General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

L.N. 120 of 2008

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

IN exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 74 (5) and

75 (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 75

and 79 of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These regulations may be cited as the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

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

used shall be taken to mean as indicated in the Glossary of Terms listed hereunder

Glossary of Terms

Explanation

An academic year consisting of two semesters, each

incorporating fourteen weeks of teaching, two weeks of recess,

and examination periods of two weeks and of four weeks at the

end of the first and the second semester respectively. 60 credits

are assigned to the study-units that students are expected to

complete over one full-time academic year. An academic year

may be extended by a summer semester to which 30 credits are

assigned.

A subject or a group of related subjects taken together in an

approved Programme of Study.

The Award Classification Board appointed for each Postgraduate

Course.

The Board of the University faculty or institute or centre

responsible for a particular Postgraduate Course.

The Bye-Laws approved by Senate for each Postgraduate Course.

The department of a faculty or division of an institute or centre

responsible for the Postgraduate Course.

Glossary of Terms

Explanation

The number of credits awarded for successful completion of each

study-unit. The allocation of credit to study-units forming part of

a Postgraduate Course follows closely the European Credit

Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) proposed by the

European Commission, a relevant extract from which is attached

as Schedule 2 – ECTS Credits – to the General Regulations for

University Undergraduate Awards, 2004, published as Legal

Notice 127 of 2004.

The University faculty/ies or institute/s or centre/s under whose

auspices the Postgraduate Course is being offered.

Assessment of taught study-units may be through coursework,

assignments, written or oral examinations, or combinations of

these, to each of which a percentage of the final marks shall be

assigned. The method of assessment shall be indicated in the

description of each study-unit.

A course of studies leading to a Postgraduate Award, which may

be a Postgraduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma or a

Master’s degree.

A degree awarded after successful completion of a course of

studies that imparts specific professional competencies and leads

to an award that gives access to a regulated profession.

A Programme of Study shall list all the study-units offered in

each year of a Postgraduate Course. It shall indicate which

study-units are compulsory or elective. Programmes of Study

shall be published by the Board prior to the commencement of

each Postgraduate Course, following the approval of Senate.

A part of a Programme of Study carried out upon a syllabus

approved by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, to

which a specified number of credits at an indicated level is

assigned, and which is capable of separate assessment. Its

description shall also include the methods of teaching and

assessment and the lecturer/s giving the unit.

A taught study-unit may take the form of a series of lectures,

seminars, tutorials, practical or clinical sessions, field

placements, projects, private study or a combination of such

work, or any other method of teaching. A research study-unit

involves the writing of a dissertation under supervision.

A study-unit which must be followed and passed for the purpose

of progression or successful completion of the Postgraduate

Course.

A study-unit which must be chosen from a designated list of

study-units indicated in the Programme of Study.

Glossary of Terms

Term

Explanation

A Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma, or a

University

Master’s degree awarded in terms of these regulations.

Postgraduate

Award/s

Applicability

These regulations shall be applicable as from October 2008 for all courses

leading to University Postgraduate Awards as indicated in regulation 3 and brought

into force as bye-laws of these regulations.

Postgraduate Awards

The second cycle Postgraduate Awards governed by these regulations are

the following

(a) the Postgraduate Certificate;

(b) the Postgraduate Diploma; and

(c) the Master's degree.

Eligibility to offer Postgraduate Courses

(1) Postgraduate Courses shall be proposed by the Board duly authorised

to offer Postgraduate Courses in that particular area of study and approved by Senate

through bye-laws for the purpose.

(2) Postgraduate Courses may be offered jointly by more than one

Board, in which case the Board of Studies appointed by Senate shall include

representation from each Faculty.

Students shall be accepted to register for Masters’ degrees by

research after it is ascertained that the Faculty concerned can make available suitable

facilities for the proposed research as well as supervisors who can provide regular

supervision taking account of their (a) area of academic expertise as evident from

the peer-reviewed record of publications, and (b) other commitments.

