under the auspices of the Faculty of Information and Communication

B

L.N. 78 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 in Information Teehnolo~'Y - M.IT-

under the auspices of the Faculty of Information and Communication

Technology

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 the Board of the

Faculty of Information and Communication Technology in virtue of the

powcrs conferred upon it by section 81 (I) 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

I. (1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of2009 in terms of the

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

Master in Information Technology - M.IT - under the auspices of the Faculty of

Information and Communication Technology.

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

.. the Board" means

the

Board

of the

Faculty of Information

Communication Technology;

.. the Board of Studies" means the Board of Studies appointed by Senatc on

the recommcndation of the Board. rcsponsible lor the administration and

organization of the Course

"the Coursc" means the programmc of study leading to the degree of Master

in Inlormation Technology - M. IT

.. the Degrec" mcans the dcgree of Vlastcr in Information Technology - M.IT;

"the Faeull"" means thc Facult,· of Information and Communication

Technology

··the..: Postgraduate Diploma" means thl: Postgri.H.IUalC Diploma in Inrormalion

Technology: and

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"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

Applicability

These byc-Iaws shall apply to courscs commencing in October 2008 or

Areas of Study

The Course shall be offered in areas of study in IT where the Faculty can

offer expert guidance and supervision. The areas of study shall be announced by thc

Board before the commencement of each Course, after approval by Senate.

Requirements for Admission

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

following qualifications

(a) a first cycle degree with at least Second Class Honours or Category 11 in

an area of study other than ICT; or

(b) a first cycle degree with Third Class Honours or Category III in an area

of study other than ICT, if they are also in possession of other qualifications,

including relevant experience, obtained following the first cycle degree.

(2) Applicants may be required to sit for an interview before being

accepted for the Course.

Duration of Course

The Course shall extend over four semcsters of full-time study or the

equivalent in part-time study.

Programmc of Study

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

120 credits shall be assigned.

The programme of study shall comprise taught study-units to which a

total of 90 credits arc assigned. and a dissertation study-unit to which 30 credits arc

assigned.

Students "'ho obtain 60 credits /ilr taught stud"-units in accordance with

the pro"isions of the Principal Regulations with an average mark of at fcast 50%.

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and do not proceed with the Course, or having proceeded do not successfully

complete the Course, shall be eligible to the award for 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

(I) 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, if following the Course full-time, or not more than 10 credits if

following the Course part-time, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed

assessments during the September supplementary examination scssion.

(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

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

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

(2) Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide

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

(3) i\ provisional title lor the dissertation and a detailed research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the end of the third

scmester in the case of full-time study and by the end of the fourth semester in the

case of part-time study.

(I) The Board shall appoint a Panel 01' Supervision for each student,

normally composed 01' threc membcrs as lollows: the hcad of departmcnt, or his or

her delcgate as Chairman, and two other mcmbers, onc 01' whom being the research

supervisor, provided that when thc head of department is the supervisor, he or she

shall not chair the Panel.

(2) The Panel of Supervision shall lollow, as it deems lit. the

progress 01' students throughout the Course. provided that it meets at least twice a

year to review such progress.

Students shall be required to report to their supervisors at least

(3)

once c\'Cry t\\O months. and in addition as onen as their supervisor deems necessary.

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(4) At the end of each semester of studies supervisors shall be

required to submit to the Panels of Supervision reports regarding the students under

their supervision. Students shall seek approval from the Panel of Supervision for any

substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation. The dissertation

may not normally be submitted for examination without the approval of the

supervIsor.

(5) The Panel of Supervision shall periodically inform the Board, in

writing, on the general performance of each student. Such advice 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

II-Marka Medja Finali Mwiezlla ghall-iskop tal-klassifikazzjolli lal-

Postgraduatc Diploma u tal-Grad ghalldha tkull ihhazata fuq ir-rizullali miksuba lil-

kompollcl1ti kollha tal-programm ta' studju. bil-krcdti kollhajillghataw piz indaqs.

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I1-Provvedimcnti Specjali gtlall-Korsijiet fuq Bazi ParI-Time

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 J()r the Degree of Master in Information

Technology - 1vl.l"l" published as l.egal Notice 360 of 2005. shall be deemed to cease

to be in lorce as li·OI11 1'( October 2008. pmvided·that students registered for this

st

course bclorc the 1 Octobcr 2008 shall continuc to be governed by the bye-laws

that "·cre in lorcc at the limc of their joining the coursc.

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