Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations, 1998

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L.N.137 of l99E

EDUCATION ACT

(c{P.327)

Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations, 1998

IN exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections

30(5) and 3l (6) of the Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor of

the University of Malta has promulgated the following regulations

made by the Senate of the University of Malta by virtue of the powers

conferred upon it by sections 3l and 35 of the said Act

Citation and interpretation

l. (l) These regulations may be cited as the Doctor of Medicine and

Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations, 1998.

(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"the Board" means the Board of the Facultv of Medicine and Surgery;

"the Course" means the Course leading to the Deglee; and

"the Degree" means the Degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery -

Applicability

(l) Dar4 ir-regolarnenti jistghu -jissejhu r-Regolamenti ta' l-1998

tal-Kors ghall-Grad ta' Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D.

(2) F'dawn ir-regolamenti, kemm-il darba r-rabta tal-kliem rna

tehtiegx xort'ohra -

"il-Bord" ifisser il-Bord tal-Fakulta' tal-Medicina u l-Kirurgija;

"il-Grad" ifisser il-Grad ta' Doctor of Medicine and Surgerv - M.D.; u

"il-Kors" ifisser il-Kors li jwassal ghall-Gracl.

Applikabilita'

These regulations shall be applicable to courses starting in

October 1997 or later.

Eligibility for Degree

To be eligible for the award of the Degree, studens must

(a) be registered as regular students in the Course in terms of the

.Admission Regulations of the University;

(b) satisfv the Special Course Requirements in accordance with

regulation 4;

((') cornplete the r:ourse of studies, qualify in the examinations and

satislr,'arrr'other re<luirernents as prescribed in these regulations; and

(cl) satisfv anv other requirements prescribed in any other relevant

statlrtes. r'egtrlations and bve-laws of the University.

Admission and Special Course Requirements

(l ) Senate. on the advice of the Board, may limit the number of

students that rnav be adnritted to the Course. Senate shall make regulations

firl the selection of applicants for admission.

(2) 'fo applr,firr adnrission to the Course candidates must, besides

satislvirrs thc' r'ecluirenlcn[s fbr adrnission as regular students in terms of the

.{drnission Regulations, satisfi'the following Special Course Requiremens

(a) lbr courses commencing in October 1997, 1998 and 1999

(i) [)ass('s at ,\rlvaucecl Level obtained at Grade C or better in

Cherrristn' arrd Biolog)'; and

(ii) a pass at Intennediate Level obtained at Grade C or better in

olle of: Phvsic:s, Mathenratics, Conrputing, Infornration

-fc'r'lrrrologr'. English, Plrilosophv

in the Matriculation Cleltificate Examination of the Universitl', or at

collespollcling levels of othel exanrinations recognised b1' the Senate for the

l)lu l)ose o{' t}re Adrnission Regulatior-rs

(b) lbr courses commencing in October 2000 or later

(i)

passes at Advanced Level obtained at Glade C or better irr

Cherrtistt'r' arrd Biologr'; and

(ii) a pass at Irrtennediate Level obtained at Grade C ot'bettel irr

anv sub-ject, ex('ept Etrvit ot-ttnental Science

in the Matriculation Certificate Examination of the University, or at

corresponding levels of other examinations recognised by the Senate fbl thc

purpose of the Admission Regulations.

Course Duration

(1) The Course shall extend over a period of five years and shall trc

divrded into two parts: the [ntermediate Course of two years' duratiort arrrl

the Final Course of three years' duration.

(2) Except with the permission of the Board, students rnust follow

the Course fi'om admission to the Intermediate Course up to ttre Firral

Examination without interruption or repetition. Permission to interrupt ot'

to repeat a year shall normally not be given more than once, excePt bv

permission of Senate granted for special reasons'

Subjects of the Course

The subjecs of the Intermediate Course shall be the following

First Year

.Anatomv and Cell Biologv

Phvsiologr', Biochemistrv and Molecular Biology

Second Year

Anatomy and Cell Biology

Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Second Year - Second Semester

General Pathologv and Microbiology

General Pharmacology

Behavioural Sciences

The subjecs of the Final Course shall be the following

First Year

Pathologv

Medicine (including Clinical Pharmacologv)

Surgerv (including Ort-hopaedics)

Second Year

Patholog,v

Meclicine (including Clinical Pharmacology)

Surgery (including Orthopaedics)

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Paediatrics

Public Health

Dellnatologv

Ophthahnology

ENT

Anaesthesia

Fot'ettsic Medicine

Third Year

Medicine (inclucling Paediatrics)

Surgerv (including Orthopaedics)

C)bstetrics and Grnaecologv

Psvcltiatn'.

Practical and clinical work shall be carried out throughout the

Course, incltrcling during the periods when the UniversiW is in recess.

Progress Tests

( I ) Dulin.q the Course, Plogless Tess shall be held in subjects the

teachirrg of which extends ovel lnore thau one academic vear.

