under the auspices of the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy

B

L.N. 328 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 Astroinformatics - M.Sc. –

under the auspices of the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy

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 Space

Sciences and Astronomy in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 8 (b) (v)

of the Statute for the Institute which bye-laws 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 General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the degree of

Master of Science in Astroinformatics - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Institute of

Space Sciences and Astronomy.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Institute of Space Sciences and

Astronomy;

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

of Science in Astroinformatics - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Astroinformatics -

M.Sc.; 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.

Areas of Study

The Course shall be offered in any area of study that falls within the

academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by Senate.

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of one of the

following qualifications

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics or Computational

Physics or Statistics, with at least Second Class (Honours); or

(b) the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), with at least Second

Class (Honours); or

(c) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in ICT, with at least Second

Class (Honours); or

(d) a Bachelor degree with at least a Second Class (Honours) in a discipline

related to Astroinformatics; or

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

to be comparable to the qualifications listed in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) above.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time studies or the

equivalent in part-time studies.

Programme of Study

(1) The programme of study shall comprise study-units to which a total

of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 30 ECTS credits are assigned to taught

study-units and 60 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2)

The programme of study shall be published after approval by

Senate.

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 10 ECTS credits for taught study-units, whether following the Course

on a full-time or part-time basis, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed

assessments during the September supplementary examination session.

B

(3) Students who fail more than the number of study-units 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 35,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time during the

Course, after approval of the research proposal. Each student shall be assigned a

supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period

of study.

(3) The provisional title of the dissertation and a research proposal

shall be submitted to the Board for approval at the time of application.

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

normally composed of three members as follows: the Director of the Institute, or his/

her delegate as Chairman, and two other members, one of whom being the principal

supervisor, provided that when the Director of the Institute is the supervisor, s/he

shall not chair the panel.

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

of students throughout the Course, provided that it meets at least twice a year to

review such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisors at least once

every two months, and in addition as often as the supervisor deems necessary.

(4) At the end of each semester of studies supervisors shall be required

to submit to the Panels of Supervision reports for the students under their supervision,

whether the student is following the Course on a full-time or a part-time basis.

Students shall seek approval from said Panel for any substantial modification in the

title or content of the dissertation.

(5) The Panels of Supervision shall periodically inform the Board, in

writing, on the general performance of each student. 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) this 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.

B

Classification of the Award

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification

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 relevant Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the

Course.

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