Eligibility for Postgraduate Awards

(1) To qualify for any Postgraduate Award, students must

(a) be registered as regular students in a Postgraduate Course;

(b) complete the Postgraduate Course and satisfy any other requirements

prescribed in these regulations and in the bye-laws for the Postgraduate Course;

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

regulations and bye-laws of the University, including applicable ethical, and health

and safety procedures; and

(d) obtain not less than the number of credits at not below the level as

indicated hereunder, including all credits for compulsory and elective study-units as

specified in the Programme of Study and/or in the course bye-laws

Postgraduate Award

Requirements

Postgraduate Certificate

30 credits, of which not less than 25 credits at

Level 5

Postgraduate Diploma

60 credits, of which not less than 55 credits at

Level 5

Master’s degree

90 – 120 credits, of which not less than 80 credits

at Level 5, and including a dissertation to which

not less than 30 credits are assigned

(2) Exceptionally, Senate may also approve Master’s programmes to

which 60 credits are assigned if such programmes are offered in partnership with

prestigious higher education institutions and/or in the framework of international

collaborative ventures.

(3) In accordance with the provisions of Statute 3, where the University,

with the approval of Senate, enters into an agreement with other universities for the

granting of a joint or double Postgraduate Award, then the Postgraduate Award may

be given

(a) in the case of a joint Postgraduate Award, jointly on one certificate by all

the partner universities and shall be conferred at one of the partner universities as

agreed among them; or

(b) in the case of a double Postgraduate Award, separately by each partner

university.

Types of Master’s Courses

(1) A Master’s course may lead to three types of comparable awards as

follows

(a) a Master’s degree obtained on successful completion of a Programme of

Study that builds upon a first cycle degree in the same or related area of study,

normally designated as Master of Arts or Master of Science or, where appropriate,

Master of Philosophy;

(b) a Professional Master’s degree obtained on successful completion of a

Programme of Study that builds upon a first cycle professional degree in the same

area of study and intended to develop further profession-related skills and

knowledge, normally in an area of specialisation, and usually designated as Master

of (subject); and

(c) a Conversion Master’s degree obtained on successful completion of a

Programme of Study that, whilst necessitating the broad academic preparation of a

suitable first cycle degree, does not build upon a specific body of knowledge

obtained in any particular first cycle degree course, designated as Master of

(subject).

(2)

A Master’s course may be either mainly taught or mainly by

research.

(3) All taught Masters’ courses shall provide that students be awarded a

Postgraduate Diploma on successful completion of taught study-units to which 60

credits are assigned if the students either opt not to proceed with the Postgraduate

Course, or having proceeded, do not successfully complete the Master’s course.

(4) Students who are awarded a Postgraduate Diploma may only be

allowed to re-join a Postgraduate Course continuing towards a Master’s degree after

the lapse of two years from the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

Requirements for Admission to Postgraduate Courses

(1) To be considered for admission to Postgraduate Courses in terms of

these regulations, applicants must be in possession of a first cycle degree obtained

from this University, or from any other university approved by Senate for this

purpose, as indicated in these regulations and must satisfy any special course

requirements indicated in the bye-laws for the Postgraduate Course.

(2) Admission to Master’s and Professional Master’s courses is through

possession of a first cycle Honours degree classified at least at Second Class in an

area of study relevant to the studies to be pursued in the Master’s or Professional

Master’s course. Bye-laws may provide for the admission of applicants with a Third

Class Honours degree if they are also in possession of other qualifications, including

relevant experience, obtained following the first cycle degree.

(3) Admission to Conversion Master’s courses is through possession of a

first cycle degree classified at least at Second Class Honours or Category II.

(4) Applicants shall be accepted to register on courses with a major

research component if their dissertation proposal falls within the research interests of

the department and the department has the necessary resources to provide adequate

supervision.

(1) Bye-laws for Master’s and Professional Master’s courses may provide

that applicants in possession of an Ordinary Degree classified with at least Category

II be admitted into a Preparatory Programme and they shall become eligible to join

the appropriate Master’s course on completion of the Preparatory Programme at the

standard of at least Second Class Honours.

