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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Philosophy in Development Demography 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
98050  Master of Philosophy in Development Demography 
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
Master's Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Urban and Regional 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-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 qualification is to provide specialised analytical knowledge to professionals that are working in the field of demography. People who are qualified as urban and regional planners, development planners, as well as learners that have obtained a Bachelor Honours Degree in Demography, Geography, Public Management, Sociology and Economics will benefit from this qualification.

Upon qualifying learners will:
  • Have insight into the processes of social evolution of urban and rural societies; the role that economics play in the shaping of urban land use patterns; the history of the development of urban settlements in the developed and developing worlds in planning terms.
  • Be able to describe and explain the design of research projects and the formulation of appropriate aims and goals for desired outcomes in demographic studies.
  • Be able to explain geographical data forms, their functions and purposes.
  • Identify factors that influence growth and decline in demographic processes in South Africa and how these factors differ from those in other parts of the world.
  • Apply appropriate spatial data management principles and practices.

    Rationale:
    Statistics South Africa expressed the need for the development of a Master's qualification that is specifically designed to equip public officials at the local, provincial and national levels of government with knowledge and skills in the area of systematic urban and regional analysis and policy making. There is also a general need for Demographers. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

    The institution has an Assessment Policy and Recognition of Prior Learning (APRL) policy in place.

    The qualification will conform to the institution's Policy for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) as well as the RPL policy of the Faculty.

    The policy defines the process that must be followed in the assessment of an application for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at postgraduate level and provides information pertaining to assessment tools that can be used in the assessment of RPL applications. The RPL process is subjected to the Faculty's quality assurance process.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entrance requirements are:
  • A 480-Credit Bachelors' Degree in Urban and Regional Planning or Development Planning or Engineering.
    Or
  • A Bachelor Honours Degree in Demography, Geography, Economics, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics or Mathematics. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.
  • Social Systems, 10 Credits.
  • Spatial Economic Systems, 10 Credits.
  • Urban Form and Function, 10 Credits.
  • Urban Systems, 10 Credits.
  • Demographic Systems, 10 Credits.
  • Migration Systems, 10 Credits.
  • Statistical Urban Analysis, 10 Credits.
  • GIS - Analysis, 10 Credits.
  • Thesis Development Demography, 100 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Acquire insight into the processes of social evolution of urban and rural societies; the role that economics play in the shaping of urban land use patterns; the history of the development of urban settlements in the developed and developing worlds in planning terms.
    2. Describe and explain the design of research projects and the formulation of appropriate aims and goals for desired outcomes in demographic studies.
    3. Explain geographical data forms, their functions and purposes.
    4. Identify factors that influence growth and decline in demographic processes in South Africa and how these factors differ from those in other parts of the world.
    5. Apply appropriate spatial data management principles and practices. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The relationship between social and economic space in the functioning and evolution of cities and their hinterlands is explained.
  • Trends in relationships between space, place and communities in different parts of the world are identified and explained.
  • Different current views on sustainability and environmentalism in urbanism are described.
  • Different perspectives on the evolution of urban space are described.
  • The ecological, subcultural and political approaches to urbanisation are described.
  • The impact of globalisation on economic and social space internationally and locally is understood.
  • Concepts such as colonialism, new-colonialism, fordism, post-fordism, and post-industrialism and their impact on developed, newly industrialised and developing societies are explained.
  • The role of location economics in the evolution of spatial economic systems at all levels of spatial aggregation is explained.
  • Different outcomes in formal-informal sector relationships and the role informal labour-production systems in urban and rural settlements are described and assessed.
  • The description of how urban form and function have historically impacted planning theory and policy is made.
  • An explanation of how ideology impact urban policy and what effect different urban development policies have on urban settlements in different parts of the world is given.
  • The spatial, social and economic problems that urban settlements of different sizes and growth rates face in different parts of the world are identified.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Problems worth investigating are identified.
  • The most appropriate research methodologies that are required to analyse different elements of the research topic at hand are selected.
  • Research is independently conducted, evaluated and applied.
  • A research report is written and composed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • A theoretical and practical understanding of various methods of statistical analysis is explained.
  • Descriptive statistics and distributions are calculated by means of relevant tests.
  • Appropriate methods of statistical analysis for application to specific scenarios within the discipline of urban and regional science and urban and regional planning are identified.
  • Statistical concepts and analysis with appropriate graphical techniques and presentations are presented and explained.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The impact of demographic change in the processes of social evolution of urban and rural societies in the developed and developing worlds is explained.
  • The role of demography in planning and development policy formulation in South Africa is explained.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Maps are generated using GIS software.
  • Map projections are made and coordinate systems are determined.
  • GIS theory is explained and applied.

    Integrated Assessment:
    During the course of the semester a maximum of one short unprepared test, two prepared formal tests, one group assignment and two individual assignments will be used to assess the learners' mastery of the contents, its value and the learners' applied competencies.

    There are also the formal formative evaluation and assessment practices of the University that will assist in determining the relevancy of contents in the qualification.
    An assessment programme will be designed which will enable the Department to periodically obtain feedback from learners who have successfully completed the qualification on the value of the contents of the qualification in the profession. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is internationally comparable with the Master of Science in Demography from the Florida State University in the USA. This multidisciplinary qualification has been designed for learners seeking to develop proficiency in the use of demographic concepts, data, and techniques. The curriculum emphasises demographic practice and the development of intellectual and analytical skills useful in a research or data-intensive setting.

    It is also comparable with the Master of Urban and Regional Planning qualification offered at the University of Western Australia. This qualification is designed to equip learners with the knowledge and skills to help resolve major urban and regional problems, and offered the opportunity to undertake a practicum within the public sector, private sector or a university-based research centre. After completion, learners will able to contribute to the creation of liveable communities, vibrant economies and sustainable places.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification compares very well with the two qualifications cited above in that they all seek to provide specialised analytical knowledge to professionals that are working in the field of demography. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for possibilities of vertical articulation with the Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Science, Level 10 (ID 97880) offered by the University of Stellenbosch.

    Systemic articulation is also possible both horizontally and vertically with qualifications offered by other institutions, provided learners meet the minimum admission requirements. The possibilities are:
    Horizontally with:
  • Master of Urban Design, at NQF Level 9.

    Vertically with:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Science, at NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Geography, 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.