Doctor of Physical Sciences
Purpose:
Sources: SAQA official qualification record, SAQA registered qualifications 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
University of Witwatersrand
Quality assurance functionary
CHE - Council on Higher Education
Field
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences
Subfield
Physical Sciences
Qual class
Regular-Provider-ELOAC
Recognise previous learning
Y
Important dates
These dates are carried directly from the qualification record.
Registration start
2024-07-01
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 purpose of the qualification is to enable learners to understand Physical Sciences.
Rationale
This qualification recognises a substantial original research contribution in the chosen field or discipline made by a learner. This contribution may have been made in a field within the broad disciplines of Biological, Earth, Mathematical and Physical Sciences. It thereby adds to the advancement of knowledge in the sciences, and the learner will be capable of highly specialised and high-level practice within an academic or science-based career, so building leading-edge expertise in South Africa's scientific community.
Entry requirements and RPL
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Learners who fall outside of the normal admissions process who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that they have a qualification or experiential or work-based learning which has taken the learner to an equivalent level of a qualification specified above (under Formally Accredited Learning), may be considered for admission and/or for the recognition of prior accredited and/or prior experiential learning.
A learner must have previously gained specialised knowledge and understanding of both the structure and content of the discipline to be studied, of related concepts and knowledge systems underlying the discipline and will have mastered scientific methods of research in the chosen field or discipline.
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is
- Master of Science, NQF Level 9.
Or
- Master of Philosophy in Science, NQF Level 9.
Structure and assessment
Qualification rules, exit outcomes, and assessment criteria from the SAQA record.
Qualification rules
This qualification consists of a compulsory module at NQF Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.
- Thesis, 360 Credits.
Exit level outcomes
- The learner must demonstrate an original and distinguished contribution to science by completing a body of work that includes a set of co-ordinated publications.
Associated assessment criteria
The following Associated Assessment Criteria will assess the Exit Level Outcomes in an integrated manner.
- Demonstrate an ability to consider a range of options and make decisions about
> The scope of the research such that the substance of the publications is original and of a standard suitable for publication and has no significant overlap with work already published by other workers in the field.
- Demonstrate an expert understanding of
> The content of the chosen topic.
> Appropriate scientific or analytical methodologies and techniques.
> Literary style and presentation of a body of work acceptable in the sciences.
> Content of the chosen topic.
- Critically evaluate the use of, and explore alternatives to existing scientific or analytical methodologies and techniques in the chosen field or discipline.
- Justify publication design decisions.
- Reflect on the appropriateness of decisions made in designing and executing the research leading to the publications, and on adjustments to research design that might have been made from time to time.
- Critically reflect on peer feedback during the research and writing of the publications and the DSc submission, to incorporate sufficient critical comment to ensure academic rigour without invalidating original scholarship.
Integrated Assessment
The integrated assessment is the assessment of a set of co-ordinated publications presented by the learner.
Progression and comparability
Articulation options
This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation
- Doctor in a related field, NQF Level 10.
International comparability
This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered.
Providers currently listed
This reflects provider names published on the official record. It is useful for qualification discovery, but it should not be treated as a substitute for checking the relevant quality body’s latest provider status.
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