under the auspices of the Faculty of Science

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L.N. 123 of 2009

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2009 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

for the Degree of Master of Science – M.Sc. -

under the auspices of the Faculty of Science

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 Science 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 2009 in terms of the

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

Master of Science – M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Science.

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Science;

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

of Science;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Science – M.Sc.;

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Science; and

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in the relevant

area of study; 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.

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Areas of Study

The course may be offered in any area of study that falls within the

academic responsibility of the Board in which the Faculty can offer advanced

tuition, expert guidance and supervision, subject to the availability of resources,

after approval by Senate.

Requirements for Admission

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

following qualifications

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Science with at least Second Class Honours

in an area of study deemed by the Board to be relevant to the proposed area of study

and obtained in the 10 years previous to registration for the Course; or

(b) the Bachelor of Science with Third Class Honours in an area of study

deemed by the Board to be relevant to the proposed area of study and obtained in the 10

years previous to registration for the Course, provided that the applicants have obtained

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

The Board may, at its discretion, require such applicants to follow a preparatory

programme as specified in bye-law 5.

(2) The Board, at its discretion, may also recommend the admission of

applicants in possession of a Bachelor of Science with at least Category II in an area of

study deemed by the Board to be relevant to the proposed area of study and obtained in

the 10 years previous to registration for the Course, provided that the admission of such

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

they shall be required to follow a preparatory programme as specified in bye-law 5.

(3) The Board, at its discretion, may also recommend the admission of

applicants with a first cycle degree deemed by the Board to be relevant to the

proposed area of study and obtained in the 10 years previous to registration for the

Course, provided that the admission of such applicants may be conditional on the

result of an interview and in such cases they may be required to follow a preparatory

programme as specified in bye-law 5.

(4) Applicants whose first degree was obtained more than 10 years previous

to registration for the Course may also be admitted following an interview to

ascertain their capability to follow the Course. The Board may, at its discretion,

require such applicants to follow a preparatory programme as specified in bye-law 5.

Preparatory Programme

(1) The preparatory programme shall comprise study-units to which not

less than 30 credits and not more than 60 credits are assigned and shall also be

governed by the Principal Regulations.

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(2) Students shall be required to successfully complete the preparatory

programme with an average mark of 55% or better prior to their registration for the

Course.

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.

The programme of study for any area of study offered in the Course may be

either mainly taught or mainly by research.

Mainly taught programmes of study shall comprise taught study-units to

which a total of 60 credits are assigned and 30 credits are assigned to a 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 in the relevant area of study.

Programmes of study mainly by research shall comprise study-units to

which 90 credits are assigned, of which not more than 30 credits are assigned to

taught study-units and not less than 60 credits are assigned to a dissertation study-

unit.

(1) The programme of study for the Degree by research shall be drawn

up by the Board for each individual student on the advice of the department

concerned.

(2) The programme of study for the taught Degree shall be published by

the Board 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 two study-units, for taught study-units if following the full-time, Course or not

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more than one study-unit, if following the part-time Course, shall be given the

opportunity to re-sit the failed study-units.

(3) Students who fail more than the number of study-units 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.

Dissertations in mainly Taught Programmes of Study

(1) In mainly taught programmes of study, students shall be required to

submit an individual dissertation of not more than 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 principal supervisor who

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

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

supervisor.

(4) 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.

Dissertations in Programmes of Study mainly by Research

In mainly research programmes of study, students shall be required to

submit an individual dissertation of not more than 50,000 words in accordance with

the guidelines issued by the Board.

A provisional title of the dissertation and a detailed research proposal

shall be submitted to the Board for approval at the time of application.

Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken at any time during the

Course after approval of the proposal. Each student shall be assigned a principal

supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the

period of study.

(1) The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each student,

normally composed of three members as follows: the head of department as

chairman, and two other members, one of whom being the principal supervisor,

provided that when the head of department is the principal supervisor, he shall not

be appointed chairman.

(2) The Panel of Supervision shall follow, as it deems fit, the progress of

students through the Course, provided that it meets at least once every six months to

review such progress.

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(3) Students shall be required to report to their principal supervisor at least

once every two months, and in addition as often as the principal supervisor deems

necessary.

(4) Principal supervisors shall submit to the Panel of Supervision progress

reports for each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of

studies, whether the students are following the Course on a full-time or a part-time

basis. Such reports may include recommendations to either (a) modify the title

and/or content of the dissertation; (b) extend the period of study in order to enable

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

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

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

accordance with the provisions of the Principal Regulations; and

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

it has first given the student a chance to be heard.

Following approval by the Board of Examiners, students shall present

three bound copies of the dissertation to the department, one of which shall be

retained in the University Library, and one copy in digital form as an electronic file.

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.

Repeal

The Regulations of 1999 for the Degree of Master of Science, published as

Legal Notice 151 of 1999, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from 1 st

October 2008, provided that students registered for this course before 1 st October

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

of their joining the course.