under the auspices of the Faculty of Laws

B

L.N. 298 of 2009

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2009 in terms of the

Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - Degree Regulations, 2008

for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

under the auspices of the Faculty of Laws

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 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 article 81 (1) of

the said Act and which have been approved by the Senate of the University

of Malta as required by article 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

Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - Degree Regulations, 2008 for the Degree of Doctor

of Philosophy 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 Degree” means the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D.; and

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Laws;

“the Principal Regulations” means the Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - Degree

Regulations, 2008.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable from October 2008 onwards.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants for the Degree offered by the Faculty must be in possession

(a) of an LL.D. degree and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Faculty

Doctoral Committee that they are capable of conducting original research of the

highest quality; the Board may also require applicants to submit for its perusal

copies of their previous work and/or publications; or

B

(b) of a Master’s level degree in Law offered by the Faculty classified as a

Pass with Distinction or a degree which the Board considers as equivalent awarded

by another university recognised for this purpose by the Senate.

(1) Applicants may submit their application form, together with a

comprehensive research proposal outlining the proposed project, including research

sources and materials, at any time of the year.

(2) Applicants may also be asked to demonstrate competence in those

skills required by the nature of the proposed research.

Faculty Doctoral Committee

The Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment of a Faculty

Doctoral Committee composed as follows

The Dean of the Faculty or delegate (Chairman)

3 – 4 Heads of Department

Supervision and Students’ Progress

Principal Supervisors shall be required to submit a written report to the

Board, through the Faculty Doctoral Committee, every June for all students under

their supervision.

Students shall only be allowed to proceed with their studies subject to

satisfactory progress reports from their Principal Supervisor. If the report is

negative, the Board shall make recommendations to Senate on the student’s

continuing registration for the Degree.

(1) After 12 months of full-time study, students are required to submit a

report on their research work for consideration by an ad hoc board appointed by the

Board. The ad hoc board shall be composed of a chairman, who shall be the head of

the department concerned or his delegate, and two examiners, one of whom shall be

the Principal Supervisor and another member.

(2) The ad hoc board shall examine the student orally and shall submit a

written report for consideration by the Faculty Doctoral Committee in the first

instance. The report shall contain recommendations according to the provisions of

the Principal Regulations.

Students registered at the Faculty may be required to participate in the

Faculty’s research and teaching programmes.

Thesis Presentation and Format

B

Six months before the submission deadline students shall be informed

that they are required to inform the Faculty that they will be submitting their thesis

for examination not less than three months before the submission deadline.

The Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment of the Board of

Examiners in accordance with the Principal Regulations.

The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and

presentation of the thesis for the Degree.

(1) Students shall be required to submit a loose bound copy of their

thesis for each member of the Board of Examiners, together with a copy in digital

format. The officer in charge of the Faculty shall issue a dated receipt.

(2) On successful completion of their studies, students shall be required

to submit to the Faculty three hard bound copies of the thesis and one copy in digital

format within six weeks from the publication of their result. One copy of the thesis

shall be kept in the Library of the department and another at the University Library.

Students who do not comply with this bye-law shall not be awarded the Degree.

Repeal

The Bye-Laws of 1997 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy under the

auspices of the Faculty of Laws, published as Legal Notices 170 and 173 of 1997,

shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from 1st October 2008, provided that

students registered for this degree before 1st October 2008 shall continue to be

governed by the regulations that were in force at the time of their registration for the

degree.