M.Cons. – Degree Course Regulations, 2005

B

L.N. 210 of 2005

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Master of Conservation in Applied Conservation Studies

– M.Cons. – Degree Course Regulations, 2005

IN exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 30 (5) and

31 (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 31

and 35 of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Master of Conservation in Applied

Conservation Studies – M.Cons. – Degree Course Regulations, 2005.

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

“the Academic Board” means the Academic Board of the Institute for

Conservation and Restoration Studies of the Malta Centre for Restoration;

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies for the Course appointed by

Senate, on the recommendation of the Academic Board;

“the Course” means the programme of studies leading to the degree of Master of

Conservation in Applied Conservation Studies – M.Cons.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Conservation in Applied

Conservation Studies – M.Cons.;

“the Institute” means the Institute for Conservation and Restoration Studies of the

Malta Centre for Restoration; and

“the Senate” means the Senate of the University of Malta.

Applicability

These regulations shall apply to courses starting in October 2003 or later.

Qualifications for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) the degree of Bachelor in Conservation and Restoration Studies (Honours)

with at least Second Class Honours of this University; or

(b) a qualification which the Academic Board considers comparable to the degree

of Bachelor in Conservation and Restoration Studies (Honours) with at least Second

Class Honours and who are able to satisfy the Board of Studies that they have the

necessary aptitude to join the Course, normally through an interview.

Course Duration

(1) The Course shall extend over a period of twelve months of full-time study

or the equivalent in part-time study.

(2) The Board of Studies may allow students to extend their studies by not

more than six months or their equivalent in part-time study.

Areas of Study

The Course shall be offered in specialisations in the area of Applied

Conservation Studies in which the Institute can offer expert guidance and supervision.

The areas of study shall be indicated by the Academic Board before the commencement

of each Course, after approval by Senate.

B

Senate may, on the recommendation of the Board of Studies, limit the number

of students that may be admitted to the Course depending on the availability of

resources. The number of students that may be admitted shall be announced before the

beginning of each Course. Should there be more eligible applicants than the maximum

number of places, applicants shall be selected by a board appointed for the purpose.

The board shall take into consideration the applicants’ qualifications and their aptitude.

Applicants wishing to register for the Course shall apply on the prescribed

form and within the time specified by the Office of the Registrar.

Course of Studies

The Course shall consist of study-units to which a total of 80 credits are

assigned, including taught and practical study-units to which 50 credits are assigned and

a dissertation study-unit to which 30 credits are assigned.

Catalogue of Study-Units

The Board of Studies shall draw up a programme of studies for the Course and

shall publish a catalogue of study-units. The catalogue shall indicate the code, title,

description and type of each study-unit, the credits assigned to each study-unit, which

study-units are compulsory, concurrent or pre-requisites for other study-units, and the

methods of teaching and assessment. The catalogue shall include also guidelines on the

conduct of seminars, the production of the dissertation and its oral defence. The Board

of Studies shall publish the catalogue prior to the commencement of each Course,

following the approval of Senate.

Assessment and Progress

Results for the assessment of the study-units and the dissertation shall be

published as a percentage mark and grade as indicated in the table below

Mark Range

Grade

80% -100%

A

70% - 79%

B

55% - 69%

C

45% - 54%

D

0 - 44%

F

Both the percentage mark and the grade shall be recorded in the students’ academic

record. However, only the percentage mark shall be used for the purpose of calculating

the final classification of the Degree.

(1) Students who fail in any taught study-unit, other than practical study-

units, shall be allowed a supplementary assessment that shall be held at the next

scheduled examination session and shall normally have the same mode of assessment as

the corresponding first assessment. In the case of take home assignments that require

re-submission, the supplementary assessment shall be made by arrangement with the

lecturer concerned.

(2) The maximum mark and grade that may be awarded in the supplementary

assessment shall be 45% - grade D.

(3) Students who fail a practical study-unit and students who fail a re-

assessed study-unit shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

Students shall not be allowed to be re-assessed for a study-unit if they have

already been awarded credits for it.

