University Postgraduate Awards (Amendment) Regulations, 2015

B

L.N. 254 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

(1)

Regulation 3 shall be applicable for courses commencing in October

2015 or later.

(2)

Regulation 4 shall be applicable from 27 th March, 2015 onwards.

Amendment to regulation 28 of the principal regulations

For regulation 28 of the principal regulations there shall be substituted

the following

“Assessment of Study-Units - Marking and Grading

Examiners shall express the students’ performance in the assessment of

all study-units, including the dissertation, as a percentage mark and grade as indicated

in the table below. Both the percentage mark and the letter grade shall be recorded in

the students’ academic record. The percentage mark only is used for the purpose of

calculating the students’ progress and for the award classification.

Descriptor

Work of excellent quality

Superior performance showing a comprehensive understanding

and application of the subject matter. Evidence of considerable

additional reading/research/work.

Work of very good quality

Performance is typified by a very good working knowledge

of the subject matter. Evidence of a considerable amount of

reading/ research/work.

Work of good quality

Above average performance, with a good working knowledge

of the subject matter. Evidence of sufficient reading/research/

work.

Work of fair but below average quality

Considerable but incomplete understanding of the subject

matter. Evidence of a fair amount of reading/research/work.

Work of marginal quality

Minimal understanding of the subject matter, with no

evidence of additional reading/research/work, which must be

compensated by higher marks in other units in order to be

eligible for the Postgraduate Award.

Pass – when assessment is based on a pass/fail basis.

Unsatisfactory, failing work in any study-unit.

Unsatisfactory, failing work in the dissertation study-unit.

Unsatisfactory, failing work in a practicum study-unit, where 0%- 54%**

such is indicated in the course bye-laws.

Unjustified absence for an assessment, or failure to hand in 0%

assigned work in time, or ineligibility to take assessment due

to unapproved absence from lectures. Shall be considered as F

with 0 marks in the calculation of the average mark.

Temporary grade for Incomplete work due to justifiable reasons

(illness, approved absence, etc.) for which the assessment date

has been postponed or the deadline for submission of work

has been extended.

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.

* The minimum pass mark for dissertations is 50%.

** The minimum pass mark for practicums, where such is indicated in the course bye-laws,

is 55%.”

B

Amendment to regulation 37 of the principal regulations

4. For paragraph (3) of regulation 37 there shall be substituted the following

“(3) The Award Classification Board, at its own discretion, may award the

Postgraduate Award with a higher classification than that indicated in paragraph (1)

of this regulation to students whose Final Weighted Average Mark is up to five marks

less than the minimum for the classification, provided that all students who obtain

the same or a higher Final Weighted Average Mark within that category/class shall

be awarded the higher classification. In such cases, the Award Classification Board is

required to minute the decision and the justification for it.”

€0.27