under the auspices of the Institute of Linguistics

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L.N. 330 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 Language and Computation - M.Sc. –

under the auspices of the Institute of Linguistics

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 Linguistics

in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 5 (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 Language and Computation - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the

Institute of Linguistics.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Institute of Linguistics;

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies appointed by Senate for

the Course, on the recommendation of the Board;

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

of Science in Language and Computation - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Language and

Computation - M.Sc.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Language

and Computation - P.G. Cert.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

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Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in October

2014 or later.

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of a first cycle degree

with at least Second Class Honours in Linguistics or Computing Science, or in any

other area of study deemed relevant by the Board,

provided that, in appropriate cases, the Board may require students admitted to the

Course to follow and pass supplementary study-units to which a maximum of 12

ECTS credits are assigned, in addition to the programme of study specified in bye-

law 5 of these bye-laws.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

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

90 ECTS credits shall be assigned of which 30 ECTS credits are assigned to taught

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

Students who obtain the 30 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 Certificate.

The programme of study shall be published by the Board of Studies after

approval by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement

of the Course.

Assessment and Progress

(1) The assessment of the taught study-units shall be held by the end of

the semester in which the teaching of the study-unit/s is completed.

(2) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not

more than 10 ECTS credits, if following the full-time Course shall be given the

opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the September supplementary

examination session.

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(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

the credits for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have failed the Course.

Students shall be allowed to proceed to the dissertation study-unit subject

to obtaining the 30 credits assigned to the taught study-units with a minimum average

mark of 55%.

Dissertation

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of

approximately 40,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) The provisional title for the dissertation and a research proposal shall

be submitted to the Board for approval during the first semester of study as directed

by the Board of Studies.

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

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

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

(4) Subsequent to approval of a dissertation title and proposal by the

Board, students may make a formal request to the Board to change the title and/or the

proposal. Such requests require the approval of the Board.

(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

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

supervisor, provided that when the Director of the Institute is the supervisor, he or she

shall not chair the Panel.

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

of students throughout the Course, provided that they meet at least twice a year to

review such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisor 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 regarding the students under

their supervision. Students shall seek approval from said Panel for any substantial

modification in the title or content of the dissertation.

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

writing, on the general performance of each student. Such advice 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 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 Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the Course.

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