(2) Bye-Laws for Conversion Master’s courses may provide that

applicants in possession of an Honours degree classified at least at Third Class or of

an Ordinary Degree with at least Category III be admitted if they have obtained

other qualifications, including relevant experience, following their first cycle degree.

(1) Admission to a Postgraduate Diploma course, when the course does

not give automatic access to a Master’s course, may be through possession of a first

cycle degree obtained at least at either Third Class Honours or with Category III.

(2) Admission to a Postgraduate Certificate course, when the course

does not give automatic access to a Master’s course, may be through possession of

any first cycle degree.

Bye-laws may provide that the Board may grant students full or partial

exemption from the requirement of the Preparatory Programme if it is satisfied that

the students possess post-first cycle qualification work experience that is relevant to

the area of study of the Master’s course.

Senate may approve bye-laws in terms of these regulations to provide

for the admission of experienced professionals not in possession of formal academic

qualifications into professional courses, consisting of not less than 60 credits for

taught study-units.

All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that their standard of

English is satisfactory, unless teaching, research and assessment are done in another

language. The Admissions Board may, from time to time, publish the qualifications

that are acceptable for each level of University awards, including the level and

grades required in the English proficiency qualification. The offer of a place on a

Postgraduate Course may be made subject to the applicants obtaining such

proficiency qualifications prior to the commencement of their studies.

Applications for Postgraduate Courses

Applications for taught Postgraduate Courses shall be made on the

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

For the Master’s degree mainly by research, applications may be

submitted at any time of the year but enrolment shall be with effect from one of the

following dates: 1 October, 1 December, 1 February, 1 April and 1 June.

Applications for the Master’s degree mainly by research shall be

approved by the Board and shall include the following details

(a) a provisional title for the dissertation;

(b) a research proposal, of at least 300 words; and

(c) a statement on whether the studies will be undertaken on a full-time or a

part-time basis, and, in the latter case, the number of hours that shall be dedicated to

this research work.

In the case of applicants from outside Malta, funding and visa

requirements shall be taken into consideration when the application and research

proposal are being considered.

Preparatory Programmes

Preparatory Programmes, when prescribed, shall be approved by Senate,

on the recommendation of the Board, and must include study-units to which not less

than 30 credits are assigned for higher level undergraduate work in areas which are

directly relevant to the area of study of the Master’s course.

Duration of Postgraduate Courses

The duration of Postgraduate Courses shall be specified in the bye-laws

for each course but shall extend over the following periods of full-time study

(a) one semester for courses leading to a Postgraduate Certificate;

(b) two semesters for courses leading to a Postgraduate Diploma; and

(c) between three and four semesters for courses leading to a Master’s degree.

(1) The Board may grant students registered on Postgraduate Courses an

extension of up to six months in order to enable them to complete their studies,

irrespective of whether they are registered on a full-time or a part-time basis.

(2) In special circumstances and on the recommendation of the Board,

Senate may grant students a further extension of up to two years in order to enable

them to complete their studies, irrespective of whether they are registered on a full-

time or a part-time basis.

Suspension of Studies

The Board may allow students, for a good and sufficient reason, to

suspend their studies for a maximum period of twelve months, irrespective of

whether they are registered on a full-time or a part-time basis. In such cases, the

period of suspension of studies shall not be taken into consideration for calculating

the period of registration in the Postgraduate Course in terms of the duration

requirement.

Academic Calendar for Postgraduate Courses

(1) The academic calendar for Postgraduate Courses is given in the

Glossary of Terms. The summer recess may however be shortened to two weeks in

August in order to allow students to participate in a summer semester.

(2) Supplementary examinations shall be held either in September or,

in exceptional circumstances, at the next scheduled session of examinations.

Attendance

Unless otherwise specified in the bye-laws of a Postgraduate Course, or

expressly stated in the description of a study-unit as published in the catalogue of

study-units, attendance for lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical or clinical sessions

or work placements, fieldwork and any other teaching session in whatever mode is

obligatory. Unauthorised absence may lead to the student being declared ineligible

for assessment of a study-unit, in which case a 0 mark and an F grade shall be

assigned and recorded.

