under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology

B

L.N. 297 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 Theology

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 Theology 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 Theology;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Theology;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Theology;

"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.

Areas of Study

The Course shall be offered mainly by research in any area of Theology in

which the Board can offer expert guidance and supervision. Subject to the

availability of resources, the areas of study shall be indicated by the Board before

the commencement of the Course.

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

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

(c) a Bachelor degree in Religious Studies with at least Second Class Honours

or with at least Category II.

Preparatory Programme

(1) Admission of applicants under paragraphs (b) and (c) of bye-law 4 shall

be made conditional on the results of an interview and in such cases the 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 of study 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 30 credits are assigned to taught study-units and 60

credits are assigned to a dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain the 30 credits assigned to the taught study-units with an

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

B

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

award of a Postgraduate Certificate.

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

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

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 fail in the assessment of not more than 10 credits for

taught study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessment

during the September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who fail in more than 10 credits 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 50,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation may be undertaken throughout the Course

after approval of the proposal. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall

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

(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 recommendations 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 Award

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

the Degree shall be based on the results obtained in all components of the course

programme, all credits being weighted equally.

Special Provisions for Part-Time Courses

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

courses followed 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.

Repeal

The Regulations of 2005 for the Degree of Master of Arts in Theology

published as Legal Notice 154 of 2005, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as

from 1 October 2008, provided that students registered for this Course before 1

October 2008 shall continue to be governed by the regulations that were in force at

the time of their joining the course.

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