Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations, 2013

L.N. 310 of 2013

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations, 2013

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 regulations made by the Senate of the University of

Malta by virtue of the powers conferred upon it by articles 75(3) and 79(b) of the

Citation and interpretation

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Doctor of Medicine and

Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations, 2013.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery;

“the Course” means the Course leading to the Degree of Doctor of

Medicine and Surgery;

“the Degree” means the Degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery -

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

Applicability

These regulations shall be applicable to courses starting in October 2012

Eligibility for Degree

To be eligible for the award of the Degree, students must

(a) be registered as regular students in the Course in terms of the Admission

Regulations of the University;

(b) satisfy the Special Course Requirements in accordance with regulation 4;

(c) complete the course of studies, qualify in the examinations and satisfy

any other requirements as prescribed in these regulations; and

(d) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other relevant statutes

and regulations of the University.

Admission and Special Course Requirements

(1) Senate, on the advice of the Board, may limit the number of

students that may be admitted to the Course. In such circumstances, Senate shall

make regulations for the selection of applicants for admission.

(2) To apply for admission to the Course applicants must, besides

satisfying the requirements for admission as regular students in terms of the Admission

Regulations, satisfy the following Special Course Requirements

(a) be in possession of passes in the Matriculation Examination at Advanced

Level at Grade B or better in Biology and Chemistry; and

(b) be in possession of a pass in the Matriculation Examination at Intermediate

Level at Grade B or better in any one of the following subjects: Accounting, Applied

Mathematics (Mechanics), Arabic, Computing, Economics, Engineering Drawing

and Graphical Communication, English, French, Geography, German, Greek, History,

Information Technology, Italian, Latin, Maltese, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology (as

from October 2013), Pure Mathematics, Religious Knowledge, Russian, Sociology,

and Spanish;

provided that all passes in these Special Course Requirements have been obtained

together in one session of examinations (i.e. one sitting) and are from recognized

examining boards from the same country.

(3) For the purpose of paragraph (2) of this regulation, a pass obtained

in a session of examinations which is held after the results of a previous session

were published shall be deemed to be a pass obtained in a session that is distinct

from the previous one. This regulation shall also apply to the second session of the

Matriculation Examination offered by the MATSEC Board of the University of Malta

according to the provisions of the Matriculation Examination Regulations, 2013 and

this notwithstanding any other regulation governing the award of the Matriculation

Certificate.

(4) For courses commencing in October 2015 or later, applicants

presenting overseas qualifications are required to present a Certificate in Medical

Maltese awarded by the University of Malta, prior to the commencement of the

Course, provided that applicants presenting overseas qualifications and a pass in the

Secondary Education Certificate examination in Maltese shall be exempted from this

requirement.

The Certificate in Medical Maltese is required for admission to both Year 1 and Year

3 of the Course.

(5) Applicants in possession of one of the following degrees obtained

from the University of Malta may also apply

(a) a Bachelor of Science with a classification of Category II or better or

a Bachelor of Science (Honours) with a classification of Second Class Honours or

better, in both cases with Biology and Chemistry as principal areas, or in Nursing

Studies, or in Midwifery, or in Physiotherapy, or in Radiography, or in Applied

Biomedical Science (or Medical Laboratory Science), or in Occupational Therapy

(as from October 2013), or in a comparable degree; or

(b) a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) with a classification of Second Class

Honours or better; or

(c) a Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Pharmaceutical Science) with a

classification of Second Class Honours or better; or

(d) a Bachelor of Dental Surgery with a classification of Second Class

Honours or better if awarded from July 2009 onwards.

(6) Applicants in possession of other qualifications obtained after

having pursued studies overseas shall be considered by the Admissions Committee

of the Faculty and shall be admitted if it is ascertained that their qualifications are

comparable to the qualifications indicated in paragraphs (2), (3) and (5) of this

regulation.

(7) Applicants may be required to attend for an interview and/or

examination. The Interviewing Board/s shall be composed of the Dean or his delegate,

three other members appointed by the Board, one of whom shall be from outside the

Faculty, and another member appointed by Senate. Up to three such Interviewing

Boards shall be appointed for each intake of students as determined by the Board.

