Master of Urban and Regional Planning
Purpose:
Source: SAQA official qualification 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
0
Qualification snapshot
Official qualification identity fields captured from the qualification record.
Originator
University of the Free State
Quality assurance functionary
-
Field
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction
Subfield
Physical Planning, Design and Management
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 this qualification is to deliver leaners that have the academic knowledge, with adequate experience, to enable them to register as professional urban and regional planners with South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN). It aims to produce leaners that are able to undertake a wide ambit of planning work including strategic spatial planning and urban and rural land use management on various scales as well as preparing layout plans for new developments, and development or regeneration proposals.
The qualification aims to deliver leaners with an advanced level of training and to equip them with the necessary professional skills to enter into specialised employment.
Rationale
The qualification is intended to produce leaners who can register as Professional Planners once they have completed their mandatory post-qualification practical training. This is a professionally orientated qualification consisting of smaller advanced level technical projects and an extended research essay to train and equip leaners with the necessary professional skills.
Various assessments, from the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) study as part of the AgriSA project, to a more recent study by the Municipal Demarcation Board have indicated that there is a scarcity of urban and regional planners in the country. Furthermore, the recently approved Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 16 of 2013 (SPLUMA) demands additional town planning skills. To this end, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform are funding bursaries and other initiatives to train planners to enable the implementation of the Act. This qualification will meet that need.
In addition, the Planning Professions Act, 2002, requires planners to be registered with SACPLAN. The recently advertised regulations aim to restrict certain work to registered professional planners. This, and the structure of the Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD), has prompted many in the field of planning to upgrade their qualifications to enable them to register as Professional Planners, generating a demand for Postgraduate training in urban and regional planning.
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 policy. This will relate to both access to the qualification as well as for credit recognition or exemption towards achieving the qualification.
The institution will ensure that quality assurance processes that address the specificities of the RPL process (including applications, assessment, and reporting and management systems) are implemented; and that administrative and support systems, both prior and subsequent to RPL assessment, are in place.
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is
- Bachelor of Science Honours in Urban and Regional Planning, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8.
Structure and assessment
Qualification rules, exit outcomes, and assessment criteria from the SAQA record.
Qualification rules
This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9 totalling 204 Credits.
Elective Modules, 204 Credits
- Integrated Development Planning (URID7922), 8 Credits.
- Dissertation Proposal in Urban and Regional Planning (URDP7922), 8 Credits.
- Geographic Information Systems for Planners (URGI7904), 16 Credits.
- Housing for Planners (URHS7913), 12 Credits.
- Housing for Planners (URHS7923), 12 Credits.
- Extended Research Essay (URMD7900), 88 Credits.
- Professional Practice in Urban and Regional Planning (URPP7914), 16 Credits.
- Professional Practice in Urban and Regional Planning (URPP7924), 16 Credits.
- Urban Research Project (URUP7906), 24 Credits.
- Research Methodologies for Planners (URRM7924), 16 Credits.
- Research Methodologies for Planners (URRM7914), 16 Credits.
- Applied Regional Planning Project (URRP7906), 24 Credit.
- Planning of Rural Areas (URRA7922), 8 Credits.
- Futurology for Planners (URFP7922), 8 Credits.
- Planning of Rural Areas (URRA7912), 8 Credits
- Integrated Development Planning (URID7912), 8 Credits.
- Urban Geography (URTP7913), 8 Credits.
- Dissertation Proposal in Urban and Regional Planning (URDP7912), 8 Credits.
- Urban Geography (URTP7912), 8 Credits.
- Planning for Tourism (URTD7922), 8 Credits.
- Planning for Tourism (URTD7912), 8 Credits.
- Urban Geography (URUT7912), 8 Credits.
- Urban Geography (URUT7922), 8 Credits.
- Planning Management (URLM7922), 8 Credits.
- Planning Management (URLM7921), 8 Credits.
- Futurology for Planners (URFP7912), 8 Credits.
Exit level outcomes
- Complete practical urban and regional planning projects including spatial frameworks, development plans and layouts.
- Analyse issues from a theoretical and/or empirical perspective and recommend suitable alternatives.
- Communicate clearly and logically, write good planning and research reports and debate these with stakeholders.
- Critically evaluate information and theories and apply relevant concepts from different disciplines in innovative approaches to planning issues.
Associated assessment criteria
- Critically appraise the relevant theory and relate it in novel ways to the issues and problems at hand.
- Integrate complex issues and reflect on these in analyses and plans.
- Critically evaluate research, policy documents and concepts related to urban and regional planning.
- Apply planning theory and concepts in an innovate manner to address challenges and issues with sound recommendations and proposals for improvement.
- Conduct research independently.
Integrated Assessment
Assessment approach
For most of the modules evaluation of the student's academic progress will take place on a continuous basis. Assessments will include technical, problem-based projects as well as an extended research essay. The acknowledgment of a year/semester mark obtained will be subject to satisfactory attendance at lectures, studio periods and seminars. A final mark will be compiled from the marks obtained in the assessments throughout the duration of the module. No examinations will be written.
Assessments will include problem-based projects. Leaners will have to complete an applied Regional Planning project contributing 24 Credits as well as an Urban research project contributing 24 Credits. In addition, there is the extended research project of 88 Credits.
Progression and comparability
Articulation options
This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation
- Master of Housing, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9.
Vertical Articulation
- Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Planning, NQF Level 10.
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.
No provider listing was captured on this qualification record.
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