under the auspices of the Institute of Digital Games

L.N. 129 of 2014

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2014 in terms of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D.

Degree Regulations, 2008 for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

under the auspices of the Institute of Digital Games

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 Institute of Digital

Games in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 7 (b) (v) of the Statute for

the Institute and which have been approved by the Senate of the University of Malta

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2014 in terms of the

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D.- Degree Regulations, 2008 for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy under the auspices of the Institute of Digital Games.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Institute of Digital Games;

“the Institute” means the Institute of Digital Games;

“the Degree” means the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. -

Degree Regulations, 2008.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable from 1 October 2013 onwards.

Requirements for Admission

(1) Applicants for the Degree offered by the Institute shall be in possession

of one of the following degrees: a Master’s degree, or a Bachelor Honours degree

obtained with a First Class classification, in an area of study which is deemed as

appropriate by the Board. Key areas include: game analysis, game design and game

technology.

(2) The Board may also consider applications from applicants with

qualifications at Master’s level or higher in another discipline and who possess

experience or knowledge which, in the opinion of the Board, will enable them to

pursue doctoral studies successfully.

(3) When the Board deems it necessary, it may require students to

successfully complete a number of study-units during the course of their study, under

those conditions that it may impose, after approval by Senate.

(1) Applicants may submit their application form, together with a detailed

Curriculum Vitae including 3 reference letters, transcripts of qualifications, and a

comprehensive research proposal outlining the proposed project, at any time of the

year.

(2) Applicants may also be asked to demonstrate competence in skills

required by the nature of the proposed research.

Institute Doctoral Committee

The Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment of an Institute

Doctoral Committee composed as follows

(a) the Director of the Institute or delegate (Chairman)

(b) two academic members possessing doctoral qualifications who are

members of the Institute.

Place of Study

Students are required to spend a total of at least two months per semester

at the University of Malta campus, provided that students may be allowed by the

Board to spend a maximum of 6 months abroad if this is required by the nature of

their research.

Supervision and Students’ Progress

Students shall only be allowed to proceed with their studies subject

to satisfactory progress reports from their Principal Supervisor. If the reports

are negative, the Board shall make recommendations to Senate on the student’s

continuing registration for the Degree.

(1) The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each student,

normally composed of three members as follows: the Director as chairman, and two

other members, one of whom being the Principal Supervisor, provided that when the

Director is the Principal Supervisor, he shall not be appointed Chairman.

(2) The Panel of Supervision shall follow, as it deems fit, the progress of

students through the Course, provided that it meets at least once every six months to

review such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their Principal Supervisor at least

once every two months and, in addition, as often as the Principal Supervisor deems

necessary.

(4) Principal supervisors shall submit to the Panel of Supervision progress

reports every June for each student under their supervision. Such reports may include

recommendations to either (a) modify the title and/or content of the thesis; (b)

extend the period of study in order to enable the student to complete the thesis; or (c)

terminate studies prematurely if the Principal Supervisor deems this to be proper in

the circumstances, provided that

(i) the extension of the study period referred to in (b) shall be in accordance

with the provisions of the Principal Regulations; and

(ii) the Board may not terminate studies prematurely according to (c) until it

has first given the student a chance to be heard.

(1) After 12 months and not later than 24 months of full-time study, students

are required to submit a report on their research work for consideration by an ad hoc

board appointed by the Board. The ad hoc board shall be composed of a chairman,

who shall be the Director of the Institute or his delegate, and two examiners, one of

whom shall be the Principal Supervisor and the other a member of the Institute as

long as the Director is not the Supervisor. In that case, another member shall act as a

Chairman.

(2) The ad hoc board shall examine the student orally and shall submit

a written report for consideration by the Institute’s Doctoral Committee in the first

instance. The report shall contain recommendations according to the provisions of

the Principal Regulations.

Students registered at the Institute may be required to participate in the

Institute’s research and teaching programmes.

Thesis Presentation and Format

Six months before the submission deadline, students shall be informed

that they are required to inform the Institute that they will be submitting their thesis

for examination not less than three months before the submission deadline.

The Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment of a Board of

Examiners in accordance with the Principal Regulations.

The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and

presentation of the thesis for the Degree.

(1) Students shall be required to submit a soft-bound copy of their thesis

for each member of the Board of Examiners, together with a copy in digital format.

The officer in charge of the Institute shall issue a dated receipt.

(2) On successful completion of their studies, students shall be required to

submit to the Institute three hard-bound copies of the thesis and one copy in digital

format within six weeks from the publication of their result. One copy of the thesis

shall be kept in the Library of the Institute and another at the University Library.

Students who do not comply with this bye-law shall not be awarded the Degree.

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