under the auspices of the Faculty of Economics, Management and

L.N. 371 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 Arts in Public Policy Leadership – M.A. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Economics, Management and

Accountancy

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 Economics,

Management and Accountancy 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 Arts in Public Policy Leadership – M.A. – offered under the auspices of the

Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Economics, Management and

Accountancy;

“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 Arts in Public Policy Leadership – M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy Leadership

– M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy

Leadership – 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) a Bachelor degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours in Public

Policy; or

(b) a Bachelor degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours or

Category II, in any other area deemed relevant by the Board, provided that such

applicants may be required to provide evidence of not less than three years of relevant

work experience, following their first cycle degree; or

(c) a Bachelor degree obtained with Third Class Honours in Public Policy,

provided that applicants have obtained other qualifications, and provide evidence

of not less than three years of relevant work experience, following their first cycle

degree; or

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

to be comparable to the qualifications listed in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of

paragraph (1) of this bye-law,

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 6 of these bye-laws.

(2) The admission of applicants under sub-paragraphs (b), (c) and, if

necessary, (d) of paragraph (1) of this bye-law may be made conditional on the result

of an interview conducted for the purpose.

(3) Interviews, when necessary, shall be conducted by a board composed

of at least three members appointed for the purpose by the Board.

Preparatory Programme

(1) Applicants admitted under sub-paragraphs (b), (c) and, if necessary,

(d) of paragraph (1) of bye-law 3 may be required to complete a preparatory programme,

comprising not less than 30 ECTS credits and not more than 60 ECTS credits, and to

obtain an overall average mark of 55% or better, prior to their registration as regular

students on the Course.

(2) The Board may grant applicants full or partial exemption from the

requirement of the preparatory programme if it is satisfied that the applicant possesses

post first cycle degree work experience that is relevant to the Course.

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 are assigned, of which 60 ECTS credits are assigned to taught study-

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

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.

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 for taught study-units, if following the full-time Course,

or not more than 10 ECTS credits for taught study-units 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 deemed to have failed the Course.

Dissertation

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

between 20,000 and 25,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the

Board of Studies.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be completed during the final semester

of the Course. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance

and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(3) A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at a time indicated by the Board

of Studies.

(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.

Repeal

The Bye-Laws of 2008 in terms of the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy, under

the auspices of the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, published

as Legal Notice 319 of 2008, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from 1st

October 2014, provided that students registered for this course before 1st October

2014 shall continue to be governed by the bye-laws that were in force at the time of

their joining the course.

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