University Postgraduate Awards (Amendment) Regulations, 2015

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L.N. 163 of 2015

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

University Postgraduate Awards (Amendment) Regulations, 2015

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 regulations made by the Senate of the University of Malta by virtue of

the powers conferred upon it by articles 75 (3) and 79 (b) of the said Act

Citation

These regulations may be cited as the University Postgraduate Awards

(Amendment) Regulations, 2015 and shall be read and construed as one with the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, published as Legal Notice

120 of 2008, hereinafter referred to as “the principal regulations”.

Applicability

These regulations shall be applicable from 23rd January, 2015 onwards.

Amendment to regulation 1 of the principal regulations

The following interpretation for “Board of Studies” shall be added

after the interpretation for “Board” in paragraph (2) of regulation 1 of the principal

regulations

“Board of

The Board appointed to administer a Programme of Study in terms

Studies

of these Regulations.”

Amendment to regulation 6 of the principal regulations

The following paragraph (4) shall be added after paragraph (3) of

regulation 6 of the principal regulations

“(4) Senate may also approve interfaculty awards which may be offered by

two or more entities of the University.”

Amendment to regulation 7 of the principal regulations

For sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) of regulation 7 of the principal

regulations there shall be substituted the following

“(b) a Professional Master’s degree, usually designated as Master of (subject),

obtained on successful completion of a Programme of Study that either

(i) builds upon a first cycle degree in the same area of study and intended

to develop further profession-related skills and knowledge, normally in an area of

specialisation; or

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(ii) only partially builds on knowledge obtained in a first cycle degree but

imparts specific professional competencies and leads to an award that gives access to

a regulated profession; and”

Amendment to regulation 8 of the principal regulations

For paragraph (3) of regulation 8 of the principal regulations there shall

be substituted the following

“(3) (i) Admission to Professional Master’s courses is through possession

of a first cycle Honours degree classified at least at Second Class in an area of study

relevant to the studies to be pursued in the Professional Master’s course. Bye-laws

may provide for the admission of applicants with a Third Class Honours degree if

they present a portfolio or other documentary evidence recording the applicant’s

relevant experience.

(ii) In the case of Professional Master’s courses offered in terms of

regulation 7 (1)(b)(ii), applicants must be in possession of a first cycle degree obtained

with at least Second Class Honours or Category II.”

Amendment to regulation 19 of the principal regulations

Regulation 19 of the principal regulations shall be renumbered as

paragraph (1) of regulation 19.

The following paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be added after paragraph (1)

of regulation 19 of the principal regulations

“(2) Students who fail in the first sit of study-units in a preparatory programme

shall be allowed a supplementary assessment in terms of the General Regulations

for University Undergraduate Award, 2004. Students who fail the supplementary

assessment of these study-units shall be allowed to refer the failed study-units to an

additional year or to repeat the preparatory programme in its entirety, if eligible in

terms of the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2004.

(3) Students who successfully complete a preparatory programme but do not

obtain the required overall average mark as specified in the course bye-laws shall be

granted an additional year of study, during which, after academic counselling, they

shall follow any study-units in order to seek to improve their overall average mark.

Attendance for lectures is not compulsory if following study-units already passed.”

Amendment to regulation 22 of the principal regulations

Regulation 22 of the principal regulations shall be renumbered as

paragraph (1) of regulation 22.

The following paragraph (2) shall be added after paragraph (1) of

regulation 22 of the principal regulations

“(2) A student who is on suspension of studies shall not follow any study-unit,

sit for any assessment, or work on the dissertation.”

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Amendment to regulation 25 of the principal regulations

For paragraph (5) of regulation 25 of the principal regulations there shall

be substituted the following

“(5) Before graduating, and where applicable, students shall present two

hard bound copies of the dissertation to the department, and one electronic version

for the University Library, which shall include a signed declaration of authenticity.

The electronic version must conform to the standards set by the University of Malta

Library. ”

Amendment to regulation 28 of the principal regulations

In regulation 28 of the principal regulations, the following interpretation

of “W: Withdrawal” shall be added after the definition of “I: Incomplete”

W”

“Approved withdrawal of the registration for a study-

unit after the official add/drop period has elapsed,

given in consideration of exceptional circumstances,

such as absence from lectures due to prolonged illness

during the semester. The unit shall not be taken into

consideration in the calculation of the average mark.

Deletion of regulations 57 and 58 of the principal regulations

Regulations 57 and 58 of of the principal regulations shall be deleted.

Renumbering of regulations 59 to 61 of the principal regulations

Regulations 59 to 61 of the principal regulations shall be renumbered as

regulations 57 to 59.

Amendment to regulations 57 and 58 of the principal regulations

For regulations 57 and 58 of the principal regulations there shall be

substituted the following

“Copyright and Intellectual Property

57. Students must abide by the University of Malta Intellectual Property

Policy.

Open Access

58. In line with the University of Malta’s Institutional Repository Policy, the

University Library shall provide in open access the electronic copies of Master’s

dissertations which are awarded a grade A and shall make them publicly available on

the University of Malta’s Institutional Repository.”

