Master of Social Science in Policy and Development Studies
- To realise a high degree of sustained proficiency in both scholarship and professional training at all postgraduate levels in a combination of policy and development studies.
Source: SAQA official qualification record. Yiba Verified does not own the underlying qualification data shown on this page.
Qualification type
Master's Degree
Credits
128
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 KwaZulu-Natal
Quality assurance functionary
CHE - Council on Higher Education
Field
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies
Subfield
Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship
Qual class
Regular-Provider-ELOAC
Recognise previous learning
N
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
- To realise a high degree of sustained proficiency in both scholarship and professional training at all postgraduate levels in a combination of policy and development studies.
- The aim is to produce skilled practitioners who can help attend to the needs of governance and development, especially in South Africa, but also in comparable societies. Consequently this programme is both academic and vocational in its thrust.
Entry requirements and RPL
At least a good second class pass (ca. 65%) in obtaining a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Policy and Development Studies; or a substantial equivalent deemed adequate by the University of Natal.
Structure and assessment
Qualification rules, exit outcomes, and assessment criteria from the SAQA record.
Exit level outcomes
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of issues, problems, ideas, discourses, processes, structures and trends pertaining to both policy and development, especially in relation to South Africa and comparable societies.
- Understand various models of public policy analysis and development.
- Comprehend different research methods, techniques and methodologies applicable to the fields of policy and development studies.
- Acquire a critical awareness and capacity for research so as to be able to investigate and understand issues, problems and trends in policy and development studies. Independent and original research that can advance scholarship would be the ideal here.
- Present research findings that meet appropriate academic and professional standards in policy and development studies.
- Demonstrate attributes to become a scholar: to inculcate a passion for learning, and to appreciate the necessity for accuracy, honesty, fairness, generosity, and integrity in the context of policy and development studies.
- Acquire an appreciation of the virtues of being an independent learner, as well as recognising the value of cooperating and collaborating with others in policy and development studies.
- Respond to the challenges of democracy and development in South Africa in relation to policy and development studies.
Associated assessment criteria
Demonstrate the level of competence in carrying out an independent research project on policy and development studies.
Integrated Assessment
The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all / most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.
- Seminars
- Exercises (research methods, policy designs?)
- Visual material
- Oral presentation
- Essays
- Reports
- Portfolios
- Research project; dissertation; thesis
- Examinations
These are the various methods that will be deployed. In the case of coursework, different assignments are assessed differently in a system of continuous assessment. The final examination is holistic, seeking to see how learners are able to integrate content and skills more generally. This accumulative approach might also apply to the research project for the Masters degree.
Progression and comparability
Articulation options
Exit points: Postgraduate diploma; Honours degree; advanced postgraduate diploma; Masters degree; PhD. Credits obtained for modules could readily be granted in other programmes; and qualifications acquired could be used as a means of entry to another programme.
Entry to the programme at any level is possible, provided the requirements for admission have been met. In some instances, it will be possible for learners to be given the opportunity to attain the entry requirements should their prior qualifications not have enabled them to do that.
On the Pietermaritzburg campus, links at various levels with other programmes in
- General Studies (Arts)
- General Studies (Social Science)
- Government, Business and Ethics
- Heritage Studies
- Information Studies
- African Studies
- Environment and Development
- Nutrition
- Food Security
- Education
- Business
- Psychology
- Rural Community (Systems) Development
Modules in Policy and Development Studies - especially at the Honours level - are, or could be, included in the programmes just listed. By the same token, modules from these programmes, as they unfold, will augment the offerings in Policy and Development Studies.
Notes
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.
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.
Related Qualifications
Explore other relevant certificates and degrees in this field.
Purpose:
Purpose:
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.
Purpose:
Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods to conduct research methodology as an Associate General Accountant (AGA), Commercial and Financial Accountant (CFA), Financial Manager of an organisation, Lecturer, Specialist in Auditing/Tax/Cost and Management Accounting/Financial Accounting.
Use this qualification in your readiness workflow
Once the qualification identity is clear, your institution can structure the readiness work around the right title, NQF level, dates, and supporting records instead of rebuilding that story later.