under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences

L.N. 397 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 Science in Medical Physics

under the auspices of the Faculty of Health 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 Health

Sciences in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 81 (1) (c) 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 Science in Medical Physics under the auspices of the Faculty of Health

Sciences.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences;

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

of Science in Medical Physics;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Medical Physics;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Medical

Physics; 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

2012 or later.

Requirements for Admission

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

degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours in one of the following areas of

study

(a) Science with Physics as a main area of study; or

(b) Electrical and Electronic Engineering; or

(c) Mechanical Engineering; or

(d) Communications and Computer Engineering.

(2) The Board shall recommend to Senate the number of applicants that

may be allowed to register for the Course, depending on the availability of resources.

The Board shall announce the number of available places at the time of the call for

applications.

(3) When the number of places is so limited and the number of eligible

applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants will be selected using

the following criteria, the weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call

for applications

(a) degree type and class;

(b) experience in the area of the proposed study; and

(c) performance during an interview, if deemed necessary.

(4) Interviews, if necessary, shall be conducted by a board composed of at

least three members appointed for the purpose.

(5) For the purpose of selection, applicants who fully satisfy the entry

requirements by 31st August preceding the commencement of the Course shall be

considered first.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over four 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

120 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 90 ECTS credits are assigned to taught

study-units and 30 ECTS credits are assigned to a dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain 60 ECTS credits assigned to 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.

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

(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 ECTS credits for taught study-units, if following the full-time Course, or

not more than 10 ECTS credits if following the part-time Course, shall be given the

opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the September supplementary

examination session.

(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 required to withdraw from the Course.

Dissertation

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

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

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the last 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 for the dissertation and a detailed research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the beginning of the third

semester.

10.(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 study, whether the student is

following the Course on a full-time or a part-time basis. Such reports may include

recommendations 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 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.

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