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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Advanced Diploma in Public Health 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
98985  Advanced Diploma in Public Health 
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  168  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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.  

This qualification is replaced by: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
110975  Advanced Diploma in Public Health  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The awareness of health promotion's potential to mitigate the current epidemic of preventable chronic and infectious diseases has led to an increase in resources for health promotion in the Western world. Yet, there is a shortage of trained professionals to maintain the latest developments in the field. This qualification will assist in that regard as learners will contribute to public health development through the development of their own leadership skills and knowledge.

Problem-based learning will be utilised to support learners in the use of current theories, research, strategic plans, policies and evidence based practices. The qualification will provide basic research skills to health leaders and practitioners in order for them to provide relevant services in line with the current needs of the clients under their care.

Upon qualifying, learners will be to:
  • Conduct research and present the findings.
  • Think in a critical, reflective way and take effective action in addressing priority problems in public health strategic leadership and management.

    Rationale:
    The Advanced Diploma in Public Health will enable learners to proceed to a higher level, of study within a structured programme framework. The demand for highly trained Public Health Managers by both the private and public sectors requires that learners have adequate research training, especially at the postgraduate level.

    The qualification will satisfy the above needs by offering knowledge in specific fields and imparting familiarity with relevant theoretical approaches, as well as providing research training accompanied by the appropriate use of advanced methodologies. The basic mini-dissertation will enable learners to proceed from this thorough grounding to conduct research.

    The purpose of the qualification is to build the country's mandate of re-engineering Primary Health Care (PHC) through health system transformation and strengthening as well as through quality management of both the private and public sectors. Furthermore, the qualification aims at strengthening middle management and leadership capacity within the health sector by preparing professionals to play leadership roles in service delivery, research and management of the health care system.

    The qualification enables learners to exercise basic knowledge and skills in an applied manner within the health sciences with an inherent, economic relevance as well as contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

    The qualification provides South Africa with a significant number of qualified competent learners that will ensure a balance in health service delivery as well as effective health service leadership and management. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The University's rationale for RPL is part of the National Plan for Higher Education in South Africa, with specific reference to the emphasis on increased access to higher education, the broadening of the social base of higher education and on increasing the number of learners.

    The evaluation of prior learning is an academic task and, like other forms of assessment, is done by academic experts in a given field, drawing on other experts as needed.

    RPL is based on a developmental model, not a deficit model of adult learning; it builds on knowledge and skills that adults have already acquired.

    RPL will be used to grant access to learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements and to grant credits for prior learning.

    Entry Requirements:
  • A Diploma, Level 6.
    Or
  • A relevant Bachelor's Degree at Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 7, totalling 168 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, 152 Credits:
  • Public Health Foundation module, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Team Building and Leadership, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Project Paper, 40 Credits.
  • Public Health Governance, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Budgeting and Finance, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Human Resource, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Resource Management, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Drug Management, 16 Credits.

    Elective Modules, 16 Credits. Choose one of the following:
  • Public health HIV and AIDS, STI and TB, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Women's Health, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Child Health, 16 Credits.
  • Public Health Mental and Disability, 16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Think in a critical, reflective way and take effective action in addressing priority problems in public health strategic leadership and management.
    2. Conduct basic research and present the findings. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Integrated knowledge in the field of public health strategic leadership and management is applied.
  • Health systems are monitored and evaluated in order to improve equity, access and quality of health care services.
  • Various strategies to identify health and public health problems are applied.
  • The key labour legislation impacting on the South African employment relationship is understood.
  • The ability to lead and function effectively within the group/team work throughout the programme is shown.
  • Leadership and management skills are shown in evaluating public health studies.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • A programme within the health sector is designed, developed, implemented and evaluated.
  • Research projects are developed, implemented, and the report is written and the research results are presented in seminars and workshops.
  • Dialogue and debates with current health policy issues are engaged upon.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The assessment policy of the University applies to all assessments irrespective of whether it is formative and summative. Each module will be assessed using both formative and summative assessment and a minimum of 50% is required. The research work will be assessed according to the University's policy. Formative assessment may be done by means of:
  • Assignments and tests.
  • Individual and group projects.
  • Seminar presentations, policy debates, round table dialogue and workshop activities.
  • Tutorial sessions.

    The summative assessment will be conducted at the end of each semester for the entire coursework whereby a portfolio of evidence will be submitted and no formal examination will take place at the end of the year. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Tel Aviv University in Israel offers an Advanced Public Health Diploma which is geared towards empowering people and societies to make healthy choices and improve health. The objective of the Advanced Public Health Diploma is to train health promoters and health promotion researchers. The qualification incorporates education in health promotion theories and practice with the basic scientific disciplines of epidemiology, biostatistics, and qualitative methods. The knowledge produced through the Department's research is used to communicate to the public, policy makers, and practitioners on how to advance the health of populations.

    The qualification aims to:
  • Provide learners with the essential tools to develop, adapt, and implement health promotion programmes and strategies.
  • Integrate health promotion into a variety of disciplines and professions.
  • Contribute to the development of the field through research and training.

    At the University of Queensland in Australia, the Graduate Diploma in Public Health is offered. This qualification introduces health professionals from a range of backgrounds to the key elements of public health. It allows them to explore population perspectives on health and disease and health systems responses to these. It introduces the necessary skills for analysing the patterns of disease in populations, their determinants and associated factors and provides an overview of behaviours that contribute to disease in the community, and the development and implementation of appropriate interventions.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification compares favourably with the above cited international qualifications in terms of the skills and the knowledge the learners will acquire upon completion. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers no specific horizontal or vertical articulation opportunities with qualifications offered by the University of Fort Hare.

    The qualification offers systemic articulation possibilities with qualifications offered by other institutions provided the learner meets the minimum entry requirements. They are:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma: Health Care Management, Level 7.
  • Advanced Diploma: Health Services Management and Leadership, Level 7.

    Vertical articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, Level 8. 
    		•

    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 of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.
     
    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 Fort Hare 


    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.