Dissertations

(1) All Master’s programmes shall include the writing of a dissertation,

to which not less than 30 credits shall be assigned.

(2) The supervision of students for the dissertation shall be regulated by

the provisions of regulation 51.

(3) In the case of dissertations assigned more than 30 credits, the

provisions of regulations 51 and 52 shall apply.

(4) Dissertations shall be assessed according to the provisions of

regulations 53 and 54.

(5) Before graduating, students shall present three hard bound copies

of the dissertation to the Department, one of which shall be retained in the

University library.

Ethical Approval of Research Programmes

Any research undertaken by students which involves direct contact with

patients or healthy participants, whether clinical, biomedical or social research, or

the secondary use of existing human materials or specimens, or involving animals

must be subject to ethical review. Such review must be undertaken by the Research

Ethics Committee appointed by Senate for the purpose. These research proposals

shall first be considered by the Board who shall submit the proposal to the Research

Ethics Committee. The Board shall only accept such applications if the Research

Ethics Committee has given its approval.

Language of Dissertations

(1) Dissertations for all Postgraduate Awards shall be written in

English, except that dissertations in areas of study involving a language may be

written in that language.

(2) However, a Board may allow students to write their dissertation in

any other language provided that the Board has ascertained, to the satisfaction of

Senate, that the University has the necessary expertise to supervise and examine the

work. In such cases, students shall be required to include a translation of the

Abstract in English.

Assessment of Study-Units - Marking and Grading

Examiners shall express the students’ performance in the assessment of all

study-units, including the dissertation, as a percentage mark and grade as indicated

in the table below. Both the percentage mark and the letter grade shall be recorded

in the students’ academic record. The percentage mark only is used for the purpose

of calculating the students’ progress and for the award classification.

Mark Range

Descriptor

Grade

Work of excellent quality

80% - 100%

A

Superior

performance

showing

a

comprehensive

understanding and application of the subject matter.

Evidence of considerable additional reading/research/work.

Work of very good quality

70% - 79%

B

Performance is typified by a very good working knowledge

of the subject matter. Evidence of a considerable amount of

reading/ research/work.

Work of good quality

55% - 69%

C

Above average performance, with a good working

knowledge of the subject matter. Evidence of sufficient

reading/research/work.

Work of fair but below average quality

50% - 54%

D

Considerable but incomplete understanding of the subject

matter. Evidence of a fair amount of reading/research/work.

Work of marginal quality

45% - 49%

E

Minimal understanding of the subject matter, with no

evidence of additional reading/research/work, which must be

compensated by higher marks in other units in order to be

eligible for the Postgraduate Award.

Mark Range

Descriptor

Grade

Pass – when assessment is based on a pass/fail basis.

Not applicable

P

Unsatisfactory, failing work in any study-unit.

0% - 44%

F

Unjustified absence for an assessment, or failure to hand in

0%

F

assigned work in time, or ineligibility to take assessment due

to unapproved absence from lectures. Shall be considered as

F with 0 marks in the calculation of the average mark.

Temporary grade for Incomplete work due to justifiable

I

reasons (illness, approved absence, etc.) for which the

assessment date has been postponed or the deadline for

submission of work has been extended.

Re-assessment of Study-Units

(1) A failed taught study-unit may be re-assessed once only, under those

conditions as provided for in the bye-laws for the Postgraduate Course. If

successful, the maximum mark/grade that can be awarded shall be 45% / Grade E.

(2) Students shall not be allowed to be re-assessed for a study-unit if

they have already been awarded credit for it.

(3) Students who, after reassessment, fail to obtain credit for any study-

unit shall be required to withdraw from the Postgraduate Course.

Re-admission to a Postgraduate Course

When students are required by the provisions of these regulations to

withdraw from a Postgraduate Course, they shall not be allowed re-admission into

the same course before the lapse of three years from withdrawing and thereafter may

only be re-admitted by permission of Senate, given on the recommendation of the

Board.

