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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Science in Property Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
11697  Master of Science in Property Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction  Physical Planning, Design and Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The first purpose of the programme is to provide qualifiers with post-graduate-level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in research, property development and management that provide a foundation for further intellectual development and opportunities for gainful employment and rewarding contributions to society. The second purpose of the programme is to enhance the body of knowledge about property valuation, development and management in South Africa through the pursuance of research-based enquiry and dissemination, via dynamic post-graduate courses. The third purpose of the qualification is to provide the property development and management professions in South Africa with learners who possess contextually specific advanced skills that equip them for management positions. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of City Planning Honours, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Science in Property Studies, NQF Level 8. 

  • RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Identify and solve problems.
    2. Work in groups/teams.
    3. Organise him/herself and activities.
    4. Frame research questions, identify, collect and collate data from primary and secondary sources and apply quantitative analysis methods.
    5. Communicate orally and in written reports.
    6. Identify and pursue a variety of effective learning strategies.
    7. Explore education and career opportunities.
    8. Identify and take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    (a) Assessment tests the student's ability to:
  • Argue the existence of a problem and to select and apply an appropriate means of solving it.
  • Develop productive working relationships with other team members.
  • Plan and schedule individual and group work and meet deadlines.
  • Conduct research including preparing a research proposal, defining the research proposals, defining the research problem, developing hypotheses, performing a literature search and writing a literature review, developing an appropriate empirical research design, developing and administering an appropriate research instrument; developing an argument, applying analytical methods, drawing conclusions and presenting research findings in the form of a treatise.
  • Produce written reports and present research findings orally.
  • Select an appropriate learning method for assignment work.

    (b) Assessment tests the student's ability to:
  • Apply knowledge of finance and appraisal to problems involving selecting between competing investments; apply statistical knowledge to the characterisation and interpretation of data sets.
  • Demonstrate a good working knowledge of analytical methods, as well as a high level of computer literacy.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the foundations of business finance and apply this knowledge in managing and financing working capital.
  • Translate a property development and management problem into a well-planned solution that is devised to provide quantitative and qualitative data that can be analysed to provide a solution.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance and the importance of professional ethics, conduct and liability.

    (c) Assessment tests the student's ability to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of urban land markets, including factors affecting supply and demand; design an economically ideal city; create a plan for establishing a property market; prepare a forecast of retail demand, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of densification.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of: the South African legal system and South African law in general; the general principles of contract law, sale and lease contracts, forms of security, insolvency, agency and alternative dispute resolution; the Bill of Rights and its influence on land use and related legislation; the impact of environmental legislation on land ownership; and the law relating to sectional title and share block schemes.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of property valuation; and apply a variety of valuation methods to the valuation of residential, income-producing, and special properties; derive and apply capitalisation rates; and prepare valuations for insurance purposes.
  • Apply knowledge of a variety of financing instruments to the property development decision-making process; and prepare comprehensive proposals for the initial and recurrent financing of property developments.
  • prepare and present detailed comparative analyses of property developments versus competing investment options; explaining the environmental impact assessment process and ability to interpret and apply the relevant legislation; prepare and present feasibility studies; prepare and present a plan for the implementation of a property development, encompassing the pre-construction, construction, marketing, and operational stages; prepare risk evaluation reports.
  • Apply space planning theory in optimising space usage in mixed-use commercial properties; develop a space management plan; plan, monitor and implement relocation programmes; apply the principles of value management and life cycle costing in the planning of commercial space provision; apply the principles of risk management to the decision making processes typically associated with the management of facilities; identify key issues in strategic maintenance and energy planning; compile operational maintenance plans; demonstrate an understanding of how to minimise the detrimental effects on the environment of built assets; identify key strategic and operational issues relating to outsourcing; explain the importance of benchmarking and total quality management of facilities.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the key issues associated with the management of built assets; describe the functions of the property management firm and advise on the essential elements of a management contract; analyse the effects of making changes to tenant selection and mix; apply the principles of risk management to portfolios of built assets; demonstrate an understanding of property insurance; identify key issues related to the effective marketing of property and develop a marketing strategy; show an understanding of the principles of effective shopping centre management.
  • Design a research plan and produce a research proposal; use a statistics software package to analyse data; write literature reviews; undertake empirical research; write a well structured and argued dissertation.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Before taking the Property Development module, Learners have studied Urban Land Economics, Property Valuation and Property Finance. The Major Project in the Property Development module is broad in scope. It requires Learners to draw an and apply knowledge gained in all of the other modules as defined in the specific outcomes numbered 1 to 5. Also, learners must demonstrate competence in the general and critical cross-field outcomes defined above. Further integrated assessment occurs in the Research Report course. Learners research a specific topic, chosen from the range of subjects covered in the taught modules, and are required to demonstrate competence in the general and critical cross-field outcomes. 

  • INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Architecture, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of City and Regional Planning, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Landscape Architecture, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Planning and Construction, NQF Level 10. 

  • MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of Cape Town 



    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.