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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Urban and Regional Planning 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
99193  Master of Urban and Regional Planning 
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda 
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
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 is to prepare planners who intend to further their studies after the BURP in planning to go a little deeper at the master's level by preparing a proposal for a master degree which is presented to the University of Venda Higher Degree Committee for approval before writing the dissertation.

    The Level Exit Outcome is NQF Level 9 entails the following:
  • Ability to undertake both research and field data collection skills to enable graduates to work in a variety of planning and development oriented organisations, research institutions and parastatals, private consulting companies and non-governmental organisation (NGO's) in the field of planning. Such academic and research skills is crucial in South Africa given the emphasis on reconstruction and development, particularly within the sphere of urban and regional development, and the current emphasis on integrated development as a key element of developmental local government.
  • This programme provides learners with the skills to operate in changing Research and Development dynamic and the changing built environment.

    Rationale:
  • To produce a graduate who is able to deal with complex urban and regional planning issues both systematically and creatively.
  • To undertake research topics that cut across a wide field particularly integrated development planning and urban and regional spatial economic and development planning and the details of professional bodies include the following:
    > To provide research service to national and private research intuitions and private consultancy firms.
    > To fulfill the requirements set by the South African Planning Institute (SAPI) and the South African Council of Town Planners (SACPLAN in terms of research output).
    > Research for government entities such as the provincial legislature, and spatial planning at the level of districts and local municipalities.
  • The leaners will operate within the research environment by acquiring the knowledge to prepare a research proposal for a Master's Degree which is presented to higher degree committee for approval before writing the dissertation and on completion the qualifying learners will have the opportunity to work in urban planning related research institutions, the research units of the provinces, districts and municipal level of governance spatial planning sections, national departments dealing with settlement, transportation, local economic development and land development issues.
  • The appropriate leaning pathway in which the qualification resides on graduating with the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning, learning can continue in the department at the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Level of studies or peruse a Postgraduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning in the department. In addition to this graduates can pursue a career pathway in academics and professional areas such as transportation planning, city planning, economic development planning, human settlement in the build environment.
  • The benefits to the leaner on obtaining the qualification includes the follows:
    > To reach out to communities where possible, by way of practical research and projects, and to make this information accessible to interested constituency groups.
    > To undertake research on imbalances of the past especially with respect to spatial imbalances in urban and rural areas in the area of service delivery.
    > To develop and refine research methodologies relevant to development and planning.
    > To assist in continuously evaluate planning, teaching and learning methodologies to ensure effective planning education. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The admission of candidates is according to the University of Venda`s official Policy on Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) which falls in line with South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requirement for prior learning particularly those learners who have working experience in the built environment and are equipped to successfully complete the qualification.

    Entry Requirements:
    Admission requirements in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) are on NQF Level 8 Professional Bachelor's of Urban and Regional Planning Degree at Honors level. However, RPL route is sometimes broaden and employed to access candidate beyond these requirements:

    The candidate should have completed the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (BURP) Honours from the University of Venda or any other university in the country or abroad with similar qualification in the built environment with an average score of 60% and above in all subjects or an average of B or a second class Degree and up.

    The admission of candidates via prior leaning is according to the University of Venda`s official Policy on Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as contained in the University calendar which falls in line with SAQA RPL requirement for prior learning particularly those learners who have working experience in the built environment and are equipped to successfully complete the qualification. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The rules of combination for masters by research in the field of urban and regional planning constitute: - Regional Planning, Settlement Planning, City Planning, and Rural Planning. The requirement is that graduates exit is at NQF Level 9. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. The ability to write a master dissertation proposal.
    2. The ability to conduct research.
    3. Ability to report and/or document research. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The masters dissertation research topic is concisely defined.
  • The research problems are clearly stated and summarised in such a way that it warrants the need to undertake the research.
  • The research topic must be relevant to the field of urban and regional planning and the built environment in general.
  • The literature review should be relevant to the research topic and in the field of urban and regional planning ensuring that all key publications are cited.
  • There should be synergy and coherence between all components of the PhD proposal, the statement of research problems, the aim and objectives and how they correspond to the methodology.
  • The ability to demonstrate the feasibility of the research project within the given time and budget available.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The ability to plan and carry out the research project.
  • The ability to management the research project.
  • Demonstrate the ability to collect research data and ensure appropriate analysis.
  • The ability to show that there is scientific accountability of measurements i.e. ensure objectivity , reliability and validity of the parameters of the research.
  • The ability to deal with the research contingency and risks issues as they arise.
  • Presentation and interpretation of the research results.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Scientific writing ability.
  • The ability to analysis and interpret the research results in the context of current knowledge in the field of urban and regional planning.
  • Ability to reason and write clearly.
  • The validity of the conclusions i.e. how they achieve the research aim and objectives set at the beginning.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The assessment of the MURP by research is three-fold as follows:
  • The presentation and approval of the proposal by the University of Venda Higher Degree Committee.
  • The continuous assessment of the dissertation by the supervisor until it is ready for examination and he or she must return at least a pass before it is sent out to external examiners for assessment.
  • Two external examiners must return at least a pass after reading the final dissertation before it is considered a pass dissertation.
  • The dissertation is examined by two external examiners who must return at least a pass each. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Master of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Venda by research was benchmarked against the MURP at Copper Belt University in Zambia, the MURP by research at Portland State University in USA, the University of California MURP from the USA and the MURP at University of Queensland in Australia:
  • The Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) by research is designed for those interested in undertaking research in planning work as researchers. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontally Articulation:
    The Master of Urban and Regional Planning Degree programme by research permits the candidate to have access to undertake the following Degrees:
  • Masters of Science in Urban and Regional Planning in Development Planning.
  • Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning in Environmental Planning.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning.

    Vertically Articulation:
    The Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) qualification provides access to a Doctorate of Philosophy qualification with the logical extension of outcomes at the higher level:
  • Doctor of Urban and Regional Planning. 
    		•

    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 Venda 


    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.