Progression and Annual Enrolment for Postgraduate Courses

(1) Students registered on taught programmes shall be allowed to enrol

for the following year if they obtain all the credits for the year. Students registered

on programmes mainly by research shall be allowed to enrol for the following year

subject to a satisfactory progress report from their Principal Supervisor.

(2) Students are required to enrol at the commencement of the

Postgraduate Course and at the beginning of each academic year throughout their

period of study, whether they are following a mainly taught programme or a mainly

research programme.

Bye-laws for a Postgraduate Course may provide that progression from

one year to the next or progression from the taught component to the research

component be subject to a minimum average mark to be indicated in the bye-laws.

Classification of Postgraduate Awards

There shall be an Award Classification Board for each Postgraduate

Course.

(1) For mainly taught programmes, the Award Classification Board

shall be composed of at least three members, including the Dean/Director, or

delegate, as chairman, the course co-ordinator, and at least one other member

appointed by the Board.

(2) In the case of programmes mainly by research, the Board of

Examiners appointed as in regulation 55 shall act as the Award Classification Board.

(1) Postgraduate Certificates shall be awarded unclassified.

(2) Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees may be awarded in any

of the following classifications

Pass with Distinction

Pass with Merit

Pass.

The classification of Postgraduate Awards shall be determined by the

Award Classification Board on the basis of a Final Weighted Average Mark

obtained by taking into account the individual marks obtained in each study-unit as

well as the credit value of the study-units,

provided that bye-laws may allow for the credits assigned to the dissertation to be

weighted by a factor of not more than 1.5.

(1) The Award Classification Board shall consult the following

guidelines when deciding upon the final classification of Postgraduate Diplomas and

Masters’ degrees

Final Weighted Average Mark

Classification

80 - 100%

Pass with Distinction

70 - 79%

Pass with Merit

50 - 69%

Pass.

(2) Students whose Final Average Weighted Mark is between 0 and

49% shall be considered to have failed to qualify for a Postgraduate Award.

(3) The Award Classification Board, at its own discretion, may award the

Postgraduate Award with a higher classification than that indicated in paragraph (1)

of this regulation to students whose Final Weighted Average Mark is up to three

marks less than the minimum for the classification. In such cases, the Award

Classification Board is required to minute the decision and the justification for it.

(4) The Award Classification Board, at its own discretion, may also

award a Postgraduate Award with a lower classification than that indicated in

paragraph (1) of this regulation. In such cases, the Award Classification Board is

required to obtain the authorisation of the Board that shall minute the decision and

the justification for it. The students concerned may appeal to Senate against the

decision within 15 days of the publication of the classification.

II. T AUGHT P OSTGRADUATE A WARDS

Programmes of Study for Mainly Taught Postgraduate Awards

(1) Programmes of Study shall be proposed by one or more than one

Department jointly, and shall be approved by Senate, on the recommendation of the

Board.

(2) Programmes of Study shall be co-ordinated by the head of

department or another member of staff appointed for the purpose by the Board.

Programmes of Study shall be published before the commencement of

each Postgraduate Course, normally not less than 3 months before its

commencement. Programmes of Study shall include all the study-units, indicating

which study-units are compulsory or elective, and the order in which the units shall

be followed.

Study-units

Study-units shall be proposed by the Department or a number of

departments responsible for the teaching of the area/areas of study in the

Postgraduate Course and approved by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board.

Study-units shall be assigned a code by the Office of the Registrar in

accordance with the principles listed in Schedule 1 - System of Assigning Codes

for Study-Units – attached to the General Regulations for University Undergraduate

Awards, 2004, published as Legal Notice 127 of 2004.

Study-units in all Postgraduate Courses shall normally be offered at level

five. Each taught study-unit shall normally be assigned not less than five credits and

not more than 30 credits, preferably in multiples of five credits.

All study-units shall be assigned a credit value in terms of the European

Credit Transfer and Accumulation System and credits shall be awarded to students

who pass the assessment for the unit.

The method of assessment for each study-unit shall be indicated in the

study-unit description and published in the catalogue of study-units. If the method

of assessment comprises more than one assessment component, the % weighting of

each component shall be given. Students shall be awarded the credits for a unit if

they obtain an overall pass mark for the unit as a whole.