(2) Plogless Tests shall be held as follows

(a) irr tht' Interrrrediate Course

at the end of the Filst Year in

^{natomv and Cell Biologv

Plrrsiologr', Bioctrernisu"r' and Molecular Biologv

at tht' errd of'tltt' Set'ottd Ycat' itt

General Pathologv and Microbiologv

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General Pharrnacology

Behavioural Sciences

(b) in the Final Course

at the end of the First Year in

Pathology

Medicine (including Clinical Phar.macology)

Surgery

during the Second Year in

Medicine (including Clinical Pharmacologv and Neurology)

Surgery (including Orthopaedics)

Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

(3) Progress Tesrs shall be held in January and in May,{u'e. A

supplemenLrrv session shall be held in Septernber.

(4) The results of the Progress Test in each subject strall be

published according to the following grades in descending order of rnerir: A,

B, C and D. students whose names do not appear on the list strall be

considered to have failed the Progress Test in ttre subject concerned.

(5) Studenrs shall not be allowecl to proceed to the followirrg vear

of the Course if the Board is not satisfied, as a result of ttre Progress TesLs,

that thev have followed the vear with profit.

(6) Studens who fail in any Progress Test in the supplemenrary

session are not allowed to proceed to the following year of the Course but

may be allowed by the Board to repear the year.

The Intermediate Examination

(1) The Intermediate Examination shall be held at the end of the

second vear of the Interrnediate Course.

(2) There shall bc: a supplementarv session of the Intermediate

Exarnination in Septernber for students who fail in anv sub.ject.

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(3) The Internrediate Exarnination shall be held in Anatomv and

Ot'll Biologr,. and in Plrysiologv, Biochemistrv and Molecular Biology.

(.1) Ttre exarnination in Anatomy and Cell Biologv shall consist of

two thr c'e-hour papel's and a practical session. The examination in

Plrvsiologv, Biochernisllv and Molecular Biologv shall consist of three three-

trorrr' papt'r's and a libralv-pt'o.ject.

(5) Sturlents rrrav also be required to take a uiva voce examlnatlon

irr thcsc subjt'r'ts.

((i) Befole being allowed to sit for the lntelmediate Examination,

:;ttrtlcrr(s n)lrs( l)r'('s('llt to tlre Dean a certifir'ate, signed bv the heads of

rlr'purtrrr('lll t'orrcc'r'rrcd, slronitrg that thev have cotttpleted satisfactorilv all

assisrred wolk irr tlter sub-jet'ts cottcet'ued.

Result

'flre lesrrlts of' stndents in each sub-ject of the Inter-ntediate

I l. ( | )

[']xarnirr:rtiorr slrall bt' publislrcd itr a list in alphabetical ot'der accordiug to

tlrt' firllonirrg- gla<les in dcsr-errding older of ttret'ic A, B, C and D. Studeus

rvhose ltalnes do not appeal ou the list strall be considered to have failed the

exanrination in the subject cotrcet-ned.

(2) 'flre lt'sult o{'tlre exanrination irr eac'h subiect s}rall take into

a('('()lnrt all Dar ts of tlrt' t'x:ttninatiotr itt tltat strbicct.

(3) Students u'ho do llot pass the Intennediate Examinatiotr in the

sessions prest'r'ibed in palagraphs (1) aud (2) of regulation l0 shall be

dt'crned to have failerl the Intenuediate Ex:irttitratioll as a n'hole.

(1) Srudcuts n'ho fail the Intemrediate Exarnination ale not

allou'ed to proceed to the follouing veal of the Cortt'se but mav be allorved bv

tlre'Board to lepeat the second lear of the Iutelmediate Course. Students

slrall not ltt' allorued to lel)eat the Intennediate Exarniuatiou in this mannet'

Il)()r (' tltatt ortce.

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Admission to the Final Course

Before being admitted to the Final Course, studenLs rnust pass

the Intermediate Examination, or be exempted from it by the Senate, ar.rins

on the recomrnendation ofttre Board.

Subjects Tests in the Final Course

( I ) During the Final Course, Subject Tests shall be held in each of

th e following subjects

Public Health

Dermatology

Forensic Medicine

Ophthalmology

Paediatrics

ENT

Psychiatrv

Anaesthesia.

(2) A supplernentarv session shall be treld for those studerrts who

fail a Sub-f ect Test.

(3) The names of students who have passed the Subject Tesrs in

each of the subjecs specified in paragraph (l) of this reeulation shall be

published in a list in alphabetical order accordins to the following grades in

descending order of merit A, B, C and D. Studenls whose names do nor

aPPeaI' on the list shall be considered to have failed the Subject Tesr

concerned.

(4) The result of each subject shall also take into account the work

of the student in the sub-ject during the Course.

(5) Students shall not be allowed to proceed to the following year

of the Course if thev have not passed each Subject Test prescribed for the

year.

(6) Studens who fail in anv Sub-ject Test in the supplernerrtarv

session rnar,'be allowed bv the Board to repeat the vear.

