under the auspices of the School of Performing Arts

L.N. 41 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 Music – M.Mus. -

under the auspices of the School of Performing Arts

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 School of Performing

Arts in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 7(b)(v) of the Statute for

the School, 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 Music – M.Mus. - under the auspices of the School of Performing Arts.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the School of Performing Arts;

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

of Music – M.Mus.;

“the Degree” means the Degree of Master of Music – M.Mus.;

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008; and

“the School” means the School of Performing Arts.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable as from 1st June, 2013 onwards.

Areas of Specialisation

The Course shall be offered in the following areas of specialization

Composition, Performance, Musicology, and Ethnomusicology.

Requirements for Admission

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a Bachelor degree in Music Studies or in the areas of specialization

indicated in bye-law 3, from this University, obtained with at least Second Class

Honours; or

(b) a Bachelor degree in Music Studies from this University with at least

Category II; or

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

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

(1) of this bye-law.

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

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

of an audition/interview conducted for the purpose, or the submission of essays/

musical compositions.

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

of at least three members appointed for the purpose.

Applicants may submit their application form, together with a

comprehensive research proposal that includes the compositional tools and techniques

in the case of the Degree by composition, and the analytical tools and performance

practices in the case of the Degree by performance, at any time of the year.

Preparatory and Supplementary Programmes

(1) Applicants admitted under sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) of

bye-law 4 who wish to focus on an area of specialization different from that followed

in the Bachelor (Honours) degree, but do not possess either the skills or the knowledge

to take up postgraduate studies in that area, shall be required to follow a Preparatory

Programme, comprising not less than 30 ECTS credits as directed by the Board,

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

regular students in the Course.

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

of paragraph (1) of bye-law 4 may be required to complete a preparatory programme,

comprising not less than 30 ECTS credits as directed by the Board, and to obtain an

overall average mark of 55% or better, prior to their registration as regular students in

the Course.

(3) In cases where applicants lack essential knowledge in particular

areas not covered in their first degree, the Board may require students admitted to the

Course to follow and pass supplementary study-unit/s in the particular area to which

a maximum of 12 ECTS credits are assigned, in addition to the programme of study

specified in bye-law 8.

(4) The Board may grant students full or partial exemption from the

requirement of the Preparatory Programme if it is satisfied, following an interview,

that the student has reached the required standard for direct entry to the Course.

Course Duration

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

semesters of 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 10 ECTS credits shall be assigned to taught

study-units relevant to the area of specialization chosen.

Submission of Portfolio of Composition/s or Performance Programme and

Dissertation

(1) Not less than three months before the intended date of submission,

students following the area of specialization in composition and performance shall

apply to the Board for permission to present the portfolio of composition/s and a

dissertation in case of the former, or programme notes and a dissertation in case of the

latter. Before giving permission, the Board shall consult the students’ supervisor and

shall ascertain that the period of study conforms with that stipulated in the Principal

Regulations.

(2) When submitting a portfolio of composition/s students shall include

a signed declaration that the entire portfolio is their own personal work and that it has

been done after their registration for the Degree.

(3) The dissertation must on no account have already been submitted

for any qualification elsewhere, and must not have been published independently by

the student, entirely or substantially.

Examination of Portfolio of Composition/s or Performance Programme and

Dissertation

(1) In the area of specialisation of composition, the portfolio of

compositions and supporting dissertation for the Degree shall be examined by a

Board of Examiners appointed for the purpose by Senate, on the recommendation of

the Board in terms of the Principal Regulations. The portfolio of compositions and

dissertation shall be assigned 80 ECTS credits.

(2) Students in the Course by composition shall also sit for a viva voce

examination focusing on their composition portfolio and dissertation.

(3) After examining the portfolio of compositions, the dissertation and

conducting the viva voce examination, the Board of Examiners may refer the portfolio

and/or dissertation back to the student for revisions which are to be completed by a

time as specified by the Board, which period shall not normally be longer than six

months.

(4) After the student has completed the required revisions, s/he shall

apply to the Board for permission to resubmit the revised portfolio and/or dissertation

for re-examination.

