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SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma: Corporate Law 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
90504  Postgraduate Diploma: Corporate Law 
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  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 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this qualification is for learners to gain knowledge and applied competence for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity, and valuable contributions to society in the specialised field of corporate law.

Secondly this qualification will provide South Africa and the global community with people skilled in corporate law to ensure that the leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity is widened.

Generally, a learner enrolled for this Postgraduate Diploma is actively engaged in becoming a professional in the process of preparing for further, more specific and advanced knowledge in corporate law. As such he or she develops and holds certain values and integrates knowledge and skills to achieve these purposes.

Rationale:
The Postgraduate Diploma: Corporate Law is important because it will strengthen and deepen the learners' knowledge of corporate law. This qualification demands a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. It is focused on the acquisition of practical knowledge and would accommodate learners who are not able to or do not wish to complete the LLM Degree.

The Postgraduate Diploma: Corporate Law will allow Learners who have completed the BA (Law), BCom (Law) or LLB Degrees to obtain a Postgraduate qualification in corporate law. Learners who complete this qualification will have the specialist knowledge to practice in corporate and securities law, an area in need of experts.

The Postgraduate Diploma: Corporate Law will further enable working professionals to undertake advanced reflection and development by means of a systematic survey of current thinking, practice and new developments in corporate law. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Learners who register for this qualification have:
  • Well-developed information retrieval skills and presentation skills following prescribed formats, using IT skills appropriately.
  • An ability to present and communicate information and their own ideas and opinions in well-structured arguments, showing an awareness of audience and using the academic/professional discourse appropriately.
  • A capacity to operate in variable and unfamiliar learning contexts, requiring responsibility and initiative.
  • A capacity to self-evaluate accurately and identify and address own learning needs.
  • An ability to interact effectively in a learning group.

    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    All admission through RPL must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the Unisa RPL Policy.

    This qualification can be achieved in part (50%) through Recognition of Prior Learning. However, only 10% of intake to this programme may be through RPL.

    Evidence can be presented in a variety of forms, including international or previous local qualifications, reports, testimonials mentioning functions performed, work records, portfolios, videos of practice and performance records.

    All such evidence should be judged according to the general principles of assessment described in the notes to assessors. Unisa lecturers will act as assessors for RPL purposes.

    Access to the Qualification:
    Access to the Postgraduate Diploma: Corporate Law is granted to all applicants who are in possession of one of the following qualifications:
  • Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Commerce: Law or an LLB Degree.
  • A Foreign qualification that is equivalent to one of the above qualifications as determined by SAQA. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following Compulsory modules at NQF Level 8.

    Modules at NQF Level 8:
  • Company formation and administration 1, 24 Credits.
  • Fundamental transactions company grouping and dissolution 1, 24 Credits.
  • Corporate governance 1, 24 Credits.
  • Corporate Finance law 1, 24 Credits.
  • Corporate insolvency and Business rescue 1, 24 Credits.

    Total Credits for NQF Level 8; 120. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Upon completion of the Postgraduate Diploma: Corporate Law the qualifying learners will be able to:
    1. Identify and understand the role of the legal aspects of Corporate Law in everyday life.
    2. Think critically and analytically within a contextual framework related to legal aspects of Corporate Law.
    3. Solve complex legal problems related to legal aspects of Corporate Law.
    4. Engage with legal text related to legal aspects of Corporate Law.
    5. Contribute to the realisation of a just society based on a legal democracy.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
    On achieving this qualification learners will be able to:
  • Identify, analyse and address legal problems related to Corporate Law by using his or her acquired knowledge base responsibly and applying his or her acquired skills to engage critically and creatively with the legal aspects in a given context.
  • Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community to contribute to the sound administration of justice, the development of the law and legal system to meet the needs of society, and to further a just society based on a constitutional democracy.
  • Communicate effectively using language skills in the modes of written persuasion in often extensive pieces of sustained discourse.
  • Manage and organise his or her activities and life responsibly and effectively.
  • Technology is used effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Legal issues related to legal aspects of Corporate Law are identified in real or simulated fact scenarios.
  • Daily events related to legal aspects of Corporate Law are Interpreted and analysed within a legal framework.
  • The potential to develop the law within a regional and global context to cope with modern-day challenges and problems in the context of Corporate Law is illustrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The legal problems related to legal aspects of Corporate Law within different contexts are Interpreted and explained.
  • A comprehensive and systematic knowledge base in Corporate Law is demonstrated.
  • Unbiased and balanced perspectives on legal problems related to legal aspects of Corporate Law are provided.
  • Different points of view related to legal aspects of Corporate law are critically evaluated in terms of their acquired knowledge base skills.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Relevant sources and authorities are consulted to address legal problems related to legal aspects of Corporate Law.
  • Problems related to legal aspects of Corporate Law are analysed and critically evaluated.
  • The most authoritative legal materials to solve problems are selected.
  • Different solutions to a problem related to legal aspects of Corporate Law are considered and critically evaluated and the consequences of each solution for future legal development are contemplated.
  • Substantiated responses, based on students' acquired knowledge base are provided.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The ability to read legal text, understands and interpret them within a contextual framework is demonstrated.
  • Views expressed in text are reflected upon and critically evaluated and debated.
  • Legal text is used to support arguments and solutions related to legal aspects of Corporate Law.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Acquired skills and knowledge are used to advance legal awareness related to Corporate Law within their communities.
  • Problems in society related to legal aspects of Corporate Law are reflected on and responsible solutions are sought.
  • The underlying constitutional values are interpreted and applied to problems in society related to legal aspects of Corporate Law.
  • Conflicting interests related to legal aspects of Corporate Law within a community, locally, regionally as well as globally are dealt with.

    Integrated Assessment:
    For award of the qualification, learners must achieve each of the compulsory modules and must demonstrate the ability to engage in these fields of law in an integrative way, dealing with divergent and "random" demands related to these work operations, effectively. Evidence is required that the learners are able to achieve the purpose of the qualification as a whole at the time of the award of the qualification.

    All formative assessment tasks are internally moderated and all summative, exit level assessment tasks are externally moderated by suitably qualified experienced subject specialist. All assessment decisions and moderation judgment must be clearly motivated and recorded. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international Qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the modules offered.

    Bond University in Australia offers a Postgraduate Diploma with specialisation in Corporate and Commercial Law. The Diploma is generally used as an entry or exit point for a Master of Laws Degree. The applicant may complete a generalist Diploma or specialise in one of the following areas: Corporate and Commercial Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; International Trade Law; Intellectual Property, Information Technology and e-commerce; or International Legal Practice.

    The University of Sydney also offers a Graduate Diploma in Corporate, Securities and Finance Law.

    The specialisation in corporate, securities and finance law is taught by Sydney Law School academic staff and members of the adjunct faculty, comprising eminent members of the legal community, including judges, solicitors and barristers. The international faculty programme, which offers a number of intensive units of study in international corporate, commercial and tax law each year, provides students with the opportunity to study under some of the world's finest legal scholars. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification articulates vertically with a Master of Laws (LLM) at NQF Level 9 if the required research methodology modules have been complete.

    This qualification articulates horizontally with any other relevant Postgraduate Diploma at NQF Level 8. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen in terms of the moderation guidelines of the institution to ensure that assessments are conducted appropriately and fairly and are a valid indication of a learner's performance.

    Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at all exit points of the qualification. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors and moderators must:
  • Hold a qualification at least one level higher than the qualification being assessed or moderated.
  • Have more than two years' teaching experience relevant to the qualification being assessed. Assessors with less than two years' experience have their assessment work moderated by a peer. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 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 South Africa 


    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.