under the auspices of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences

B

L.N. 31 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 of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts

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 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 81 (2) of the said Act

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 of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts 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 Course” means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master

of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital

Arts;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma of Fine Arts in

Digital Arts, 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.

B

Requirements for Admission

(1)

The Course is open to applicants in possession of either

(a) a Bachelor’s degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours

or with placement in Category II from this or another university, together with a

substantial portfolio of recent works; or

(b) a professional qualification/qualifications and/or experience deemed

by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, to satisfy in part the admission

requirements to the Course, provided that applicants may be required to complete

a preparatory theoretical programme as specified in bye-law 4, together with a

substantial portfolio of recent works.

(2) All applicants who are not in possession of a first degree in Art

shall be interviewed and evaluated by an interviewing board composed of at least

three members. Applicants shall be asked to provide evidence of their professional

experience in Art by means of a portfolio.

Preparatory Programme

(1) All applicants may be required to follow a preparatory programme as

specified by the Board.

(2) The preparatory programme shall comprise study-units to which

not less than 30 credits and not more than 60 credits are assigned. It shall include a

synoptic assessment.

(3) Students shall be required to successfully complete the preparatory

programme of study with an average mark of 55% or better prior to their registration

for the Course.

Course Duration

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

semesters of 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 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

B

having proceeded do not successfully compete the dissertation, shall be eligible for

the award of the Postgraduate Diploma

(3) The programme of study shall be published by the Board after

approval by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement

of the Course

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 10 credits for taught study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit

the failed assessments at the first practicable opportunity.

(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.

Dissertations

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of not

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

(2) Each dissertation 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 end of the second

semester of full-time study of the Course.

(1) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board a progress report for each

student under their supervision a month prior to submission. Such report may

include a recommendation to either (a) extend the period of study in order to enable

the student to complete the dissertation; of (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.

B

Classification of the Awards

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of classification of the

Postgraduate Diploma and 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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