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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
91874  Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Design Studies 
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
Reregistered  SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design (BA Hons Design) prepares students for research based Postgraduate study and entry into a design career by enabling students to produce creative solutions to complex problems within a specialist area of design and to conduct and report research under supervision.

Rationale:
Graduates from the Bachelor of Arts (Design) (Communication Design) may, through this Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design, continue their studies at Honours Degree level. Approximately 50% of students with the Bachelor of Arts in Design might opt to complete the Honours.

A number of institutions in Gauteng offer three-year Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Graphic Design, Communication Design, Fashion Design, Multimedia Design and related areas. Only two of these institutions offer the possibility for students to continue with Honours study, at great financial cost. This creates a pool of candidates who are potentially eligible to continue their studies in the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Students who register for this qualification are assumed to be competent in the necessary communication and design skills at NQF Level 7.

It is also assumed that these students are able to manage their time effectively and take responsibility for their studies.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Applicants who do not meet the admission criteria as stipulated, but who can demonstrate experiential or work-based learning at an equivalent level may be considered for RPL provided a proper assessment of the prior learning has been conducted. Such candidates may be required to broaden their knowledge base by enrolling for identified preliminary modules prior to admission or parallel modules after admission. Candidates may also apply for exemption from certain modules on the grounds of credits obtained from relevant qualifications of study concerned. The process will be implemented in strict adherence to the relevant institution policies and approval by relevant faculty structures.

Access to the Qualification:
  • An appropriate Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    All modules are at NQF Level 8 and are compulsory. A minimum total of 120 Credits must be achieved in order to be awarded this qualification.

    Modules:
  • Design Project, 30 Credits.
  • Research Methodology, 10 Credits.
  • Design Theory, 10 Credits.
  • Research Essay, 30 Credits.
  • Communication Design/Fashion Design/Multimedia Design or Jewellery Practice: 40 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Produce creative solutions to complex problems within a specialist area of design.
    2. Conduct and report research under supervision. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
    1.1 Complex problems are identified, analysed and addressed by drawing on knowledge and methods of a specialist of design.
    1.2 Multiple creative solutions to complex problems are generated by using design thinking skills.
    1.3 Appropriate design solutions are prototyped using relevant design tools and technology.
    1.4 Design solutions are tested and the outcomes assessed.
    1.5 Design solutions demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues and the users' contexts and affect positive change.
    1.6 Design solutions demonstrate knowledge of design theory.
    1.7 Creative solutions are produced both independently and as members of interdisciplinary teams.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
    2.1 A research proposal for a research essay is prepared to an acceptable standard.
    2.2 Research is informed by design theory.
    2.3 Research is conducted competently using methodologies appropriate to design research.
    2.4 Research findings are presented and reported according to prescribed academic conventions.
    2.5 Research findings offer creative insight and rigorous interpretation of problems and issues pertaining to a specialist area of design.

    Integrated Assessment:
    All the proposed modules for the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design will be assessed continuously. Continuous assessment includes formative and summative assessment.

    Formative assessment includes interim presentations with feedback and/or critique on work in progress.

    Summative assessment includes Design Project assignments as well as the assessment of the research proposal and the completed research essay. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable with qualifications registered on the New Zealand and Australian Qualifications Frameworks.

    Countries that operate on the basis of an NQF include the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. A direct comparison of the title, Exit Level Outcomes and Assessment Criteria was undertaken with qualifications and outcomes for graphic design Degrees.

    The comparison showed a substantial Degree of similarity to the qualification offered at the Massey University in Australia. Students at this institution need to complete a combination of practical and theoretical modules and undertake a design research project.

    The qualification compares favourably with the Bachelor of Visual Communication (Honours) Degree offered at Australia's University of Newcastle. This qualification enables students to advance their conceptual and technical skills as well as to prepare them for further higher Degree study. The qualification is presented as a combination of practical and theoretical modules.

    The Bachelor of Art and Design (Honours) offered by the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand provides students to with research methodologies to conduct theoretical research to underpin visual inquiries into design issues. This approach of integrating the research module with practical application is similar to the proposed Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design.

    The proposed Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design compares favourably with international qualifications, in particular, in its level of depth and complexity. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualification articulates horizontally with Bachelor of Arts Honours in Multimedia Design at NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with Master of Arts in Information Design at NQF Level 9. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Moderation processes and procedures ensure that all students are assessed in a consistent, accurate and well-designed manner. Moderation verifies that assessments are fair, reliable, valid, practicable and transparent and also evaluates assessor performance.

    The following principles apply to the moderation of student evidence:
  • At least one assessment opportunity (including the special assessment or supplementary thereof) are moderated per module.
  • The moderated assessment opportunities are those that carry the greatest weight in the calculation of the final module mark and are determined by the assessor.
  • All modules are moderated externally. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors and moderators:
  • Must hold a qualification at least one level above the qualification being assessed or moderated.
  • Moderators are also required to have more than two years' teaching experience and/or relevant experience in the field.
  • Assessors with less than two years' experience have their assessment work moderated by experienced peers. 
    		•

    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 Johannesburg 


    All qualifications and part qualifications submitted for public comment, or 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.