under the auspices of the Faculty of Laws

B

L.N. 321 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 Human Rights and Democratization

under the auspices of the Faculty of Laws

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 Laws 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 Human Rights and Democratization under the auspices of the

Faculty of Laws.

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Laws;

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

Arts in Human Rights and Democratization;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Human Rights and

Democratization;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Human

Rights and Democratization; 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

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

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

at least Category II in Law, or in social sciences, or the political sciences, or

international relations, or the humanities; or

(b) an Honours degree classified with Third Class or of a Bachelor degree

with Category III provided that they have obtained other qualifications, including

relevant experience, following the first cycle degree.

(2) The admission of applicants under sub-paragraph (1)(b) of this bye-law

shall be made conditional on the result of an interview.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time.

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 are 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.

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.

B

(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 the

credits 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 shall be undertaken during the third

semester of the Course. 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 of 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.

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 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.

B

Repeal

The Master of Arts in Human Rights and Democratization Degree Course

Regulations, 2000, published as Legal Notice 177 of 2000, shall be deemed to cease

to be in force as from the 1 st October 2008, provided that students registered for this

course before the 1 st 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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