Centre for Rehabilitation Studies
Welcome to Stellenbosch University

Division of Disability & ​Rehabilitation Studies

​​​​Education


Master of Human Rehabilitation Stud​​​​ies

Programme Convenors:  Dr Martha Geiger (Structured Master's), Dr Surona Visagie (Master's by thesis)

This unique course will be of interest to persons who are involved in rehabilitation, e.g. Doctors, Nurses Physio-, Occupational-, and Speech Therapists, Social Workers, Clinical Psychologist's etc. The approach is Interdisciplinary with the emphasis on the development of leadership skills to facilitate development, management, evaluation and research into appropriate and cost-effective rehabilitation and disability-related programmes. It is expected that the student of the course will play a leading role in the transformation of rehabilitation- related programmes and policy and later be in a position to act as a consultant to others in the field.

Admission and selection requirements

For admission to the Master of Human Rehabilitation Studies degree programme, a candidate shall hold an MB,ChB degree, a bachelor’s degree, a four-year Bachelor of
Science degree or a bachelor honours degree in an appropriate health or health-related field, or an equivalent qualification approved for such purpose by Senate, or shall in some other manner have attained in his particular field of study a standard of competence deemed adequate for such purpose by Senate.

Nature of programme
This programme

  • Addresses the current need for advanced interdisciplinary studies and research in the disability- and rehabilitation-related fields, as expressed in various provincial, national and international policy documents, charters and treaties. 
  • Provides an interdisciplinary pool of specialised rehabilitation professionals, from a variety of professional backgrounds, who have the necessary clinical decision-making,
    managerial, research and educational knowledge, skills and socio-political attitudes, to assume positions of leadership within the field of rehabilitation.
  • Produces rehabilitation specialists who can act as specialist consultants in public and private rehabilitation services, within and beyond their specific professional areas of
    practice. 
  • Equips the qualified learner with a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of phenomena pertinent to the disability- and rehabilitation-related fields, within a human
    rights and social model perspective.
  • Ensures mastery of the field of rehabilitation through the high-level analysis of new information, and the ability to deal with complexity and to find workable solutions to problems and challenges.
  • Enables the qualified learner to do advanced and independent research.
  • Introduces the qualified learner to the world of scholarly communication, inter alia through assistance in publishing his own research reports.
  • Contributes to the pool of rehabilitation academics and professionals with the competence and critical intellectual abilities to ensure future advancement of the field
    of rehabilitation.
  • Addresses the country’s need for rehabilitation specialists of the highest quality.

Students may choose one of two options for the Master of Human Rehabilitation Studies programme, namely:

Master of Human Rehabilitation Studies (structured)
Students with a bachelor’s degree or a four-year Bachelor of Science degree pursue a parttime, two-year modular programme.

Master of Human Rehabilitation Studies (thesis)
Students with an MB,ChB or a relevant honours degree complete a thesis on a subject chosen in consultation with the Head of the Centre for Rehabilitation Studies. In individual cases, supplementary study from the theoretical modules of the structured programme may be required by the Head of the Centre.

Please note:
Theoretical modules are also presented by means of technology-mediated education.

Master of Human Rehabilitation Studies (structured)
Presentation
English.

Module outline and credit values
First year
Epidemiology and Research Methodology 842(40)
Rehabilitation I 871(40)
Second year
Rehabilitation II 872(40)
Assignment 814(60)

Assessment and examination

  • The Epidemiology and Research Methodology as well as the Rehabilitation I modules are completed at the end of the first year of study, and the Rehabilitation II and
    Assignment modules at the end of the second year.

  • The programme is assessed on a continuous basis by means of tests and assignments. Written examinations are taken in the Rehabilitation I and II modules.

  • A minimum mark of 50% is required for each module in order to pass the programme. The student is required to submit a satisfactory research assignment from which it is
    evident that he is able to conduct an independent scientific study and interpret the results.

Master of Human Rehabilitation Studies (thesis)
Presentation
English.

Module outline and credit values
Thesis 872(180)
Assessment and examination
A mark of at least 50% must be achieved to pass the thesis.

Enquiries:​
Programme coordinator: Dr G Mji
Tel.: (021) 938 9528/9090 E-mail: gumji@sun.ac.za​​​​