The same study-units cannot be counted towards two separate

Postgraduate Awards unless one qualification is considered by Senate to be an

interim qualification in the normal progression to the other, higher level,

qualification,

provided that a Board of Studies may exempt a student from the attendance

requirement of a compulsory study-unit credit for which was obtained towards

another award, although such a student shall still be required to be assessed in the

unit.

Credits awarded for study-units may not normally be used towards an

award after seven years have elapsed from the successful completion of the unit.

Registration for Study-Units

Students shall register for the study-units prescribed in their Programme

of Study within the time specified by the Office of the Registrar. They shall not be

considered as students on a study-unit unless they have so registered.

Boards of Examiners for Taught Study-Units

Taught study-units shall be examined by a Board of Examiners

composed of not less than 3 persons, including a chairman who shall not be teaching

the unit, and the lecturer/s teaching the unit.

III. P OSTGRADUATE A WARDS BY R ESEARCH

Programmes of Study for Master’s Degree mainly by Research

The Master’s degree obtained mainly by research shall require students

to register for at least two study-units, one of which a study-unit consisting of

supervised research work leading to the writing of a dissertation, to which not less

than 60 credits are assigned.

Students registered for Masters’ degrees mainly by research may be

allowed to participate in joint research projects where data generated jointly by a

group of researchers is used for the writing of a dissertation, provided that each

student writes a separate dissertation.

Supervision of Masters’ Dissertations

(1) In Masters’ degrees mainly by research, the Board shall appoint a

Principal Supervisor for each student.

(2) If the nature/topic of research requires the input of another

specialist, the Board may appoint a co-supervisor, in which case the two supervisors

shall meet the student together to decide how they will divide their responsibility for

advice and how future meetings are to be arranged.

(3) When a co-supervisor is appointed, the Principal Supervisor shall

retain the ultimate responsibility of leadership in supervision.

(4) Principal Supervisors shall be responsible for providing guidance

to students under their care in the following areas

(a) assisting students to select and elaborate a research problem and to

formulate a written proposal for their dissertation;

(b) offering ideas and providing guidance and encouragement on the

planning and progress of research, submission of the dissertation, and publication of

results;

(c) providing or arranging instruction in research methodology, including

use of information technology;

(d) guiding students in acquiring and improving appropriate generic skills,

including written and oral communication, numeracy, decision-taking and

organisational and management skills; and

(e) any other matters which require the attention of the Board or Senate.

(5) Principal Supervisors shall meet students regularly to review

progress. Meetings may be substituted by other means of communication.

Bye-laws shall establish methods and stipulate procedures for the

effective monitoring of students’ progress throughout their studies. These shall

include measures to ensure that

(a) written progress reports are submitted regularly by Principal Supervisors

to an appropriate faculty/departmental committee or panels of supervision for

individual students or groups of students; such reports may include a

recommendation either to (a) grant an extension of the study period in order to

enable the students to complete the dissertation; or (b) to terminate the studies

prematurely if the relevant faculty/departmental committee deems this to be proper

in the circumstances; provided that for (a), the period of extension of studies shall be

according to regulation 18; and for (b), the student may appeal his case before

Senate within 15 days from the notice of termination;

(b) substantial modification of title or content of dissertation, requests for

extension of studies or suspension of studies are considered and decided upon

expeditiously;

(c) students’ research is not hindered in unforeseeable circumstances, such

as when a supervisor is absent for a long period; and

(d) requests by students about matters relating to their studies (including a

request to change their Principal Supervisor if there are serious reasons) are

adequately considered.

Assessment of Dissertations for Master’s Degree

(1) Dissertations presented for a Master’s Degree shall

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

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

(c) fulfil the requirements as provided by relevant bye-laws and guidelines as

regards format and length.

(2) Prior to submission, the student shall seek the written permission of

the Principal Supervisor, which shall be attached to the dissertation, provided that a

student may opt to submit his dissertation notwithstanding any negative advice from

the Principal Supervisor.

