under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

B

L.N. 332 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 Surgery – M.Ch. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

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 Medicine and Surgery 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 Surgery – M.Ch. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and

Surgery.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery;

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

Surgery – M.Ch.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Surgery – M.Ch.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Surgery –

P.G. Cert. Ch.; 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 one of the

following qualifications

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

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

Board, to be equivalent to the qualification listed in (a).

(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, if deemed necessary.

(4) Interviews, if necessary, shall be conducted by a board composed

of at least three members appointed by the Board for the purpose.

(5) For the purpose of selection, applicants who fully satisfy the entry

requirements by 31st August preceding the commencement of the Course shall be

considered first.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over six semesters of 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 30 ECTS credits are

assigned to taught study-units and not less than 60 ECTS credits are assigned to the

dissertation study-unit.

(2) Students who obtain a total of 30 ECTS credits for 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 Course, shall be eligible for the

award of the Postgraduate Certificate.

B

(3) Students shall be eligible for the award of the Degree if they obtain

the 90 ECTS credits as outlined in the programme of study for the Course with an

average mark of at least 50%.

(4) 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 two taught study-units, 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 study-units 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.

Dissertation

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

35,000 to 40,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) A detailed research proposal of at least 300 words shall be submitted

to the Board for approval before the end of the second semester of the first year of

studies.

(3) Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide

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

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

normally composed of three members as follows: the Head of Department as

Chairman, or his delegate, and two other members, one of whom being the research

supervisor, provided that when the Head of Department is the supervisor, he shall not

chair the Panel.

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

of 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.

B

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

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

Students shall seek approval from the Panel for any substantial modification in the

title or content of the dissertation.

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

writing, on the general performance of each student. 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 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.

€0.36