under the auspices of the Centre for Family Studies

L.N. 283 of 2012

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2012 in terms of the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the Degree of Master in Family Studies –

under the auspices of the Centre for Family Studies

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 Centre for Family

Studies in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 5(b)(v) of the Statute for

the Centre, which bye-laws have been approved by the Senate of the University of

Malta

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2012 in terms of

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

Master in Family Studies under the auspices of the Centre for Family Studies.

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

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies appointed by Senate for the

Course;

“the Centre” means the Centre for Family Studies;

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

Family Studies;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master in Family Studies; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

Applicability

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

2011 or later.

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of a Bachelor’s degree

with at least Second Class Honours or Category II in the Psychology, Social Work and/

or Education areas or in any other area related to Social Sciences, deemed relevant by

the Board of Studies.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

The programme of study shall comprise study-units to which a total of 90

credits shall be assigned, of which 30 credits are assigned to the taught study-units

and 60 credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

The programme of study shall be published by the Board of Studies 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-units shall be held by the end of the

semester in which the teaching of the study-units is held.

Students who fail in the assessment of not more than one of the taught

study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessment during the

September supplementary examination session.

Students who fail in more than the one study-unit as permitted under bye-

law 8 or students who after re-assessment fail to obtain credit for the study-unit, shall

be deemed to have failed the Course.

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

of Studies.

(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 of Studies for approval at the time of

application.

(1) The Board of Studies shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each

student, normally composed of three members as follows: the Director of the Centre

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

research supervisor, provided that when the Director of the Centre 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.

Students shall seek approval from said Panel for any substantial modification in the

title or content of the dissertation.

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

Studies, 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 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 of Studies as necessary due to the part-time nature of the

Course.

€0.27