under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

L.N. 238 of 2014

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2014 in terms of the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the

Degree of Master of Science in Clinical Ethics and Law - M.Sc.

under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

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 Medicine

and Surgery 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 2014 in terms of

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

of Master of Science in Clinical Ethics and Law - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the

Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

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

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

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

Master of Science in Clinical Ethics and Law - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Clinical Ethics

and Law - M.Sc.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical

Ethics and Law - P.G. Dip.; 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

2014 or later.

Requirements for Admission

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery; or

(b) the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery; or

(c) the degree of Master of Dental Surgery awarded from July 2018 onwards;

(d) the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) with at least Second Class

(Honours); or

(e) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Pharmaceutical Science)

with at least Second Class Honours; or

(f) a degree with at least Second Class (Honours) in a discipline related to

health science; or

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

to be equivalent to the qualifications listed in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f).

(2)

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 number of available places at the time of the call for

applications.

(3)

When the number of places is so limited and the number of eligible

applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall be selected

through an interview by a board, composed of at least three members appointed

for the purpose. The board shall select applicants 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 the interview.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over three 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 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 60 ECTS credits are assigned to taught

study-units and 30 ECTS credits assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) Students who obtain the 60 ECTS 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.

(3) 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 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 assessments during the September supplementary examination session.

(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 by the Board,

who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(3) A provisional title of 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 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.

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