under the auspices of the Faculty for the Built Environment

L.N. 210 of 2013

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2013 in terms of the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the Degree of

Master of Spatial Planning

under the auspices of the Faculty for the Built Environment

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 the Built

Environment 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 2013 in terms

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

degree of Master of Spatial Planning under the auspices of the Faculty for the Built

Environment.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for the Built Environment;

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

of Spatial Planning;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Spatial Planning;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Planning

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

2012 or later except that bye-law 3 (b) shall be applicable for courses commencing in

October 2013 or later.

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a Bachelor’s degree from this University with at least Second Class

(Honours) in a discipline related to the Built Environment, Architecture, Urban Design

or Planning, Civil Engineering, Geography, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology,

Law or Legal Studies, Public Administration, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Systems, or

in any other area of study as deemed suitable by the Board; or

(b) a Bachelor’s degree from this University with at least Third Class Honours

in the disciplines highlighted in paragraph (a) of this bye-law, if they are also in

possession of other qualifications or at least 10 years of relevant work experience,

obtained following the first cycle degree. The admission of applicants under this bye-

law may be made conditional on the results of an assessment as the Board may deem

appropriate; or

(c) a qualification deemed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board,

to be comparable to the qualifications listed in paragraph (a) of this bye-law. The

admission of applicants under this bye-law may be made conditional on the

results of an assessment as the Board may deem appropriate.

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 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 the dissertation study-unit.

(2) The programme of study shall consist of at least 50% of study-units

in general Spatial Planning disciplines, and at least 25% in specialist Planning

disciplines. The programme shall also include Planning Workshops, carrying a total

of 10 ECTS credits.

(3) 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 Course, shall be eligible for the

award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

(4) The programme of study as proposed by the Board 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 during the September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who fail 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.

Students shall be allowed to proceed to the second year of the Course

subject to obtaining the 60 ECTS credits covered during the first year of the Course

with a minimum average mark of 65%.

Students shall be allowed to proceed to the dissertation study-unit subject

to obtaining the 90 ECTS credits assigned to the taught study-units with a minimum

average mark of 65%.

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 third and

fourth 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 for approval by the end of the second

semester of the Course. The dissertation should focus on the same discipline selected

by each student in the Planning Workshops referred to in paragraph (2) of bye-law

5.

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

supervisor, not less than once a month.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board 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 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.

€0.36