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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Strategic Communication 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96892  Master of Strategic Communication 
ORIGINATOR
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) 
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Communication Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0733/25  2024-06-30  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

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.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
72474  Master of Technology: Business Communication  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Master of Strategic Communication is designed to develop advanced expertise in communication science, equipping qualifying learners to contribute to knowledge development or assume specialised professional roles in corporate communication. The qualification will enable learners to undertake independent, original research by acquiring skills to conceptualise, design, and implement research projects addressing complex challenges across management communication, public relations, organisational communication, and advertising and marketing communication.

The qualification prepares learners to function as managers, strategists, and researchers, applying specialised research knowledge to enhance understanding and management of corporate communication issues while promoting the sustainable use of communication resources. The qualification articulates vertically to doctoral studies, fostering leadership potential, and requires candidates to demonstrate independent research competence, critical thinking, and effective time management under supervisory guidance.

Rationale:
Southern Africa has many communication challenges. Cultural, media, societal and government issues are evident in this region. Initially, the function of a communication expert was on the technical level, but it moved towards the managerial and strategic levels in corporations. This also applies to government and non-profit organisations. The managerial and strategic skills of communication experts have entered the boardrooms of most Southern African organisations.

This qualification will contribute to addressing these challenges by graduating candidates who can use a wide range of specialised skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing and implementing research projects that address complex and challenging problems within the field of corporate communication. The qualification will develop learners' research skills and their specialist knowledge in a particular communication sub-field. Qualified learners could apply their research skills in various communication fields, including management and measurement of corporate communication. They could be employed by government, NGO's, specialist companies, the private sector and tertiary education institutions.

This qualification will benefit individuals and support economic development. Further, through its emphasis on communication issues, it has the potential to play a role in management and strategic communication. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, which is applicable with regard to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access:
  • Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
  • To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations, should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

    RPL for exemption of modules:
  • Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted for modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

    RPL for credit:
  • Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Marketing Communication, NQF Level 8.
    Or
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business Marketing, NQF Level 8.
    Or
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Integrated Communication, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9, totalling 180 credits.

    Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 9, 180 Credits.
  • Dissertation: Strategic Communication, 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate advanced, integrated knowledge and critical understanding of Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing Communication, and International Communication within strategic communication contexts.
    2. Critically evaluate current literature and information in the field, identifying and formulating complex research problems in strategic communication.
    3. Conceptualise, evaluate, and implement appropriate research designs, methodologies, and strategies to generate original insights and solutions to identified problems.
    4. Generate, analyse, and interpret data of high integrity using specialised knowledge, research skills, and appropriate technologies.
    5. Apply ethical reasoning, professional responsibility, and critical reflection in addressing the implications of strategic communication research and practice.
    6. Report and disseminate research outcomes to an appropriate audience, demonstrating clarity, coherence, and scholarly rigour. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Critically analyse and synthesise theoretical and applied knowledge in the domains of public relations, advertising, marketing communication, and international communication.
  • Evaluate and apply relevant frameworks to interpret complex communication phenomena in diverse contexts.
  • Integrate cross-disciplinary perspectives to advance scholarship and professional practice in strategic communication.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Conduct systematic reviews of existing scholarship, identifying gaps, limitations, and emerging debates.
  • Formulate researchable problem(s) through critical engagement with theoretical and empirical evidence.
  • Justify the significance and originality of the research problem in relation to strategic communication.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Select and justify suitable qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approaches for addressing identified research problem(s).
  • Apply advanced methodological and analytical techniques with academic integrity and standards.
  • Critically evaluate the strengths, limitations, and ethical implications of the chosen research design.
  • Generate original, evidence-based insights that contribute to the advancement of theory and practice in strategic communication.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Apply advanced data collection and analytical tools, including emerging technological platforms relevant to strategic communication.
  • Ensure accuracy, reliability, and validity of research findings through rigorous analytical procedures.
  • Interpret complex data in ways that address the identified problem(s) and contribute to scholarly and professional communication practices.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Identify, analyse, and evaluate ethical dilemmas and implications arising in strategic communication research and practice.
  • Apply and justify adherence to institutional, professional, and disciplinary ethical guidelines.
  • Demonstrate accountability and reflexivity in research processes and outputs, ensuring responsible scholarly and professional practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Produce quality written outputs, ranging from concise research reports to an extensive dissertation, adhering to academic standards and disciplinary conventions.
  • Communicate and defend research findings clearly, coherently, and persuasively to specialist audiences, including examiners and peers.

    Integrated Assessment:
    For the completion of the dissertation, formative assessment techniques such as the development of a research proposal, written reports, preparation of articles for submission to journals, presentation of posters, and oral presentations are designed to develop the learner towards success in the final summative assessment by dissertation.

    The Master of Strategic Communication is awarded to the candidate, providing assessed evidence that the stated competence of the qualification, as detailed in the exit level outcomes, has been achieved. The summative final assessment by dissertation is a measure of the extent to which a learner has integrated knowledge, skills, and personal development in the initiation and conducting of original research and generation of new knowledge in a specialised field of study.

    The production of a comprehensive report in the form of a dissertation encompasses a relevant, well founded and formulated research problem or hypothesis, background and critical literature review, appropriate choice and description of materials and methods, the generation of data and the analysis and interpretation of this data by applying current knowledge and skills in the field of research, and finally the integration of the research results into a logically developed justifiable conclusion to answer the research problem. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The South African (SA) qualification aligns with similar master's level qualifications internationally. The Master of Science in Corporate Communication at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University in the Netherlands, is a 60 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) qualification with a modular structure tailored for working professionals. It combines coursework with a thesis and can be completed in approximately 1 year and 6 months on a part-time basis. At the University of Texas at Austin in the United States, the Master of Arts in Communication Studies offers two different pathways: the first option is research-focused and requires a dissertation, and the second option is a professional qualification in Strategic Communication, which is structured coursework and an applied research project. The SA and the Erasmus University (EU) qualifications are research-oriented , while the other pathways reflect a stronger emphasis on professional application.

    The SA qualification is fully aligned with SAQA NQF Level 9 descriptors for master's level qualifications. With regards to knowledge, it requires mastery of advanced theories, principles, and debates in strategic communication, comparable to the Netherlands and the United States qualifications. In connection with skills, learners must demonstrate independent application of advanced research methods, critical analysis, and innovative problem solving, which is equivalent to the dissertation outcomes expected internationally.

    All three institutions pitch their qualifications at master's level and develop advanced competence in strategic communication. However, the SA and Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam qualifications are distinguished by their exclusive research focus, while Erasmus University Rotterdam and the University of Texas at Austin offer more professionally oriented pathways that combine coursework with applied research projects. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in Strategic Communication, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Public Relations and Communication Management, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Arts in Communication, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Arts in Communication Studies, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Education in Language and Media Studies, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Arts in Journalism, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Strategic Communication, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Journalism, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Media and Communication, NQF Level 10.

    Diagonal Articulation:
  • Master of Commerce in Marketing, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Business Administration, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Arts in Corporate Communication, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) 


    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.