under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

L.N. 484 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 Therapy and Systemic Practice

under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

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 for Social Wellbeing

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

in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice under the auspices of the Faculty for Social

Wellbeing.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing;

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies, appointed by Senate on the

recommendation of the Board;

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

Family Therapy and Systemic Practice;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master in Family Therapy and Systemic

Practice;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Family Therapy

and Systemic Practice; 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

2012 or later.

Requirements for Admission for Courses commencing in February 2012

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

degree from this University, or another institution recognized by Senate for the purpose,

with at least Second Class Honours in Psychology, Social Work, Education, Youth and

Community Studies or in an area of study related to a caring profession, including

psychotherapy, counselling, nursing, midwifery, mediation, pastoral counselling and

psychiatry.

(2) Applicants referred to in paragraph (1) of this bye-law are also required

to have two years’ work experience that is normally gained within one of the health or

social sciences/disciplines or equivalent.

(3) Applicants in possession of a recognized Postgraduate Diploma in Family

Therapy may be allowed to join Part II of the Course, provided that such applicants shall

satisfy the Board of Studies that they have reached the academic standard required to follow

the Course with profit.

(4) All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that they have the necessary

aptitude and disposition to follow the Course with profit.

(5) (a) Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by means of

exercises involving (i) role play and (ii) an extended personal interview conducted by a board

appointed for the purpose; and

(b) Applicants who obtain less than 60% for the professional aptitude and

disposition criterion shall not be admitted into the Course.

(6) Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, shall determine the number of

applicants that may be allowed to register for the Course, depending on the availability of

resources. The number of available places shall be announced at the time of the call for

applications.

(7) When the number of applicants that may be admitted to the Course is limited in

terms of paragraph (6) of this bye-law, and the number of applicants who satisfy the aptitude

criterion as specified in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this bye-law exceeds the number of places

available, applicants shall be selected according to the following criteria, which shall be

weighted as follows

(a)

degree type and classification – 20%;

(b)

work experience as required in paragraph (2) of this bye-law – 20%; and

(c)

professional aptitude and disposition (based on the result of paragraph (5)

of this bye-law) – 60%.

(8) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be composed of at least

three members.

Course duration

The Course shall extend over four semesters of full-time study or the equivalent in

part-time study.

Programme of Study

(1)

The programme of study shall consist of two parts, namely

(a) Part One which shall comprise a number of taught and practical study-units to

which 60 ECTS credits are assigned; and

(b) Part Two consisting of taught and practical study-units to which 30 ECTS credits

are assigned, and research work and the writing of a dissertation to which another 30 ECTS

credits are assigned.

(2) The practical study-units may be held during the day and/or in the evening.

(3) Students who obtain 60 ECTS credits assigned to taught and practical 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.

(4) 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, 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

assessment/s during the September supplementary examination session,

provided that students who fail in a study-unit involving a placement that requires

assessment over a period of time shall not have the right to a supplementary assessment

and shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

(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 credit 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 of Studies.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the final two semesters

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 of Studies for approval by the date indicated by the Board of

Studies.

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

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies progress reports for each

student under their supervision at the end of each semester of studies, whether the student

is following the Course on a full-time or a part-time basis. 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 of Studies 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 of Studies as necessary due to the part-time nature of the Course.

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