(3) 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 not, however, be precluded from

incorporating such previous work as may be necessary to the presentation and fuller

understanding of their exposition, provided that the nature and extent of such

incorporation are clearly indicated in the dissertation itself.

(1) After examining the dissertation, the Board of Examiners may

approve it unconditionally or subject to correction of minor errors to the satisfaction

of the Principal Supervisor and admit the student to an oral examination.

(2) If the Board of Examiners is not satisfied with the quality of the

dissertation, it shall not admit the student to an oral examination and shall either

(a) refer the dissertation back to the student for major revision and

resubmission within six months in revised form to the satisfaction of the Board of

Examiners; or

(b) not grant permission to resubmit and state that the degree be not

awarded.

(3) Students who fail to satisfy the Board of Examiners in the oral

examination may be given permission to re-submit the dissertation after making

changes as necessary and be re-examined orally within a period of six months. Such

permission shall be granted once only.

Boards of Examiners for Dissertations

(1) Dissertations submitted for the award of a Master’s Degree shall be

assessed by a Board of Examiners appointed by Senate for the purpose, on the

recommendation of the Board.

(2) The Board of Examiners shall be composed of at least four

members and shall normally include an external examiner from an overseas

institution.

(3) The Board of Examiners shall require students to defend their

dissertation orally before it. The external examiner need not be present for the oral

defence but not less than 3 members of the Board of Examiners shall conduct the

oral examination.

(4) The Board of Examiners shall follow any procedures stipulated in

guidelines for the assessment of dissertations for Masters’ degrees, approved by

Senate.

Teaching Duties

(1) Students registered for a Master’s degree mainly by research may be

required to assist lecturing staff in the Faculty’s teaching activities for up to a

maximum of 100 hours a year, provided that these duties do not conflict with their

research work and that students may be exempted from this requirement for a good

and valid reason.

(2) The criteria used in assigning such duties to students shall be

equitable and transparent.

(3) Students involved in teaching shall be assigned an academic

mentor to whom they may turn for advice. They shall also be provided with advice

and facilities to ensure that they may teach effectively. Students involved in such

teaching activities shall be provided with instruction and guidance, including

relevant health and safety training.

(4) For such work, students shall be remunerated at standard rates as

approved by the University.

Publication

Students shall acknowledge the contribution of their supervisor/s and of

any other members of staff or students in any published material or presentation in

accordance with international guidelines on authorship.

Supervisors shall acknowledge students’ contributions in any published

material or presentation which involves work performed by students.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Copyright of the dissertation remains with the student. All other

intellectual property rights embodied in dissertations are owned by the University.

The physical copies of the dissertations submitted for examination become the

property of the University

Students must abide by the University’s policy on Intellectual Property

insofar as it pertains to the allocation of income from intellectual property rights.

Confidentiality Agreements

(1) Confidentiality agreements with sponsoring or funding bodies

should be identified by students and agreed by the Principal Supervisor and notified

to the Board.

(2) Where a student or the University wishes the dissertation to remain

confidential after completion of the programme of research, a request for approval

must normally be made to the Board at the time the application is being considered.

The period approved shall not normally exceed two years from the publication of the

result. However, in cases where publication of the dissertation would prove

detrimental to the student or the University or the sponsor or the funding body, a

further period may be approved.

Special Provisions for Part-Time Courses

(1) A Board may, from time to time, offer students the opportunity to

follow a Postgraduate Course on a part-time basis in areas of study which shall be

indicated before the commencement of each Course.

(2) The provisions of the foregoing regulations shall apply mutatis

mutandis to courses followed on a part-time basis, and subject to such changes as

may reasonably be deemed by the relevant Board as necessary due to the part-time

nature of the Course.

(3) Students may be allowed to follow a course on a part-time basis, in

which case the time spent in part-time study shall, unless otherwise stated in the bye-

laws for the course or unless in special circumstances specific arrangements are

agreed in writing by the Board with the student, count as half that required in the

case of full-time study.

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

€1.77 (Lm0.76)