under the auspices of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences

L.N. 394 of 2011

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2011 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 Media and Knowledge Sciences

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 Media and

Knowledge Sciences 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 on 81 (2) of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2011 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 Media and Knowledge Sciences.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge

Sciences;

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

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences; and

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

Degree Regulations, 2008.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable from February 2011 onwards.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants for the Degree offered by the Faculty shall be in possession of a

degree as prescribed in regulation 6 of the Principal Regulations, in the area of study

applied for, or in any other area that the Board may deem relevant to the pursuit of

studies under the auspices of the Faculty.

(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 senior members of the Faculty, normally Heads of Departments

The Faculty Doctoral Committee may co-opt other members if deemed necessary.

Supervision and Students’ Progress

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

Board, through the Faculty’s 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 at least 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

Dean of the Faculty or his delegate, and two examiners. The Principal Supervisor

shall be invited for the meeting with no right to vote.

(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

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 Faculty 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 2010 in terms of the Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. –

Degree Regulations, 2008 for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy under the auspices

of the Centre for Communication Technology, published as Legal Notice 300 of

2010, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from 31st January 2011, provided

that students registered for this degree before 31st January 2011 shall continue to be

governed by the bye-laws that were in force at the time of their registration for the

degree.

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