under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences

L.N. 340 of 2015

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2015 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2004

for the Higher Diploma in Health Science – H.Dip. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences

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 Health Sciences in virtue

of the powers conferred upon it by section 81 (1) (c) of the said Act and which have

been approved by the Senate of the University of Malta as required by section 81 (2)

of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2015 in terms of

the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2004 for the Higher

Diploma in Health Science – H.Dip. – under the auspices of the Faculty of Health

Sciences.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences;

“the Course” means the programme of study leading to the Higher Diploma

in Health Science – H.Dip.;

“the Higher Diploma” means the Higher Diploma in Health Science – H.Dip.;

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Undergraduate Awards, 2004.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in October

2015 or later.

B

Special Course Requirements

To be registered as regular students in the Course, applicants must have

obtained all the credits of the Preparatory Course, specifically related to the proposed

area of study in the Higher Diploma, which shall extend over a period of one year of

full-time study, immediately prior to the commencement of the Course. If by the end

of the Preparatory Course, students do not successfully complete all the study-units

and obtain the 60 ECTS credits they shall not be admitted to the Course.

The requirements for admission and successful completion of the

Preparatory Course are listed in Appendix I to these bye-laws.

Applicants who are eligible to join the Course in terms of article 8 of

Appendix I to these bye-laws may be assessed for their suitability to follow their

chosen area of study.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over a period of two years of full-time study

taken after successful completion of a Preparatory Course of one year’s duration.

Areas of Study

The Higher Diploma may be awarded in terms of these bye-laws in

Nursing Studies or in any other area related to the Health Sciences, following the

approval of Senate.

The areas of study offered in any particular year shall be published by the

Board before the commencement of each Course.

Senate, on the advice of the Board, may limit the number of students that

may be admitted to the Course in any or all of the areas of study and shall approve

bye-laws for the selection of applicants to the Course in the area/s of study where the

number of students that may be admitted is limited.

Course Programme

The programme of study for each area of study, which shall comprise

study-units to which 120 ECTS credits are assigned, shall have two distinct, although

interdependent components: one theoretical and the other practical/clinical.

Subject to changes that the Board may, with the approval of Senate, be

constrained to make, students are bound to follow the study-units and obtain the

credits as indicated in the programme of study of the area of study they are following

for the Higher Diploma,

provided that programmes of study are drawn up in accordance with the relevant

provisions of the Principal Regulations.

B

Conditions for Re-assessment of Practical/Clinical Study-Units

(1) Students who fail a clinical practice study-unit or a study-unit

involving a practical placement may be required to repeat the study-unit during the

summer months before being re-assessed, or if such an arrangement is found not to

be possible, re-do the study-unit in an additional year of study.

(2) The conditions for the re-assessment of such study-units shall be

indicated in the description of each study-unit that is published in the catalogue.

Classification of the Award

(1) The overall evaluation of each student’s performance shall be based

on the results obtained in each year of the Course, weighted according to the following

criteria

First Year Average Mark

40%

Second Year Average Mark

60%.

(2) The names of students who qualify for the award of the Higher

Diploma shall be published in a list in alphabetical order classified as follows

Pass with Distinction

Pass with Merit

Pass.

B

APPENDIX I

The Preparatory Course

1. In order to be admitted to the Preparatory Course specifically related to

one of the areas of study in the Higher Diploma outlined in bye-law 3, applicants are

required to be in possession of one of the following

For courses commencing in October 2015

(a) passes at Grade 5 or better in the Secondary Education Certificate

Examination in six subjects, including Maltese, English Language, Mathematics, and

a Science subject; or

(b) the MCAST-BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care (Health

Studies), or equivalent,

provided that applicants wishing to join a Preparatory Course leading to admission

to the Higher Diploma course with Nursing Studies as the area of study may, instead,

present the Certificate in Nursing Practice awarded by the Institute of Health Care, or

the Certificate of Enrolled Nurse awarded by the Department of Health.

For courses commencing in October 2016 or later

(a) passes at Grade 5 or better in the Secondary Education Certificate

Examination in six subjects, including Maltese, English Language, Mathematics, and

Biology; or

(b) the MCAST-BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care (Health

Studies), or equivalent,

provided that applicants wishing to join a Preparatory Course leading to admission

to the Higher Diploma course with Nursing Studies as the area of study may, instead,

present the Certificate in Nursing Practice awarded by the Institute of Health Care, or

the Certificate of Enrolled Nurse awarded by the Department of Health.

2. Applicants are further required to be aged not less than 18 years within

three months following the date on which the Preparatory Course commences.

3. Prior to registering for the Preparatory Course, eligible applicants are also

required to undergo a medical fitness test as directed by the Board so as to ascertain

that they are fit for the duties related to their proposed studies.

4. The Preparatory Course shall consist of a number of study-units to which

60 ECTS credits are assigned and shall extend over a period of one year of full-time

study.

5. Subject to changes that the Board, with the approval of Senate, may be

constrained to make, students are bound to follow the study-units and obtain the

credits as indicated in the programme of study for the Preparatory Course they are

following.

B

6. Students shall be considered as having successfully completed the

Preparatory Course if they obtain the credits as outlined in the programme of study

and obtain an average mark of 55%.

7. The provisions regarding assessment, progression and successful

completion of the Preparatory Course, and any other provisions not outlined in this

Appendix to these bye-laws shall be those stipulated in the Principal Regulations and

shall apply mutatis mutandis.

€0.36