under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences

L.N. 219 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 Science - M.Sc. -

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 2013 in terms of

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

Master of Science - M.Sc. - 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 - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science - M.Sc.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in the

relevant area of study;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in the relevant

area of study; 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.

Areas of Study

The course shall be offered in any one of the following areas of study

Applied Biomedical Science, Applied Food and Nutritional Sciences, Communication

Therapy, Environmental Health, Health Services Management, Midwifery, Nursing,

Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, and Radiography or in any other area

of specialisation related to the above areas of study, following approval of Senate.

Requirements for Admission

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

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

area of study deemed suitable by the Board; or

(b) a degree from this or another university which the Board considers as

comparable to the degree indicated in sub-paragraph (a) of this bye-law.

(2) Applicants may be required to provide evidence of work experience

following registration with the relevant regulatory council in the proposed area

of study or area of specialisation, if applicable. The minimum number of years of

experience required shall be indicated at the time of the call for applications,

provided that for the Health Services Management area of study, applicants must

have at least three years’ work experience in the Health Service sector.

(3) 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 areas of study/areas of specialisation and the number of

available places at the time of the call for applications.

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

applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall 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.

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

least three members appointed for the purpose.

(6) 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.

(7) As from October 2013, prior to registering for the Course, eligible

applicants may be required to undergo a medical fitness test as directed by the Board,

so as to ascertain that they are fit to undertake work related to clinical placements.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

Applicants shall be required to indicate their choice of area of study/area

of specialisation at the time of applying for admission to the Course.

The programme of study for each area of study/area of specialisation 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 are assigned to a dissertation study-

unit.

Students who obtain the 30 credits assigned to any taught study-units

covered during the first and second semesters 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 Certificate.

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 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 credits for taught study-units, if following the full-time Course, or not

more than 10 credits if following the part-time Course, shall be given the opportunity

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

session, provided that, if applicable, students who fail in a study-unit involving a

clinical 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.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the third 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 second

semester.

(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 studies, 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 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.

Repeal

The following bye-laws shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from

the 1 st October 2012, provided that students registered on these courses before 1 st

October 2012 shall continue to be governed by the bye-laws that were in force at the

time of their joining the course

(a) Bye-Laws of 2008 in terms of the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the Degree of Master of Science in Health Services

Management under the auspices of the Institute of Health Care, published as Legal

Notice 314 of 2008;

(b) Bye-Laws of 2010 in terms of the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the Degree of Master of Science in Nursing or

Midwifery under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences, published as Legal

Notice 316 of 2008; and

(c) Bye-Laws of 2010 in terms of the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the Degree of Master of Science in Radiography under

the auspices of the Institute of Health Care, published as Legal Notice 386 of 2010.

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