under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts

B

L.N. 156 of 2016

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2016 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

for the Degree of Master of Arts in Global Maritime Archaeology - M.A. -

under the auspices of the Faculty of 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 Faculty of Arts in virtue of the

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

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

said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2016 in terms of

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

Master of Arts in Global Maritime Archaeology - M.A. - under the auspices of the

Faculty of Arts.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Arts;

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

Arts in Global Maritime Archaeology - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Global Maritime

Archaeology - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Global

Maritime Archaeology - P.G.Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

Applicability

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

2016 or later.

B

Requirements for Admission

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of a first cycle

degree in Archaeology, History, Geography, or Oceanography or in another area

which the Board considers as appropriate, obtained with a Second Class Honours or

Category II classification,

provided that applicants in possession of a degree with Third Class Honours or

Category III shall satisfy the Board through an interview that they are in possession

of other qualifications, including relevant experience, obtained following the first

cycle degree.

(2) The Board shall recommend to Senate the number of applicants that

may be allowed to register for the Course, depending on the availability of resources.

The Board shall announce the number of available places at the time of the call for

applications.

(3) When the number of places is so limited and the number of eligible

applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall be selected using

the following criteria, the weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call

for applications

(a) degree type and class;

(b) experience in the area of the proposed study; and

(c) performance during an interview.

(4) For the purpose of selection, applicants whose qualifications as

stipulated in paragraph (1) of this bye-law were obtained by 31 August preceding the

commencement of the Course shall be considered first.

(5) (i) In exceptional cases, and if vacant places are still available,

the University Admissions Board, on the recommendation of the Board, may admit

into the Course applicants not in possession of a first cycle degree, provided that it

is satisfied that such applicants are in possession of other academic or professional

qualifications and experience that together are deemed to be comparable to the level

of a first cycle degree.

(ii) Applicants referred to in sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (5)

of this bye-law must satisfy the University’s English Language requirement by

presenting a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at the appropriate level, and shall

submit with their application a letter giving their motivation for applying for this

Course. Such applicants shall further be required to attend for an interview to assess

their suitability to follow the Course with profit.

(6) Interviews shall be conducted by an interviewing board appointed

by the Board, composed of at least three members.

B

(7) The interviewing board may make use of electronic means of

communication in order to carry out interviews with applicants.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study, and shall also include fieldwork to be undertaken during

the summer period.

Programme of Study

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

90 ECTS credits shall be assigned, of which 50 ECTS credits are assigned to taught

study-units, 10 ECTS credits are assigned to a fieldwork study-unit and 30 ECTS

credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

All students shall be required to undertake the compulsory fieldwork at an

institution approved by the Board, as indicated in the programme of study. Students

who fail to attend the fieldwork shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught study-

units and the fieldwork, with an average mark of at least 50%, and do not proceed

with the Course, or having proceeded do not successfully complete the dissertation,

shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

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 20 ECTS credits for taught study-units, if following the full-time Course,

or not more than 10 ECTS credits for taught study-units if following the part-time

Course, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessment during the

September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who fail 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 required to withdraw from the Course.

(4) The fieldwork study-unit shall be assessed through submission of

a logbook and report. Students who do not complete, or fail in the assessment of the

fieldwork study-unit shall not have the right to a supplementary assessment and shall

be required to withdraw from the Course.

B

Dissertation

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

approximately 25,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the third

semester of the Course. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide

guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(3) A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval not later than six weeks before

the end of the second semester.

(1)

Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports for each

student under their supervision at the end of each semester of studies, whether the

student is following the Course on a full-time or a part-time basis. Such reports may

include a recommendation 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 Awards

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification of

the Postgraduate Diploma and 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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