Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Master of Philosophy in Health Professions Education

The Master of Philosophy in Health Professions Education in Health Professions is offered by Stellenbosch University.

Program Length: 3 YEARS.

Master of Philosophy in Health Professions Education offered by the Stellenbosch University at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Programme description

The programme consists of two streams, namely the structured programme and the thesis programme.

The programme is presented by means of technology-mediated teaching and learning, with one contact session per year. If you are following the structured programme, you must attend the contact sessions. If, however, you have been admitted to the thesis programme, the contact sessions are optional, except if you are unable to submit proof of sufficient research experience as indicated above. In that instance, you must attend and pass the contact sessions for the Educational Research for Change in Health Professions Education and the Research Methodology Component of the Research Assignment modules.

The programme is research based and aims to equip you to understand, critically evaluate and apply the following within teaching and learning contexts in health sciences:

• contemporary and appropriate educational approaches;
• principles of professional practice, with specific reference to ethics, reflection and social responsiveness; and
• findings derived from international and particularly African research in health professions education within the context of diversity and varying levels of resources.

Programme content

Structured programme

First year

Compulsory modules

Leadership in Health Professions Education (15)
Teaching and Learning in Health Professions Education (25)
Curriculum Development and Analysis in Health Professions Education (15)
Assessment in Health Professions Education (15)
Research Methodology in Health Professions Education(20)

 

Second year

Compulsory modules

Integrated Portfolio for Health Professions Education (15)
Research Assignment (60) 

Elective modules
Staff Development in Health Professions Education (15)
Clinical Skills Development (15) 

Thesis programme
Thesis (HPE) (180)

Assessment and examination
Structured programme

• Flexible assessment is applicable to all modules and you must pass each module with a minimum mark of 50%.
• You must submit a satisfactory research assignment demonstrating your ability to conduct an independent scientific investigation, to interpret the results and to draw conclusions from the results.
• The research assignment is assessed according to the guidelines of Stellenbosch University and a mark of at least 50% must be achieved to pass.
• The final mark is calculated according to the credit weights of the individual modules. You must obtain a final mark of at least 50% to pass the programme.
• Failing of modules:
  • If you fail a module, you will be granted the opportunity to once again hand in the assignment(s) which has contributed to the final mark for the module. Whether the topic and nature of the assignment(s) remain unchanged or whether a new assignment(s) is required is left to the discretion of the respective module chair.
  • The new assignment(s) must be submitted within two months after the announcement of the final mark for the module. If you miss the due date, you will have to register for the module again in the following year.
  • If you fail a module more than once, you will not be allowed to continue with the programme.

Thesis programme

• You must submit a satisfactory research thesis demonstrating your ability to conduct an independent scientific investigation, to interpret the results and to draw conclusions from the results. This must be at a more advanced level than required for the research assignment of the structured programme.
• The thesis is assessed according to the guidelines of Stellenbosch University and you must achieve a mark of at least 50% to pass.