Resonant Column and Dynamic Triaxial apparatus. There will also be opportunities to carry out scaled model tests on soil-structure interaction problems.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification compares very well with the two qualifications cited above in terms of content and focus. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification is designed in such a way that it satisfies the NQF's requirements for horizontal and vertical articulation.

    It articulates horizontally with:
  • Master of Engineering in Engineering Management, at NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering, NQF Level 9.

    It articulates vertically with:
  • Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management, at NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    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.