General University Postgraduate Awards (Amendment) Regulations, 2013

L.N. 332 of 2013

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

General University Postgraduate Awards (Amendment) 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 said

Act

Citation

These regulations may be cited as the General University Postgraduate

Awards (Amendment) Regulations, 2013 and shall be read and construed as one

with the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008, published

as Legal Notice 120 of 2008, hereinafter referred to as “the principal regulations”.

Applicability

These regulations shall be applicable from 28th June, 2013 onwards.

Amendment to regulation 1 of the principal regulations

For the Glossary of Terms listed under paragraph (2) of regulation 1 of

the principal regulations there shall be substituted the following

Glossary of Terms

Explanation

An academic year consisting of two semesters, each incorporating

fourteen weeks of teaching, two weeks of recess, and examination

periods of two weeks and of four weeks at the end of the first

and the second semester respectively. 60 credits are assigned to

the study-units that students are expected to complete over one

full-time academic year. An academic year may be extended by a

summer semester to which 30 credits are assigned.

A subject or a group of related subjects taken together in an

approved Programme of Study.

The Award Classification Board appointed for each Postgraduate

Course.

The Board of the University faculty or institute or centre or school

responsible for a particular Postgraduate Course.

The Bye-Laws approved by Senate for each Postgraduate Course.

The department of a faculty or division of an institute or centre or

school responsible for the Postgraduate Course.

A written treatment of a subject, normally based on a research

activity that is carried out under supervision in full or partial

fulfilment of a degree programme. A dissertation may also be

based on an activity related to professional practice, or a project

report which students will need to undertake as required by the

nature of the study.

The number of credits awarded for successful completion of each

study-unit. The allocation of credit to study-units forming part of a

Postgraduate Course follows closely the European Credit Transfer

and Accumulation System (ECTS) proposed by the European

Commission, a relevant extract from which is attached as Schedule

2 – ECTS Credits – to the General Regulations for University

Undergraduate Awards, 2004, published as Legal Notice 127 of

2004. The University faculty/ies or institute/s or centre/s or school under

whose auspices the Postgraduate Course is being offered.

Glossary of Terms

Explanation

Assessment of taught study-units may be through coursework,

assignments, written or oral examinations, or combinations of

these, to each of which a percentage of the final marks shall be

assigned. The method of assessment shall be indicated in the

description of each study-unit.

A course of studies leading to a Postgraduate Award, which may be

a Postgraduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master’s

degree.

A degree awarded after successful completion of a course of

studies that imparts specific professional competencies and leads

to an award that gives access to a regulated profession.

A Programme of Study shall list all the study-units offered in

each year of a Postgraduate Course. It shall indicate which study-

units are compulsory or elective. Programmes of Study shall

be published by the Board prior to the commencement of each

Postgraduate Course, following the approval of Senate.

A part of a Programme of Study carried out upon a syllabus

approved by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, to which

a specified number of credits at an indicated level is assigned, and

which is capable of separate assessment. Its description shall also

include the methods of teaching and assessment and the lecturer/s

giving the unit.

A taught study-unit may take the form of a series of lectures,

seminars, tutorials, practical or clinical sessions, field placements,

projects, private study or a combination of such work, or any other

method of teaching.

A study-unit which must be followed and passed for the purpose of

progression or successful completion of the Postgraduate Course.

A study-unit which must be chosen from a designated list of study-

units indicated in the Programme of Study.

A Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma, or a Master’s

degree awarded in terms of these regulations.

Amendment to regulation 29 of the principal regulations

The following paragraph (2) shall be added after paragraph (1) of

regulation 29 of the principal regulations

“(2) If a student fails in a dissertation, the maximum grade/mark that can be

awarded after resubmission shall be 50%/Grade D.”

Paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 29 of the principal regulations shall

be re-numbered as paragraphs (3) and (4).

Amendment to regulation 53 of the principal regulations

The following paragraph (2) shall be added after paragraph (1) of

regulation 53 of the principal regulations

“(2) For any other work submitted or carried out, other than the writing of

a dissertation, students shall be guided by the guidelines issued by the Board or as

detailed in the course bye-laws.”

Paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of regulation 53 of the principal regulations

shall be re-numbered as paragraphs (3), (4) and (5).

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