Program Overview

Programme: MEd Assessment and Quality Assurance in Education and Training

The MEd Assessment and Quality Assurance in Education and Training programme is a one-year, 240-credit course offered by the Faculty of Education.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the programme, candidates must comply with the following requirements:

• A BEdHons degree or BEd (Postgraduate); or
• An applicable honours degree and a teacher's diploma; and
• An average of at least 60% in the honours or related examination.

Senate may grant a graduate of another university a status at the University that is equivalent to the status the student has at such other higher education institution. Senate may also admit a person who has passed examinations at another university or institution that are deemed equivalent to or higher than the examinations prescribed for a degree at the University.

Additional Requirements

Selection is based on:

• Meeting the minimum academic requirements required for admission
• Previous academic performance
• Applicable academic and/or teaching background
• Availability of supervision for the required research project
• Proven academic potential, which may include academic communication and computer application skills
• An interview may be requested
• The requirements of professional registration bodies
• The discretion of the head of department

Other Programme-Specific Information

• Renewal of registration after the two-year period is permitted only under special circumstances, with approval from the head of department.
• Students will be granted two opportunities to pass NMQ 800; unsuccessful candidates will not be allowed to continue with the programme.
• This requirement applies to both the full research and coursework master's degrees.

Research Information

All master's students must submit a dissertation or mini-dissertation and pass Research Proposal (NMQ 800). For the MEd research degree programmes, a dissertation on a topic approved by the Dean, on the recommendation of the Head of department, must be submitted after the approval of a complete research proposal. A literature study is not acceptable.

• One publishable article based on the research conducted for the dissertation or mini-dissertation, approved by the supervisor, must be submitted.
• Each successful student must submit a bound paper copy and two electronic copies of the approved mini-dissertation/dissertation to the Head: Student Administration, in the specified format and according to the minimum standards set by the Department of Library Services.
• Students must submit a research proposal during the first year of registration and defend it successfully before a panel of examiners.
• Students must apply for ethical clearance to the Head of department and Ethics Committee and only commence fieldwork once the application for ethical clearance has been approved.
• Students must present a progress report on the research to the Supervisor annually; continued re-registration depends on satisfactory annual progress.
• All students must attend research capacity-building sessions on quantitative and qualitative research at the master's level.

Pass with Distinction

The MEd degree is conferred with distinction on a student who obtains at least 75% in the dissertation.

Fundamental Modules

• AQA 890: Dissertation: Assessment and quality assurance (240 credits)
• NMQ 800: Research proposal (30 credits)
  • Module content: Development of a research proposal, research methodology, overview and principles of quantitative and qualitative research methodology, data collection methods, data analysis methods, paradigm analysis, and theoretical frameworks for educational studies.