under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

L.N. 24 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 Ageing and Dementia Studies – M.A.

under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

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 for Social Wellbeing in

virtue of the powers conferred upon it by articles 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 Ageing and Dementia Studies – M.A. – under the auspices of the

Faculty for Social Wellbeing.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing;

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies appointed by Senate for

the Course, on the recommendation of the Board;

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

Arts in Ageing and Dementia Studies – M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Ageing and Dementia

Studies – M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Ageing and

Dementia Studies – 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 February

2016 or later.

Requirements for Admission

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

degree from this University or another university recognized by Senate, obtained

with at least Second Class Honours or Category II.

(2) The admission of applicants may be conditional on the result of an

interview conducted by an interviewing board appointed for the purpose.

(3) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be composed

of at least three members.

(4) Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, shall determine the

number of applicants that may be allowed to register for the Course, depending on the

availability of resources. The number of available places shall be announced at the

time of the call for applications.

(5) When the number of places is 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 the interview.

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

stipulated in paragraph (1) of this bye-law were obtained by a date to be announced

at the time of the call for applications shall be considered first.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

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

90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 60 ECTS credits are assigned to the taught

study-units and 30 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

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

units 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 if following the 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.

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

of Studies.

(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 of Studies for approval before the beginning

of the second semester.

(1)

Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies 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 of Studies as necessary due to the part-time nature of the

Course.

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