Course Duration

(1) The Course shall extend over a period of five years and shall be

divided into two parts: the Pre-Clinical Part, of two years’ duration, that is, Years 1

and 2, and the Clinical Part, of three years’ duration, that is, Years 3, 4 and 5.

(2) Except with the permission of the Board, students must follow the

Course without suspension or repetition. The Board may allow students to suspend

or to repeat a year once in each of the two parts of the Course.

(3) The Board may allow students an additional year of studies once

only throughout the Course.

Programme of Study

The Board shall publish the programme of study, comprising all the study-

units taught in each year of the Course, their syllabus and method of assessment

following the approval of Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the Course. Subject to the approval of Senate, the Board may

make any necessary changes to the programme of study as required.

The programme of study for each year of the Course shall comprise study-

units to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned and may include practical, laboratory

and clinical placements as detailed in the description for each study-unit on offer

during the year.

Mark Scheme for the Course

(1) During the Course the result of each study-unit shall be published

according to the following marks and grades in descending order of merit

Mark Range

Grade

95% - 100%

A+

80% - 94%

A

75% - 79%

B+

70% - 74%

B

65% - 69%

C+

55% - 64%

C

50% - 54%

D+

45% - 49%

D

0% - 44%

F

(2) Students who fail in a study-unit declared to be compensatable

in the Programme of Study, with a mark of not less than 35% shall be awarded the

grade CP (Compensated Pass) if their Year Average Mark is at least 50%. Study-units

passed by compensation shall not be reassessed.

(3) In any academic year, students may not be awarded more than 14

ECTS credits through compensated passes.

Assessment and Progression in the Course

(1) The method of assessment for each study-unit shall be indicated in

the study-unit description and published in the catalogue of study-units. The result

of each study-unit shall take into account all components of the assessment of that

study-unit.

(2) In any academic year, students who fail study-units to which not

more than 16 ECTS credits are assigned, or two study-units which between them are

assigned not more than 20 ECTS credits, and who are not eligible for a compensated

pass shall be allowed a supplementary assessment in September of the same year,

provided that

(a) the assessment of the study-units in the programme of study is divided

approximately equally between the two semesters, failing which, the limit stipulated

in this regulation does not apply; and

(b) in the Final Year (Year 5) of the Course, students who fail only the Final

Clinical Examination, to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned, shall be allowed a

re-assessment of this study-unit during the September supplementary session of the

same year.

(3) Students who after the supplementary session fail in study-units to

which 10 or less ECTS credits are assigned, after academic counselling by the Dean

and/or the Head of Department concerned, may be given the option by the Board, to

either

(a) refer the failed study-unit/s to the following year to be done over and

above the study-units indicated for that year; or

(b) refer the failed study-unit/s to an additional year of studies, if the student

is in Year 5 of the Course and if eligible in terms of these regulations; or

(c) repeat the year, if eligible in terms of these regulations.

(4) Students referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (3) of this

regulation who take up the option to refer failed study-units to the following year

of the Course shall be considered to have progressed conditionally and shall not be

allowed to continue with the Course if, after the supplementary session of that year,

they fail again to obtain a pass in the referred study-unit/s.

(5) The option to refer study-units to the following year shall be

available once only throughout the Course and shall not apply to students registered

in Year 2 of the Course who are required to obtain a pass in all study-units of Year 2

before being admitted to Year 3 of the Course, except in the case of the study-units

referred to in paragraph (7) of this regulation. Year 2 students who are not eligible to

proceed to Year 3 of the Course shall be required to successfully complete the failed

study-unit/s during an additional year of study, or to repeat the year, in both cases if

eligible in terms of these regulations.

(6) If a student is prevented for a reason considered valid by Senate

from being assessed in referred study-units, the student shall be required to complete

the previous year’s requirements in an additional year of study, if eligible in terms of

these regulations. Under no circumstances shall a student be allowed to progress to

the following year if the requirements of the year previous to the current one have not

been satisfied.

(7) In the case of assessments that can only be held once during an

academic year and hence no supplementary session is possible, students who fail

these assessments or are prevented for a reason considered valid by Senate from being

assessed in these study-units, shall be allowed to proceed to the following year of the

Course, provided that they pass such assessments in that year, or in an additional year

of study, if eligible in terms of these regulations.

