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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
97880  Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Science 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Urban and Regional Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 10  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 purpose of this proposed Doctoral Degree is to make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of urban and regional science. Upon completion of the qualification the learner will be able to:
  • Explain and assess how cities and urban systems systemically operate as instruments of social and economic networks.
  • Describe and assess the data and research requirements for conducting a research project at the highest academic level.

    Rationale:
    The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualification aims to give learners an opportunity to obtain and contribute to advanced specialised analytical knowledge in the field of urban and regional science. Learners who hold a Master's qualification in urban and regional planning or development planning will benefit from this qualification. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The institution accepts RPL as an integral part of the academic programme and as an initiative to support transformation of the education and training system in South Africa. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the institution accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to the institution's qualifications to promote lifelong learning. This is reflected in the vision and mission of the institution.

    Entry Requirements:
  • A Master's qualification in Urban and Regional Planning, Development Planning, Economics, Geography, Public Administration, Sociology, Demography, Mathematics or Statistics. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises 1 compulsory module at NQF Levels 10 totalling 360 Credits:
  • Urban and Regional Science Dissertation; 360 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Explain and assess how cities and urban systems systemically operate as instruments of social and economic networks.
    2. Describe and assess the data and research requirements for conducting a research project at the highest academic level. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Socio-economic challenges related to the urban and regional development environment within a broader Southern African and global context are understood and resourceful solutions to challenges related to them are generated.
  • A variety of statistical and spatial analysis techniques available for socio-economic analysis with the emphasis on Geographic Information System (GIS) as an applications tool in decision-making are applied and assessed.
  • The social and economic networking of individuals and groups within private and public urban space as they manifest at different levels of urban spatial aggregation and the outcomes of the different kinds of networking measured in terms of internationally acceptable forms of social, economic and environmental sustainability is critically analysed.
  • Systemic related options that are available for service provision in the urban environment and creative ways in which they could be expanded or improved are compared and critiqued.
  • Urban and regional management instruments and their application in South Africa and elsewhere in the world are described and assessed.
  • A deep value system that will facilitate the appropriate and balanced use of knowledge in solving planning and development problems in urban and regional systems is developed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Appropriate research methodologies are compared and critiqued when analysing different elements of human activities within the urban environment.
  • The full spectrum of systemic urban and regional planning and development challenges that researchers could face in a dynamic society is critically analysed.
  • The data requirements that are necessary for analysing different elements of human activities in the urban environment are correctly identified.
  • Systematic urban and regional research that is focused on Southern African and African problems but which is also relevant to the international scholarly community is conducted.
  • Different forms of communication, oral or printed are critically evaluated.
  • Modern electronic hardware and software are utilised as instruments of communication in this qualification.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative assessment:
    The only credit-bearing assessment is that of the dissertation and the oral which accompanies it.
    Internal and external examination of the dissertation will be done in the prescribed manner of the university. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Sciences offered by Texas A and M University (TAMU) in the United States of America (USA) develops scholars of distinguishing excellence in Landscape, Urban and Environmental Planning.
    The goals of the qualification include creating a flagship Doctoral qualification, based on a solid core curriculum and providing expertise in area of specialisation that applies to planning, design, and/or land development problems of community, regional, national or international habitat systems. In educating professionals for research, education, and scholarship in the fields of planning, landscape architecture, and land development the qualification provides expertise in the research process and its application to planning, design, and/or land development issues.

    The London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom offers the PhD in Regional and Urban Planning qualification that addresses the opportunities, problems, politics and economics of urban and regional planning in cities around the world. The emphasis of the qualification is on "understanding the causes of things" to quote the School's motto and this is done by employing analytical skills and theoretical insights gained from the social sciences and the fields of planning, architecture, economics and the environment.
    The qualification aims to produce top quality social scientists that are able to engage with the conceptual foundations of urban planning and employ robust and appropriate methods in their research. The qualification prepares learners for a variety of careers in academia, international organisations (example; World Bank, OECD, UNEP, and European Commission), urban planning, community development, NGOs and national and local governmental institutions. Research learners on this qualification are strongly encouraged to engage with the full range of urban research, teaching and scholarship within the LSE's wider urban research community.

    Conclusion:
    The Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Science qualification compares well with other qualifications offered in other countries in terms of the purpose. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification can possibly articulate with the following qualifications:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Public Management, at NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Geography, at NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology, at NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    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. Stellenbosch University 


    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.