under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

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L.N. 387 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 Science - M.Sc. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

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 Medicine and Surgery 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 Science - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and

Surgery

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery;

“the Course” means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master

of Science – M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science – M.Sc.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

Applicability

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

2010 or later.

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Areas of Study

The Course shall be offered in any area of study that falls within the

academic responsibility of the Board, 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 Doctor of Medicine and Surgery; or

(b)

the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery; or

(c)

the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) with at least Second

Class (Honours); or

(d)

the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the Faculty of

Science, with at least Second Class (Honours); or

(e)

at least a Second Class (Honours) degree in a discipline related to

health science; or

(f)

a qualification deemed by Senate, on the recommendation of the

Board, to be equivalent to the qualifications listed in (a) to (e) above.

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

previous to registration for the Course may also be admitted provided that they

produce sufficient proof of their competence to follow the Course with profit. 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 and not more than 60 credits shall be assigned.

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

Programme of study with an average mark of 55% or better, prior to their

registration in the Course.

(3) Preparatory programmes of study shall also be governed by the Principal

Regulations.

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Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time studies.

Programme of Study

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

90 credits are assigned, of which 10 credits are assigned to taught study-units and 80

credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) 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

The assessment of the taught study-unit/s shall be held by the end of the

semester in which the teaching of the study-unit/s is held.

Dissertation

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

approximately 40,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time during the

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

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

period of study.

(3) The provisional title of the dissertation and a detailed research proposal

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

(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, or his or her delegate, and two other members, one of whom being the

research supervisor, provided that when the Head of Department is the supervisor,

he or she shall not chair the Panel.

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

students throughout the Course, provided that it meets at least twice a year to review

such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisors at least once

every two months, and in addition as often as the supervisor deems necessary.

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

submit to the Panel of Supervision reports for the students under their supervision.

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Students shall seek approval from said Panel 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 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 Award

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification

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.

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