under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

L.N. 241 of 2014

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2014 in terms of the

Professional Doctorate Degree Course Regulations, 2014

for the Degree of Doctorate in Pharmacy – Pharm.D. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by article 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 Professional Doctorate Degree Course Regulations, 2014 for the Degree of

Doctorate in Pharmacy – Pharm.D. – 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 Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies for the Course appointed

by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board;

“the Degree” means the degree of Doctorate in Pharmacy – Pharm.D.;

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

“the Master’s Degree” means the Master in Advanced Clinical Pharmacy

degree;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced

Clinical Pharmacy; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the Professional Doctorate Degree Course

Regulations, 2014.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses starting in October 2014 or

later.

Requirements for Admission

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

of the Master of Pharmacy degree obtained from this University or from any other

recognised university or a qualification deemed as comparable to the Master of

Pharmacy degree by the Board.

(2) Applicants shall also be licensed to practise as a pharmacist with a

registering body.

(3) Applicants shall be registered on the Master’s Degree in the first

instance.

Course Duration

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

in part-time study.

Programme of Study

The programme of study for the Degree shall comprise (a) a taught

component, comprising study-units to which 60 ECTS credits shall be assigned;

(b) a supervised professional practice component; and (c) a research component,

comprising a dissertation study-unit.

In order to remain registered on the Degree, students must maintain an average

mark of 60% in the taught study-units, which average mark shall be computed at the

end of the academic year, and obtain a pass in the professional practice component in

a yearly assessment.

Students who obtain at least 60 ECTS credits for taught study-units and

either opt not to proceed with the Course, or having proceeded, do not complete the

full programme of study, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

Should such students also complete a dissertation to which 30 ECTS credits are

assigned, they will be eligible for the award of the Master’s degree.

The programme of study shall be published after approval by Senate, on

the recommendation of the Board, 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 full-time academic year, fail in the assessment of not

more than 20 ECTS credits for taught units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the

failed assessments once 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.

Professional Practice

(1) Students shall be required to carry out professional practice in

accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

(2) Students shall be required to pass all the components of the

professional practice study-units. If students fail in, or for a valid reason approved

by Senate, do not complete, the professional practice study-units or any of the

assessment components, they shall be allowed to repeat the study-unit or any of its

components during the same year or during an additional year of study.

(3) Students who fail in the re-assessment of any professional practice

component or the whole study-unit shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

(4) The Board, upon the recommendation of the Board of Studies, shall

appoint a Professional Practice Supervisor, who shall be a practising pharmacist, for

each student. Professional Practice Supervisors shall provide guidance and advice

on a regular basis during the students` professional practice.

(5) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

Professional Practice Supervisors.

Professional Practice Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies

reports for students under their supervision, at the end of each period of practice.

Submission of Dissertation Proposals and Dissertations

Students registered for the Degree shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation which shall not exceed 60,000 words, excluding bibliography,

appendices and abstract, and which shall be written in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

Students shall be required to submit their dissertation proposal for the

Degree to the Board of Studies by the end of the second semester of Year 1.

Not less than three months before the submission deadline, students shall

be required to inform the Faculty that they will be submitting their dissertation for

examination.

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

Examiners for each dissertation, in accordance with the Principal Regulations.

The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and

presentation of the dissertation for the Degree and for the Master’s Degree.

(1) Students shall be required to submit a loose bound copy of their

dissertation for each member of the Board of Examiners, together with a copy

in digital format. The officer in charge of the Faculty shall issue a dated receipt.

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

to submit to the Faculty three hard bound copies of the dissertation and one copy in

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

dissertation shall be kept in the Library of the Department of Pharmacy and another

at the University Library. Students who do not comply with this bye-law shall not

be awarded the Degree or the Master’s Degree.

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.

General Provision

In matters not provided for by these bye-laws, the Board and Senate shall

be guided by the provisions of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate

Awards, 2008, published as Legal Notice 120 of 2008, as applicable.

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