Certificate in Foundation Studies Course Regulations, 2000

L.N.192 of 2000

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Certificate in Foundation Studies Course Regulations, 2000

IN exercise of the powers conferred upon him hy sections 30 (:1)

and 31 (6) of the Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor of the

University of Malta has promulgated the following Regulations made hy

the Senate of the University of Malta hy virtue of the powers conferred

upon it by sections 31 and 35 of the said Act

Citation and interpretation

(1) These regulations may he cited as the Certificate 1I1 Foundation

Studies Course Regulations, 2000.

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

"the Board" means the Board of Studies appointed for the Course;

"the Certificate" means the Certificate in Foundation Studies; and

"the Course" means the course of studies leading to the Certificate 1I1

Foundation Studies.

Applicability

These regulations shall apply to courses starting in Octoher 1999 or

Eligibility for the Certificate

To he eligihle for the award of the Certificate, students must

(a) be registered as students in the Course in terms of regulation 4;

(b) complete the course of studies, qualify in the assessments and satisfy

any other requirements prescribed in these regulations; and

(c) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other relevant

Statutes, Regulations and Bye-laws of the University.

Registration for the Course

The Course is open only to overseas applicants who

(a) have completed their secondary and/or high school education

abroad; and

(b) are in possession of qualifications allowing access to higher education

in the country where such qualifications were obtained; but

(c) are deemed to require further study to be admitted to degree courses

at the University of Maltao

Duration of Course

The Course extends over a period of one academic year of full-time

Board of Studies

The general administration of the Course shall be entrusted to a Board

of Studies, approved by Senate.

Course of Studies

(1) The Course alms to bridge differences between the Maltese

educational system and other systems. It shall consist of a number of study-units

to each of which a number of credits is assigned. The study-units shall be divided

into two areas of study

English Language Proficiency area; and

Special Subject and Optional area. Study-units in this area shall be

determined by the Special Course Requirement.. of the degree course

students intend to apply for.

(2) Students may register for study-unit5 to which a total of not less

than 24 credits and not more than 30 credits are assigned.

Catalogue of Study-Units

The Board shall draw up a catalogue of study-unit5 for each area of

study. The catalogue shall indicate the level, code, title, description and type of

each study-unit, the credits assigned to each study-unit, which study-unit.. are

compulsory, concurrent or pre-requisites for other study-unit.., and the methods

of teaching and assessment. The Board shall publish the catalogue prior to the

commencement of each Course, following the approval of Senate.

Attendance and Assessment

(1) Students must attend at least 75% of the lectures/seminars or

practical sessions in a study-unit before being allowed to sit for the assessment of

a study-unit. Absences for the remaining 25% of lectures, seminars or practical

sessions must be justified and approved by the Board.

(2) Credits shall be assigned according to the following grades in

descending order of merit: A, B, C, and D. Failure shall be indicated by F.

Incomplete work due to justifiable reasons (illness, approved absence, etc.) shall

be indicated by 1. In all other cases the result.. of uncompleted study-unit.. shall

be indicated as F. The grades awarded shall take into account the student.. '

performance in one or more of the following element.., as deemed appropriate

by the Board: coursework, practical, written and/ or oral assessment...

(3) In each of the areas of study, student.. may be re-assessed for study-

units to which not more than four credit5 are assigned.

Award of the Certificate

(l) The Certificate shall be awarded to students who complete the

Course and obtain at least twenty-four credits. twelve of which must be in the

English Language area of study. and another twelve in the Special Subject and

Optional area of study, provided that, if students obtain one credit less than the

twenty-four required, this may be compensated for by an overall grade of not less

than B.

(2) The Certificate shall show a grade A. B. C or D (grade A being the

highest and D the lowest) indicating the standard attained by the students, and

shall take into account the best grades obtained in the study-units indicated in

paragraph (1) of this regulation to which 24 credits are assigned.

Access and Admission to University Undergraduate Courses

(l) Students who obtain the Certificate with an overall Grade C or

better shall have obtained the general entry requirements for undergraduate

courses at the University of Malta.

(2) In order to satisfy the Special Course Requirements for particular

undergraduate degree courses, students must be in possession of the Certificate

with an overall Grade C or better and must have obtained the credits assigned to

the study-units in the Special Subject area of study and at the grade indicated by

the Board at the commencement of the Foundation Studies Course.