The Board of Studies may allow students to transfer credits obtained for

study-units in a course of studies at this University or at an educational institution

recognized for the purpose by the Senate, provided that such study-units are comparable

in content and level to the ones offered in the Course. Not more than one-third of the

number of credits required for the award of the Degree may be so transferred.

B

Dissertation

Students must submit a 300-word proposal for their dissertation and a

supporting statement by a member of the Institute who has agreed to supervise the

work, preferably at the time of submitting their application to join the Course but in any

case not later than two months from the commencement of the Course.

The Board of Studies shall be responsible for the approval of the title and

research proposal.

Dissertations presented for the Degree shall

(a) be work of an advanced or original nature in the students’ area of study;

(b) satisfy the Board of Examiners as regards content and presentation;

(c) be between 35,000 and 40,000 words long; and

(d) fulfil the requirements stipulated in the relevant guidelines as regards format.

Students shall present four bound copies of the dissertation to the Institute,

one of which shall be retained in the University Library and another in the Library of

the Malta Centre for Restoration.

No dissertation shall be accepted which is identical in substance to a

document already submitted for a degree in this or any other university or to any other

published material. Students shall, however, not be precluded from incorporating such

previous work as may be necessary to the presentation and a fuller understanding of

their exposition, provided that the nature and extent of such incorporation are clearly

indicated in the dissertation itself.

Supervision of Dissertation

(1) The Board of Studies shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each

student, normally composed of three members as follows

the Head of

Department/Coordinator as chairman, and two other members, one of whom being the

research supervisor, provided that when the Head of Department/ Coordinator is the

supervisor, he shall not chair the Panel.

(2) The Panel of Supervision shall follow the students’ work on their

dissertation, provided that it meets at least twice to review such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisor at least once every

month and in addition as often as the supervisor deems necessary.

(4) Supervisors shall be required to submit regular reports on students to the

Panel of Supervision. Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for any

substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation. The dissertation may

not normally be submitted to a Board of Examiners without the approval of the

supervisor.

(5) The Panel of Supervision may advise the Board of Studies in writing on

the performance of a student. Such advice may recommend an extension of the study

period in order to enable the student to complete the dissertation, provided that the

extension of the study period referred to shall be according to paragraph (2) of

regulation 4.

Assessment of Study-Units and Dissertation

(1) A Board of Examiners shall be appointed for each study-unit and shall

normally be composed of three members as follows

the Head of

Department/Coordinator as chairman, the lecturer concerned and one other member.

(2) The Board of Examiners appointed for the dissertation shall normally be

composed

of

three

members

as

follows

the

Head

of

B

Department/Coordinator as chairman, and two other members, one of whom being the

research supervisor, provided that when the Head of Department/Coordinator is the

supervisor, he shall not chair the Board. The other member of the Board of Examiners

shall be an external examiner.

(3) The Board of Examiners for the dissertation shall require students to

defend the dissertation orally before them. The external examiner need not be present

for the oral defence provided that three members shall conduct the oral examination.

(1) Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory may either be deemed

to have failed without being given the opportunity to resubmit the work for re-

assessment or be required by the Board of Examiners to rewrite the document in whole

or in part and re-submit it for re-assessment not earlier than two months and not later

than six months from the notification of the decision by the Board of Examiners for the

dissertation.

(2) The maximum mark and grade that may be awarded to a dissertation

after re-assessment shall be 45% – grade D.

(3) Students may be awarded a pass mark and grade for a dissertation subject

to their making minor amendments and/or corrections within not more than a month’s

time. In such instances, the mark is effectively awarded when the required changes are

made to the satisfaction of the Board of Examiners.

Award of the Degree

(1) The final result shall take into account the results obtained in all the

study-units of the Course, which shall be weighted according to the number of credits

assigned to each study-unit.

(2) The names of students who qualify for the award of the Degree shall be

published in a list in alphabetical order and classified as follows

Passed with Distinction

Passed.

Mitbug] fl-Istamperija tal-Gvern - Printed at the Government Printing Press