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Examination in Pathology

l'1. ( I ) There shall be an examination in pathology, in June, at the

errd of the second yeal of ttre Final Course.

(2) 'fherc slrall be a supplertrenLalv session of the exarnination in

Patlrologv irr St'ptt'rrrlx'r'f ol studerrLs who fail.

(3) The exatltittation shall consist of two three-hour papers and a

pra<-tical session.

( l) Sttrtlt'rtts It)av also be t'equiled to take a uiua voce ex mination.

(5) Before being allowed to sit for the examination, students must

l)r'esetrt to the Dean a cet'tifir-ate, signed bv the Head of Department of

Patltolos\'. sltowitrg that thev have cornpleted satisfactorilv the schedule of

pr':r<'tical rlolk irr tlre srrbject.

Result

(l) Tlre llarlles of students u,ho have passed the examination in

Patlroloqv shall ltc published irr a list in alphabetical older ac'cording ro rhe

Iirllouin.g urades irr descerrding older of rnerit: .\, B, C and D. Exceptional

pet'ftrtlttatrt'e shall be indicated on the list. Students rvhose names do not

al)pear on the list shall be considered to have failed the examination.

(2) Tlte lestrlt shall take into account all parts of the examination

irt tlrc srrlljc<'t.

(3) Studettts n'ho do not pass the exarnination in Pathologv in the

scssiotrs plesclibed in pat'aglaphs (1) and (2) of regulation 14 shall nor be

allort'ed to pt'ot'eed to tlte third veal of the Final Coulse. Suctr students r-na\

be'allou't'd bv tlrc Bo:llcl t() r'el)eat the vear at tl)e llext oppoltunitr'.

The Final Examination

(l) The Fir-ral Exarnitratiou shall be held inJune of the third vear

o{ tlre Firral (}rurse.

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(2) There shall be a supplementary session of the Final

Examination in September for students referred in one subject only, and in

the followirrgJanuary for studens who fail in more than one subject.

(3) The Final Examination shall be held in the following subjecs

Medicine (including Paediatrics)

Sureery

Obstetrics and Gwraecology.

(4) The examination in each of the subjecs prescribecl in

paragraph (3) of this regulation shall consist of two three-hour papers and a

clinical session.

(5) Students may also be required to take a uiva voce examination

in these subjecs.

(6) Before being allowed to sit for the Final Examination, students

must present to the Dean a certificate, signed bv the heads of department

concerned, showing that they have completed satisfactorily the schedule of

clinical work prescribed for the Course.

Result

(l) The names of students who have passed in each subject of the

Final Examination shall be published in a list in alphabetical order according

to the following grades in descending order of merit A, B, C and D.

(2) The names of students who have passed the Final Exarnination

at the first session shall be published in another list in alphabetical order in

the following two categories

Passed with Distinction

Passed.

Exceptional perforrnanr:e in a subject shall be indicated on the list.

(3) Tlte tratttes of'studens who are successful in the examination

st'ssiotts as Jrtt's<'tilx'cl itt palagraph (2) of regulation l6 shall be publishecl in

a sirnyrlt' Pass List in alptrabetical order.

(4) The result of the Final Examination shall take into account all

palts of tlre exarnination in the three sub-iecrs specified in paragraph (3) of

t t'gttlatiott l(). tlre lcsttlt of the examination

in Pathologv, as well as the work

rlorrt'lrv tlrt.slrrdcnts clrrrirrs the Final Course.

Reference and Re-admission

(l)

.A' list shall also be published indicating the names of the

.lurlt'rrts u'lro arc r'c[r'r'r't'd in anv subject/s as rvell as the sub-ject,/s in which

llrt'r' lravt' lx'r'rr lt'{i.r lt'rl.

(2) Students who are refen'ed in a subject,/s may sit for the

supplernentan, session in that sub-iect/s as prescribed in paragraph (2) of

legulation l(i. [f sut'cessful. their nanres shall be included in the list of those

wlto ltave passcd tlre Firral Exarnination. If thev fail, thev shall be deemed to

havt'failc'd tlre Final Exarnination as a rvhole.

Students shall not be allowed to re-sit the Final Examination, in

tvhole ol irr palt, unless thev have satisfactorilv follou'ed such courses of

stttclit's attd,/r'rt' pla('ti('al arrd/ol clinical n'ork as the Board mav in each case

deterrrrirre.

Sttrclettts rn'ltt> do not pass the Final Exanrination in two sessions as

prescribed itt pat'aglaphs (l) and (2) of legulation 16 nrav be allolved bv the

Boatd to te-joitr the thild vear of the Final Coulse at the llext occasion and to

sit fbl the Final Exarttittation again at the end of that course under such

cortditiotts as the Boat'd tttav in each case deternrine. Such students lnav not

qualifv fbl a 'Passed rt'ith Distinction'.

Studettts sltall not be re-adrnitted to the Final Examination in

l('r'nls of reqtrlatiorr 20lr)ole than once.