under the auspices of the Institute for Islands and Small States

B

L.N. 201 of 2010

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2010 in terms of the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the

Degree of Master of Arts in Islands and Small States Studies

under the auspices of the Institute for Islands and Small States

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 Institute for Islands and Small States 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 2010 in terms of the

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

Master of Arts in Islands and Small States Studies under the auspices of the Institute

for Islands and Small States.

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Institute for Islands and Small States;

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

of Arts in Islands and Small States Studies;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Islands and Small States

Studies;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in Islands and

Small States Studies; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

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Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in October

2009 or later.

Requirements for Admission

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

(a) a Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class (Honours) or Category II

in an area of study relevant to the major area selected by applicants; or

(b) a qualification deemed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board,

to be equivalent to the qualification listed in sub-paragraph (a).

(2) The admission of applicants whose first degree is not in the major

area of study chosen by them shall be made after an interview during which their

ability to successfully complete the Course with profit shall be assessed.

(3) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be composed of

at least three members.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

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

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

(4) The taught component of the Course shall consist of study-units in the

following areas of study: Economics, Management, Education, Environmental

Studies, Public Policy and other areas as the Board may stipulate, provided that the

Board may limit the areas of study offered. These study-units shall be designed so as

to have a focus on issues related to islands and small states.

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(5) Students shall choose one major area of study by following study-

units for which 40 ECTS credits shall be assigned in that area of study and one

minor area of study to which at least 20 ECTS credits are assigned.

(6) The Course may also be offered by “distance tuition” following

approval by Senate.

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 at the first practicable opportunity, as determined by the

Board.

(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

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 30,000 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

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(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.

Repeal

The Regulations of 2000 for the degree of Master of Arts in Islands and

Small States Studies under the auspices of the Institute for Islands and Small States,

published as Legal Notice 175 of 2000, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as

from 1st October 2009, provided that students registered for this course before 1st

October 2009 shall continue to be governed by the regulations that were in force at

the time of their joining the course.

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