Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy
Purpose:
Source: SAQA official qualification record. Yiba Verified does not own the underlying qualification data shown on this page.
Qualification type
Doctoral Degree
Credits
360
Sub-framework
HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
Providers listed
1
Qualification snapshot
Official qualification identity fields captured from the qualification record.
Originator
North West University
Quality assurance functionary
CHE - Council on Higher Education
Field
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services
Subfield
Promotive Health and Developmental Services
Qual class
Regular-Provider-ELOAC
Recognise previous learning
Y
Important dates
These dates are carried directly from the qualification record.
Registration start
2021-07-01
Registration end
2027-06-30
Last date for enrolment
2028-06-30
Last date for achievement
2031-06-30
Purpose and entry context
Official SAQA text formatted for easier reading.
Purpose and rationale
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy is to provide training for an academic career in the field of pharmacy. It requires a learner to research the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. A learner may also present peer-reviewed academic articles and papers in partial fulfilment of the research requirements.
Through this qualification, learners will be provided with the opportunity to undertake independent research and advanced study under the guidance of a supervisor in a particular subject area within the field of the Pharmacy (Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Chemistry), building on knowledge normally gained at Masters or an equivalent level. The thesis presented must constitute a substantial contribution to the national and international advancement of knowledge and understanding in the field of pharmacy through original research that meets international standards.
Rationale
The rationale of the qualification is to provide the learner with highly advanced knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in the field of Pharmacy that presents opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, as well as the pursuit of gainful economic activity and the ability to make rewarding contributions to society.
The qualification will also provide South Africa with significant numbers of experts in the field of pharmacy to ensure that the local and international leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based scholarly activity is widened. This includes also the development of new knowledge frameworks for the expansion of the field of pharmacy.
Entry requirements and RPL
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Where learners do not meet the minimum admission requirements, RPL may be used to grant access to the qualification. RPL will be applied according to the Recognition of Prior Learning, credit accumulation and transfer, and assessment (CHE 2016) and the institution's policy. Learners will be assessed against NQF Level 9 competencies.
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is
- Master of Pharmacy in Pharmacy Practice, NQF Level 9.
Replacement note
This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.
Structure and assessment
Qualification rules, exit outcomes, and assessment criteria from the SAQA record.
Qualification rules
This qualification consists of the following compulsory module at NQF Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.
Compulsory Module, Level 10
- Thesis, 360 Credits.
Exit level outcomes
- Demonstrate a depth of knowledge and high levels of theoretical understanding in a complex and specialised area in the field of Pharmacy and/or across specialised or applied areas.
- Demonstrate intellectual independence and advanced research skills through the ability to apply sophisticated knowledge and research methodologies for the solution of complex, unfamiliar problems in the field of Pharmacy and the competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines.
- Deal with complexity, lacunae and contradictions in the knowledge base of Pharmacy.
Autonomously generate, synthesise and evaluate information and concepts at highly abstract levels and make sound evaluations based on independently generated criteria.
- Question existing knowledge boundaries and practices in the field of Pharmacy and create responses to problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge.
- Show mastery of the literature and state of research in a specific area within the field of Pharmacy.
- Demonstrate research leadership within the field, including the ability to plan, resource, manage and optimise all aspects of processes engaged in, within complex and unpredictable contexts.
- Demonstrate high levels of responsibility, self-reflexivity and adaptability, concerning the ethical implications of research, the determination of socially relevant issues and research needs in South Africa, and the ability to relate these issues to international contexts.
Associated assessment criteria
The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be applied in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes.
- Generate and display specialised knowledge and high levels of theoretical understanding in a complex and specialised area within the field of Pharmacy and/or across specialised or applied areas and make an original contribution to the knowledge society in the discipline they are researching on.
- Apply and develop intellectual independence and advanced research skills, sophisticated knowledge and research methodologies to the solution of complex, unfamiliar problems in the field of Pharmacy.
- Apply and develop competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines in the field of Pharmacy.
- Generate, synthesise and evaluate information and concepts at highly abstract levels and make sound evaluations based on independently generated criteria.
- Show mastery of the literature by producing original insights into new and complex ideas, information and issues in a specific area of the field of Pharmacy.
- Plan, resource, manage and optimise all aspects of research processes within complex and unpredictable contexts in the field of Pharmacy.
Integrated Assessment
Formative assessment will be undertaken through research proposal defence and feedback from the Research Committee and other feedbacks from the promoter (supervisor). Learners will submit a thesis on discrete research that was conducted under supervision in which the student is expected to present integrated research findings, interpreted and linked to the existing literature but with a level of novelty, across the entire area of investigation for summative assessment.
Progression and comparability
Articulation options
This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation
- Doctor of Philosophy in Transdisciplinary Health Sciences, NQF Level 10.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutics, NQF Level 10.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, NQF Level 10.
International comparability
Country: Australia.
Institution: University of Sydney.
Qualification Title: Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy.
This qualification is similar to the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy offered by the University of Sydney in terms of the following:
Both qualifications share a similar purpose, qualification outline and research focus but differ slightly in the admission requirement. In both qualifications, care is taken to provide an opportunity for intensive research training and in allowing learners to only pursue research from one of some fields in which the respective schools have expertise. Similar to this qualification, the research areas for the Doctor in Pharmacy offered at the University of Sydney in Australia focuses on the following themes: cancer; cardiovascular and diabetes; mental health; healthy ageing and respiratory disease. These are common themes reflected in the South African and the Australian Government's national health priorities.
Both qualifications share the same duration of two to three years full-time. Although both qualifications accept a master's qualification performed at high academic standing with a substantial component of original research as an admission requirement, the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy offered at the University of Sydney in Australia also accepts a Bachelor's Degree with first or upper second-class Honours. This is not the case with this qualification. Moreover, both qualifications are offered as full-research qualifications.
This qualification compares favourably with the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy offered by the University of Sydney. However, this qualification is unique by the generic approach to Pharmacy research that opens the qualifications up for the development of qualifications in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Practice and Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Country: USA.
Institution: University of Southern California.
Qualification Title: Doctor of Pharmacy.
This qualification is similar to the qualification offered by the University of Southern California in terms of the following:
Both qualifications share a similar purpose of challenging learners to new possibilities and career opportunities through longitudinal research experience to learners who are interested in pursuing a research-intensive career. The duration for this qualification is three years full-time while for the Doctor of Pharmacy offered by the University of Southern California is five years. However, the School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California has an accelerated option for learners who want to complete the qualification in three years. They are encouraged to pursue the research Area of Concentration to take advantage of the dedicated time for research. Both qualifications are research-intensive, however, the Doctor of Pharmacy offered by the University of Southern California has coursework components while this qualification is research concentrated only. Nonetheless, learners in both qualifications are expected to submit a thesis or dissertation as part of their summative assessment.
Despite the few differences, it can be concluded that this qualification compares favourably with the Doctor of Pharmacy offered by the University of Southern California. However, this qualification is unique by its generic approach to Pharmacy research and by the extra focus on the South African context.
Providers currently listed
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