(8) Students who after the supplementary session fail in study-units

to which more than 10 ECTS credits are assigned shall not be allowed to proceed to

the following year of the Course, but shall be required to repeat the year if eligible in

terms of these regulations.

(9) In a repeat year, students are required to follow and be assessed

in all study-units of the programme of study for the year, even those they may have

previously passed. Any mark/grade may be obtained in the repeat year and will

replace the marks/grades obtained in the preceding year.

(10) The maximum mark/grade that may be awarded in a referred study-

unit, irrespective of whether the subject is assessed in a normal or in a supplementary

session of examinations, is 45%, grade D.

(11) Attendance for lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical, laboratory and

clinical placements, and any other teaching session in whatever mode is obligatory.

Following consultation with the Head of Department, lecturers may bar a student

whose attendance in a study-unit is not satisfactory from being assessed in that study-

unit. In such cases a 0 mark and an F grade shall be assigned and recorded.

Examinations in the Final Year of the Course

(1) In the Final Year (Year 5) of the Course, the assessment of

study-units examined by a written paper/s shall be held in the January session of

examinations. The examination of the clinical study-unit shall be held in the June

session of examinations.

(2) Before being allowed to sit for any examination of the Final Year

of the Course (Year 5), students must present to the Dean a certificate, signed by the

heads of department concerned, showing that they have completed satisfactorily the

schedule of clinical placements prescribed for the Course.

Students shall not be allowed to re-sit any examinations of the Final

Year (Year 5) unless they have satisfactorily followed such additional studies and/or

practical and/or clinical work as the Board may in each case determine.

Classification of the Degree

(1) The classification of the Degree shall be determined by the Degree

Classification Board composed as follows

The Dean as Chairman; and

the Heads of Departments involved in the teaching of the programme.

(2) The classification of the Degree shall be based on the results

obtained in the examinations of the study-units covered during the Final Year (Year

5) of the Course.

(3) The Degree Classification Board shall consult the following

guidelines when deciding upon the final classification of the Degree

Final Weighted Average Mark

Classification

80 – 100%

Pass with Distinction

70 – 79%

Pass with Merit

45 – 69%

Pass

(4) The Degree Classification Board, at its own discretion, may award

the Degree with a higher classification than that indicated in paragraph (3) of this

regulation to students whose Final Weighted Average Mark is up to three marks less

than the minimum for the classification. In such cases, the Degree Classification

Board is required to minute the decision and the justification for it.

(5) The Degree Classification Board, at its own discretion, may also

award a Degree with a lower classification than that indicated in paragraph (3) of this

regulation. In such cases, the Degree Classification Board is required to obtain the

authorization of the Board that shall minute the decision and the justification for it.

The students concerned may appeal to Senate against the decision within 15 days of

the publication of the classification.

Consequences of Withdrawal from the Course

When a student withdraws from the Course either by choice or because

ineligible to proceed further in terms of these regulations, but has successfully

completed at least 180 ECTS credits, or the equivalent of three years of full-time

study, the student may request to be awarded the Bachelor in General Studies degree

(B.Gen.St.).

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the degree of Bachelor in General

Studies (B.Gen.St.) shall be based on the results obtained, all study-units being

weighted equally and shall be classified as follows

Weighted Average Mark

Classification

80 – 100%

Category I

70 – 79%

Category IIA

55 – 69%

Category IIB

45 – 54%

Category III

Students who partially completed the Degree programme prior to

academic year 2010/11 and who satisfy regulation 13 shall have the right to request,

on entry into force of this regulation, to be awarded the degree of Bachelor in General

Studies (B.Gen.St.) without prejudice and ex gratia provided that this degree shall

not be granted retroactively. In such cases, this degree shall not be classified.

General Provision

In matters not provided for by these regulations, the Board shall be guided

by the provisions of the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards,

2004, published as Legal Notice 127 of 2004, as applicable.

Repeal

The Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations,

1998, published as Legal Notice 137 of 1998, shall be deemed to cease to be in force

as from 1 October 2012, provided that students registered for this course before the 1

October 2012, shall continue to be governed by the regulations that were in force at

the time of their joining the course.

€0.72