under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology

B

L.N. 296 of 2008

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2008 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

for the Degree of Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology

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 bye-laws made by the Board of the

Faculty of Theology in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by section 81

(1) of the said Act and which have been approved by the Senate of the

University of Malta as required by section 81 (2) of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2008 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the degree of

Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology.

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Theology;

"the Course" means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master of

Arts in Pastoral Studies;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Pastoral

Studies; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in October 2008

or later.

B

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a Bachelor degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours in

Theology, or Religious Studies; or

(b) a Bachelor degree obtained with Category II or better in Theology, or

Religious Studies as the main area of study, or a Bachelor of Education (Honours)

degree with at least Second Class Honours with Religious Education as a teaching

area of study; or

(c) a qualification considered by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board,

as equivalent to the qualifications in either (a) or (b) of this bye-law.

Preparatory Programme

(1) The admission of applicants under paragraph (b) of bye-law 3 shall be

made conditional on the result of an interview and in such cases applicants shall be

required to successfully complete a preparatory programme of 30 credits obtained

with an average mark of 55% or better prior to their registration in the Course.

(2) Preparatory programmes shall also be governed by the Principal

Regulations.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study or the

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

The programme of study shall comprise study-units to which a total of 90

credits are assigned, of which 60 credits are assigned to taught study-units and 30

credits assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain the 60 credits assigned to the taught study-units with an

average mark of at least 50% and do not proceed with the Course, or having

proceeded do not successfully complete the dissertation, shall be eligible for the

award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

The programme of study shall be published after approval by Senate,

normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the Course.

B

Assessment and Progress

(1) The assessment of each taught study-unit shall be completed by the

end of the semester in which the teaching of the study-unit is held.

(2) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more

than 20 credits for taught study-units, if following the full-time Course, or not more

than 10 credits if following the part-time Course, shall be given the opportunity to

re-sit the failed assessments during the September supplementary examination

session.

(3) Students who fail in more than the number of credits permitted under

paragraph (2) of this bye-law or students who after re-assessment fail to obtain credit

for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have failed the Course.

Dissertation

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of

approximately 25,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation may be undertaken during the third

semester. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance

and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(3) A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal

shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the beginning of the second

semester.

(1) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports for each student

under their supervision at the end of each semester of studies, whether the student is

following the Course on a full-time or a part-time basis. Such reports may include a

recommendation to either (a) extend the period of study in order to enable the

student to complete the dissertation; or (b) terminate studies prematurely if the

supervisor deems this to be proper in the circumstances, provided that

(i) the extension of the study period referred to in (a) shall be in accordance

with the provisions of the Principal Regulations; and

(ii) the Board may not terminate studies prematurely according to (b) until it

has first given the student a chance to be heard.

B

Classification of the Awards

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification of

the Postgraduate Diploma and of the Degree shall be based on the results obtained in

all the components of the programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

Special Provisions for Part-Time Courses

The provisions of the foregoing bye-laws shall apply mutatis mutandis to

courses pursued on a part-time basis, and subject to such changes as may reasonably

be deemed by the Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the Course.

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