[Registered Qual & Unit Std Home page] [Search Qualifications] [Search Unit Standards]
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: 

Master of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
99210  Master of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics 
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda 
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 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Secondary Agriculture 
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 the qualification is to prepare learners at an advanced level for a management or research career in the fields of economics and business applied to the agricultural, agri-business and natural resources sector.

Rationale:
The rationale for this qualification is to provide the Agricultural industry in Southern Africa, which underpins all aspects of the economy, with significant numbers of learners with the high levels of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in Agricultural Economics and Farm Business Management and related agricultural sciences necessary for the identification and strategic solution of real-life problems facing the industry.

The qualification aims to provide Southern Africa with a cadre of highly competent researchers who will have a clear and growing understanding of scientific developments in agricultural research and thus be able to be active participants in the generation and reconfiguration of knowledge so as to meet the ever-changing food, fibre and socio-economic needs of the South African society. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
In addition to the admission requirements of the Degree of Master of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics, learners who do not comply with the minimum admission requirement for this qualification may be considered for admission through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Prior formal, informal and non-formal learning is a platform to provide recognition to the informal learning or learning through work to get equal acceptance as the formal level of education. It aims to appreciate prior learning irrespective of the medium of achieving it.

The regulation provides two alternative routes regarding the admission of learners:
a. A first possibility is via the academic route where a learner has proven himself/herself based on academic achievement.
b. The second possibility refers to a standard of competence that would make a learner eligible to continue with postgraduate studies.

Learner's prior formal, informal and non-formal learning may be evaluated by the Head of department. Based on such evaluation of formal, informal education, learners' will be given conditional acceptance to the qualification.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirements for this qualification are:
  • BSc in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 180 Credits:
  • Dissertation, 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate the capacity to design, conduct and write up research.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of literature related to the research problem.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to write a dissertation that is linguistically, technically and scientifically correct. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Write research proposals that indicate that the learners are able to identify a problem in Agricultural Economics and formulate a research problem;
  • Formulate and test hypotheses;
  • Select and utilise research instruments that are relevant to the research project;
  • Report the findings of the investigation and formulate recommendations that emanate from the results.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Critically read, interpret and analyse literature from different authors on the topic being researched;
  • Draw conclusions from different readings and indicate anomalies;
  • Create a theoretical framework provided by the literature review;
  • Compile a complete bibliography/list of references.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome: 3:
  • Write a dissertation that shows that the leaners can express himself/herself clearly,
  • Write a dissertation that is linguistically correct and of an acceptable standard,
  • Write a dissertation that is technically and scientifically acceptable to the examiners.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Through integrated assessment, the learner will be required to demonstrate applied competence using a range of formative and summative assessment methods including assignments, Seminars, practical reports and exams, where applicable. Assessment of the dissertation will be particularly important. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Name of Country: Germany.
    Name of institution: University of Hohenheim.
    Title of the qualification: MSc Agricultural Economics.
    Duration: 2.
    Credits: 120.
    Entry-level: An above-average Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Sciences or Business Administration and Economics or a related qualification with an agricultural science or business/economics concentration at a university in Germany or abroad or at a university of applied sciences with a standard period of study of at least 3 years or an equivalent Degree.

    Name of Country: Sweden
    Name of institution: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
    Title of the qualification: MSc Agricultural Economics.
    Duration: 2
    Credits: 120
    Entry-level: Master's qualification requires a first-cycle qualification comprising 180 Credits and including:
  • Studies comprising 90 Credits within business administration and 15 Credits microeconomics for specialisation business administration.
    Or
  • Studies comprising 90 Credits within economics for specialisation economics.
  • The qualification must also include at least 5 Credits of Mathematics and 5 Credits of statistics; or 15 Credits of statistics. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for vertical and horizontal articulation options:

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Agriculture in Agricultural Economics, Level 10.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Commerce in Agricultural Economics, Level 9. 
    		•

    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. University of Venda 


    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.