Qualification
SAQA ID 96654
NQF Level 09
Registered, details incomplete

Master of Arts in Geography and Environmental Science

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

Master's Degree

Credits

180

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 the Western Cape

Quality assurance functionary

CHE - Council on Higher Education

Field

Field 07 - Human and Social Studies

Subfield

General Social Science

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 primary purposes of the Master of Arts in Geography and Environmental Science is to educate and train researchers who can contribute to the development of knowledge at an advanced level, or prepare graduates for advanced and specialised professional employment or advanced research. A Master's Degree in Geography and Environmental Science is a research Masters and student must complete a thesis.

Rationale

The rationale for the Master of Arts in Geography and Environmental Science is the development of highly advanced knowledge and skills and applied competence in the area of Geography and Environmental Science and to the benefit of our students; and to provide 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 second rationale of the qualification is to provide South Africa with significant numbers of experts in the area of Geography and Environmental Science in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based scholarly activity is widened. This includes the development of new knowledge frameworks for the expansion of the field of Geography and Environmental Science in general.

Entry requirements and RPL

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Access to the qualification can also be provided in terms of the university's RPL policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In addition, in the RPL process students have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course (PDC) to support the student's admission. The PDC will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the candidates' interest in the discipline as an adjunct to their existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project. In addition, an application can be made in terms of rule A.2. The competency rule via Senate.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

  • A relevant Honours Degree.

Structure and assessment

Qualification rules, exit outcomes, and assessment criteria from the SAQA record.

Qualification rules

Full Research Thesis 801, level 9, 180 Credits.

There are no rules of combination; the student must submit a thesis for external examination.

Exit level outcomes

  1. Ability able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively.
  2. Make sound judgement using data and information at their disposal and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  3. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems.
  4. Act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level, and continue to advance their knowledge, understanding and skills.

Associated assessment criteria

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes

  • Specialist knowledge or practices, including an advance understanding and scholarship of the key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories related to the area of specialization.
  • Acquire expertise in the techniques, procedures, instrumentation and its applications in the chosen area of specialization.
  • Complete a thesis for assessment.

Integrated Assessment

The students' knowledge in the area of research will be continuously evaluated and guided by the supervisor commencing with the submission of a proposal for a Master's research by the end of their first year. This will be further evaluated by a committee of the Faculty before submission to Senate Higher Degrees Committee. Students will complete a research project to be presented as a thesis. Assessment of the thesis will be carried out where possible by international external examiners.

Progression and comparability

Articulation options

This qualification allows for vertical articulation

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

International comparability

The Master's Degree by dissertation will be comparable to those Master's Degrees through dissertation offered by international institutions. This comparable standard will be maintained through the appointment of international external examiners. Furthermore, the criteria for the successful completion of the Master's dissertation will be those criteria that are also internationally accepted.

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.

University of the Western Cape

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The intended purpose of this Master of Accountancy is to provide the learners with a professional, vocational, and sound understanding of the general theoretical principles and their applications in the field of research accountancy. The qualification will be treated according to the policies and procedures of the institution regarding master's dissertations, monitoring, and assessment of learners' progress in the qualification, provision for learners disputes regarding assessment results and Recognition of Prior Learning. The qualification aims to enhance research capacity and increase access by providing an opportunity to articulate to master's degree. The qualification will accommodate learners with a postgraduate diploma and relevant honours/qualifications on NQF level 8, a minimum of 120 credits achieved at other institutions as well as vertical articulation from relevant master's degrees.

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