Bachelor Honours Degree
NQF Level: 8
The Bachelor Honours Degree is a postgraduate specialisation qualification, characterised by the fact
that it prepares students for research-based postgraduate study. This qualification typically follows a
Bachelor’s Degree, and serves to consolidate and deepen the student’s expertise in a particular discipline,
and to develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques of that discipline. This qualification
demands a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. In some cases, a Bachelor
Honours Degree carries recognition by an appropriate professional or statutory body.
Bachelor Honours Degree programmes must include conducting and reporting research under supervision,
worth at least 30 credits, in the form of a discrete research component that is appropriate to the discipline
or field of study.
Master’s Degree
NQF Exit Level 9
The primary purpose of a general Master’s Degree is to educate and train researchers who can contribute
to the development of knowledge at an advanced level.
Master’s Degree graduates in general must be able to reflect critically on theory and its application. They
must be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, design and critically appraise
research, make sound judgements using data and information at their disposal and communicate their
conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences, demonstrate self-direction and originality in
tackling and solving problems, act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks with a theoretical
underpinning and continue to advance their knowledge, understanding and skills.
Doctoral Degree
NQF Exit Level 10
The Doctorate provides training for an academic career. It requires a candidate to undertake research
at the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment, and acceptance of a
thesis.
The defining characteristic
of this qualification is that the candidate is required to demonstrate high level research capability and to
make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of a discipline or field. The work must be of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication.
The above Post Graduate Qualifications require deep theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. There are thus specific types of readiness that need to be considered when applying for these qualifications,
Academic readiness
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Meet admission requirements
Personal Readiness
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Work and personal commitments
Should enable students to allocate a minimum of 1 hour everyday to their Post Graduate Studies.
The above excludes time allocated for lectures /presentations/supervision meetings
Research Treatise
In addition to the course work, students will be required to conduct independent research/inquiry in their specialisation culminating in a research treatise. This entails independent work with a supervisor.
Students are also invited to attend a Post Graduate Research Development Program for extra support and capacity development. This Program takes the form of seminars/workshops that are presented by experts throughout the year.