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Amendment to regulation 59 of the principal regulations

For regulation 59 of the principal regulations there shall be substituted

the following

Confidentiality Agreements

59. (1) Confidential information includes, but is not limited to, training

know-how, information, methodologies and manuals; workbooks; statements

of operating practice; specifications; drawings; designs; formulae; discoveries;

inventions; technical information; know-how generally; lab notebooks; manuscript

papers; software; information about the methods, concepts and techniques on which

software is based; samples; finances; financial models; pricing and other commercial

information; business plans; marketing plans; and any information considered to be

sensitive by the University Research Ethics Committee.

(2) Students are bound not to disclose any confidential information

which may come into their possession and/or which they are exposed to and/or which

they have access to. Furthermore, students may be asked by the University to sign

specific confidentiality agreements should it be deemed necessary.

(3) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this regulation,

information shall not be considered as confidential information if

(a) it was already known to the student and it was not subject to any obligation

of confidentiality by the student to the University;

(b) it is or becomes publicly known without an act or omission of the student;

(c) it is obtained by the student from a third party with a valid right to

disclose such confidential information, provided that said third party is not under a

confidentiality obligation to the University;

(d) it is approved for release in writing by an authorised representative of the

University; or

(e) the student is specifically required to disclose pursuant to a law or order

of any Court of competent jurisdiction.”

Addition of regulation 60 to the principal regulations

The following regulation 60 shall be added after regulation 59 of the

principal regulations

Confidentiality of Assessable Student Work

60. (1) Where the student considers that assessable student work should

remain confidential during or after completion of the programme of study or research,

a request for it to be embargoed must be made to the Library Committee. The Library

Committee shall consult with the Faculty concerned before taking a decision. The

period of confidentiality approved shall not normally exceed two years from final

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submission of such work to the University. However, in cases where publication of

the assessable student work would prove detrimental to the student or the University

or the sponsor or the funding body or the persons referred to in such work, a further

period may be approved.

(2) In any case and without prejudice to paragraph (1) of this regulation,

the University retains the right to request the embargo of assessable student work. In

the event that assessable student work is embargoed, the student shall be bound to

treat the contents of such work as confidential. Prior to any publication, the provisions

about publication and exploitation, as detailed in the University of Malta Intellectual

Property Policy shall apply in every case.”

Renumbering of regulations 62 and 63 of the principal regulations

Regulations 62 and 63 of the principal regulations shall be renumbered as

regulations 61 and 62.

Addition of regulations 63 to 67 to the principal regulations

The following regulations 63 to 67 shall be added after regulation 62 of

the principal regulations

Board of Studies

63. Boards of Studies for all Courses shall be appointed by Senate by June for

a period of two years except in the case of students appointed on Boards of Studies

whose appointment shall be of one year’s duration.

64. Each Faculty shall recommend to Senate the appointment of Boards of

Studies for Courses run under the auspices of that Faculty. In doing so, the Board shall

aim to achieve an optimal arrangement for the appointment of a Board of Studies for

one or more Courses run under its auspices.

65. Senate may approve the appointment of any of the following

(a) a Board of Studies for one Area of Study for a Course, where such a

Course consists only of one Area of Study;

(b) a Board of Studies for a Course consisting of more than one Area of

Study offered together in that Course;

(c) a single Board of Studies for such number of Courses offered under the

auspices of a Faculty, where such an arrangement is the most appropriate;

(d) the designation of a Board to carry out the functions of a Board of Studies;

and

(e) any combination of the above which Senate may approve from time to

time for Courses offered under the auspices of a Faculty.

66. (1)

Boards of Studies shall be composed as follows

(a) in the case of regulation 65 (a), the Board of Studies shall be composed

of: (i) the head of the department responsible for the Area of Study or his delegate

as chairman; (ii) at least two other academic members; and (iii) two students elected

from amongst the students registered on the Course;

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(b) in the case of regulation 65 (b), the Board of Studies shall be composed

of: (i) the heads of the department responsible for the Areas of Study concerned,

or their delegates, one of whom shall be appointed chairman; (ii) at least one other

academic member from each of the departments concerned; and (iii) two students

elected from amongst the students registered on the Course;

(c) in the case of regulation 65 (c), the Board of Studies shall be composed

of: (i) the Course coordinators for a number of Courses offered under the auspices of

a Faculty, or their delegates; one Course coordinator shall be appointed chairman; (ii)

at least one other academic member teaching on each of the Courses concerned; and

(iii) two students elected from amongst the students registered on the Courses; and

(d) in the case of regulation 65 (d), the Board shall be designated by Senate

to perform the functions of a Board of Studies.

(2) In the case of a Course offered by two or more Faculties, Senate may

appoint, on the joint recommendation of the Boards of the Faculties concerned, an

inter-Faculty Board of Studies. Such a Board of Studies shall consist of: (i) the Dean

or his delegate of each Faculty concerned; (ii) at least two other academic members

from each Faculty; and (iii) two students elected from amongst the students registered

on the Course. One of the Deans shall be appointed chairman. The terms of reference

of such a Board of Studies is to ensure better coordination of programmes of study

where study-units are offered by different Faculties.

(3) Administrators from the Faculties concerned shall attend meetings of

the Board of Studies.

67. The functions of Boards of Studies shall include the following

(a) implementing the regulations and bye-laws governing the Programme of

Study, subject to the general directions given by the Board or Boards concerned;

(b) monitoring and evaluating the Programme/s of Study;

(c) making proposals to the Board or Boards for the revision of the

Programme/s of Study; and

(d) monitoring the assessments and the procedures used in the assessment of

the performance of the students.”

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