under the auspices of the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics

L.N. 322 of 2015

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2015 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

for the Degree of Master of Science – M.Sc. –

under the auspices of the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics

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 Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics

in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 6 (b)(v) of the Statute for the

Centre, 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 2015 in terms of

the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the degree

of Master of Science – M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Centre for Biomedical

Cybernetics.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics;

“the Centre” means the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics;

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

of Science – M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science – M.Sc.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing October

2015 or later.

Areas of Study

(1) The Course may be offered in any area of study that falls within the

academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by Senate.

(2) The Board shall publish the areas of study in which the Centre can

offer expert guidance and supervision before the commencement of the Course.

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of the following

qualifications

(a) a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree with at least Second Class

Honours; or

(b) a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree with at least Second Class

Honours in appropriate subjects as approved by the Board; or

(c) the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery; or

(d) the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (with a classification of Second

Class Honours or better if awarded from July 2009 onwards); or

(e) the degree of Master of Dental Surgery awarded from July 2018 onwards;

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

to be equivalent or higher to the qualifications listed in (a) to (e) above.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

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

90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which not more than 15 ECTS credits are assigned

to taught study-units and not less than 75 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation

study-unit.

(2)

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 10 ECTS credits for taught study-units, whether following the full-time

or 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.

Dissertations

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

normally not to exceed 45,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the

Board.

(2)

Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time during the

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

supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period

of study.

(3)

The provisional title of the dissertation and a detailed research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at the time of application.

(1) The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each student,

normally composed of three members as follows: the Director of the Centre, or his or

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

supervisor, provided that when the Director is the supervisor, he or she shall not chair

the Panel.

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

of the students throughout the Course, provided that it meets at least twice a year to

review such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisors at least once

every two months, and in addition, as often as the supervisor deems necessary.

(4) At the end of each semester of study, supervisors shall be required

to submit to the Panel of Supervision reports for the students under their supervision,

whether they are following the Course on a full-time or a part-time basis.

(5) Students shall seek approval from the Panel of Supervision for any

substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation.

(6) The Panel of Supervision shall periodically inform the Board,

in writing, on the general performance of each student. Such reports may include

recommendations 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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