(5) On the basis of a second viva voce examination and the revised

portfolio and/or dissertation, the Board of Examiners shall submit a final report to the

Registrar recommending the award or withholding of the Degree.

(6) If no revisions are required, the Board of Examiners shall submit a

final report to the Registrar recommending the award of the Degree.

(7) In the area of specialisation of composition, a student who fails to

satisfy the Board of Examiners in the viva voce examination may, at the discretion of

the Board of Examiners and with the permission of the Board, be re-examined orally

within a period of six months. Such permission shall be granted once only.

(1) In the area of specialisation of performance, the dissertation and

programme notes must be examined and re-submitted with amendments, if necessary,

before the actual final performance takes place. The viva voce examination shall focus

on both the programme notes and the dissertation.

(2) Following the viva voce examination, the Board of Examiners may

refer the dissertation and the programme notes back to the student for amendments.

(3) In the area of specialisation of performance, if a student does

not show a complete mastery of technique and interpretative skills, the Board of

Examiners may request a repeat of the performance after a time decided upon by the

Board of Examiners. There shall only be a single repeat performance for the purpose

of examination.

Dissertation Format and Presentation

For the Degree by composition, the student shall be required to submit

the copies of the original portfolio of works on regular A3 music sheets with all

works soft-bound as a unit. The dissertation shall be of not less than 15,000 words

in length, exclusive of notes, bibliography, and appendices. In computing the mark

obtained in the assessment of the deliverables by the student, the dissertation shall

have a weighting of 25% while the portfolio of works shall have a weighting of

75%.

For the Degree by performance, the student shall be required to submit

the programme notes and a dissertation that shall be in the standard document format

and shall be of not less than 15,000 words in length, exclusive of notes, bibliography,

and appendices. In computing the mark obtained in the assessment of the deliverables

by the student, the dissertation shall have a weighting of 25%, while the portfolio of

works shall have a weighting of 75%.

For the Degree by research in musicology/ethnomusicology, the student

shall be required to submit a dissertation that shall be in the standard document

format and shall be of not less than 40,000 and not more than 50,000 words in length,

exclusive of notes, bibliography and appendices.

Students shall submit copies of their work for all members of the Board

of Examiners to the Head of the Music Department for forwarding to the Board of

Examiners.

After the portfolio, programme notes and dissertation are approved, the

student shall submit them in hard-bound form within not more than six weeks from

the publication of the result.

Any expenses related to the performance, dissertation and portfolio of

compositions are to be borne by the student.

Award of the Degree

The Degree shall be awarded to students who satisfy all the criteria in any

one of the following areas of specialisation

(a) by composition: successfully pass the taught study-units for which 10

ECTS credits are assigned, present a dissertation and a portfolio of new and original

compositions followed by a successful viva voce examination for which 80 ECTS

credits are assigned; or

(b) by performance: successfully pass the taught study-units for which 10

ECTS credits are assigned, present a dissertation, and programme notes followed

by a successful viva voce for which 20 ECTS credits are assigned, perform three

public recitals for each of which 20 ECTS credits are assigned. The recitals shall

be assessed by at least three members of the Board of Examiners. They shall use

standard criteria and shall assign a mark and grade which shall contribute towards the

final result. The final recital shall be recorded; or

(c) by musicology/ethnomusicology: successfully pass the taught study-units

for which a total of 10 ECTS credits are assigned and present a dissertation containing

an original and significant contribution to knowledge, followed by a successful viva

voce examination, for which 80 ECTS credits are assigned.

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, and shall be weighted as follows

Composition

Taught study-units: 10% of the global mark; portfolio of compositions and dissertation

90% of the global mark.

Performance

Taught study-units: 10% of the global mark; programme notes and dissertation: 20%

of the global mark; three recitals, of equal weighting and totaling 70% of the global

mark.

Musicology/Ethnomusicology

Taught study-units : 10% of the global mark and dissertation study-unit: 90% of the

global mark.

Special Provisions for Part-Time Studies

The provisions of the foregoing bye-laws shall apply mutatis mutandis to

studies 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.

€0.54