under the auspices of the European Centre for Gerontology

L.N. 300 of 2006

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Regulations of 2006 for the Postgraduate Diploma and Degree of

Master of Gerontology and Geriatrics - P.G. Dip. Ger. and M. Ger. – Course

under the auspices of the European Centre for Gerontology

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 Regulations of 2006 for the

Postgraduate Diploma and Degree of Master of Gerontology and Geriatrics - P.G.

Dip. Ger. and M. Ger. – Course, under the auspices of the European Centre for

Gerontology.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the European Centre for Gerontology;

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

the Course;

“the Course” means the course of studies leading to the Postgraduate

Diploma or the degree of Master of Gerontology and Geriatrics – P.G. Dip. Ger. or

M. Ger.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Gerontology and Geriatrics – M.

Ger.; and

“the Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontology and

Geriatrics – P.G. Dip. Ger.

Applicability

These regulations shall be applicable for courses starting in October 2006

or later.

Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics

Qualifications for Admission

Applicants shall be eligible to apply for admission to the Course if they

are in possession of the following qualifications

(a) a degree, or a professional qualification considered by the Board to be

comparable to a degree, in a discipline pertaining to one of the caring professions; or

(b) a degree or a professional qualification considered by the Board to be

comparable to a degree deemed by the Board as relevant and adequate for the

applicant to follow the Course with profit; or

(c) in exceptional cases, a professional qualification in one of the caring

professions, together with at least 5 years’ experience which altogether are deemed

by the Admissions Board to be comparable to the level of a first degree.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over one year of full-time study or its equivalent

in part-time study.

Programme of Study

(1) The Course shall consist of study-units to which 60 ECTS credits are

assigned.

(2) The programme of study shall comprise

(a) compulsory study-units in Social Gerontology and Medical Geriatrics, to

which 24 ECTS credits are assigned;

(b) elective study-units in Social Gerontology or Medical Geriatrics, to

which 15 ECTS credits are assigned;

(c) compulsory practical placements, to which 4 ECTS credits are assigned;

(d) a research paper of between 10,000 and 12,000 words on a topic selected

from the general areas of study covered throughout the Course, to which 8 ECTS

credits are assigned; and

(e) synoptic study-units, to which 9 ECTS credits are assigned.

(3) The programme of study shall be published by the Board before the

commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate. Subject to changes

B

that the Board may, with the approval of Senate, be constrained to make, students

are bound to follow the study-units and obtain the credits as indicated in the

programme of study. The level, code, title, description and type of each study-unit,

the number of credits assigned to each study-unit, the methods of teaching and

assessment, and the name of the lecturer giving the study-unit shall be published by

the Board in a catalogue of study-units, following approval by Senate.

Assessment

(1) Results for the assessments of the study-units, the practice

placements, the research paper, the dissertation and the synoptic study-units 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 awards.

(2) Students who fail in the assessment of compulsory, elective and

synoptic study-units, the practice placements, and the dissertation shall be allowed a

re-assessment once only. If unsuccessful, students shall be required to withdraw

from the Course. If successful, the maximum marks and grade that may be awarded

shall be 45% - grade D.

(3) If after the first assessment, the research paper fails to reach the

required standard, students shall be allowed a maximum of three months to re-

submit the work.

(4) The names of students who qualify for the award of the Diploma shall

be published in a list in alphabetical order classified as follows

Pass with distinction

Pass.

Master of Gerontology and Geriatrics

Course Duration

(1) The Course shall extend over a period of one year of full-time study

or its equivalent in part-time study.

(2) The Board of Studies may extend the period of study up to a further

period of six months in the case of full-time study or twelve months in the case of

part-time study. Further requests for extensions shall be considered by Senate on the

recommendation of the Board.

Qualification for Admission

Admission into the Master’s Course is open to holders of the Diploma

obtained with a Final Weighted Average Mark of 70% or better not more than five

years previously.

Dissertation

(1) To be able to register for the Degree, applicants must submit a

dissertation proposal which should include the proposed title and an outline of the

research to be carried out including, among others, the hypothesis, methodology,

and bibliography.

(2) The dissertation proposal shall be approved by the Board of Studies.

(3) The Board shall appoint a supervisor for each student. In the case of

students not residing in Malta, the Board may allow them to perform their research

project in their respective country, and the Board shall nominate two supervisors,

one from the University of Malta and a co-supervisor from the student’s own

country. The names of the proposed supervisors shall be submitted for the approval

of Senate.

(4) Supervisors shall require students to report to them at least once a

semester. They may refer to the Board of Studies students whose work is

considered unsatisfactory and shall refer for the approval of the Board of Studies any

substantial modification in the title of the dissertation.

(5) The dissertation shall contain the results of the research carried out, a

critical review of the relevant literature, and a critical discussion of the results.

(6) The dissertation shall not exceed 50,000 words and shall be assigned

60 ECTS credits.

Assessment of the Dissertation

(1) The dissertation shall be examined by a Board of Examiners

appointed by Senate, consisting of at least three examiners, one of whom shall

normally be an external examiner from another university.

(2) Students shall normally also be required to take a viva voce

examination to defend their dissertation.

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

dissertation already submitted for a degree at the University of Malta or at any other

university.

(4) Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory may be allowed by

the Board, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, to resubmit it, in a

revised form, within a period not exceeding one year from the day on which it is

referred back to them.

Award of the Degree

(1) The final result for the award of the Degree shall take into account

the merits of the dissertation and the viva voce examination thereof.

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

be published in a list in alphabetical order classified as follows

Passed with Distinction

Passed.

Repeal

The Postgraduate Diploma and Degree of Master of Gerontology and

Geriatrics – Dip. Ger. – M. Ger. Regulations, 1992, published as Legal Notice 69 of

1992, as amended by Legal Notice 225 of 1998, shall be deemed to cease to be in

force as from 1 st October 2006, provided that students registered for this course

before the 1 st October 2006 shall continue to be governed by the regulations that

were in force at the time of their joining the course.

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