under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

B

L.N. 361 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 - 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 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 - 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

of Arts - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in the

relevant area of study - P.G. Cert.; 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.

Areas of Study

The Course shall be offered in any area of study that falls within the

academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by Senate.

B

Requirements for Admission

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

degree from this University or any other institution recognized by Senate in an

area of study deemed relevant by the Board with at least Second Class Honours.

Applicants in possession of a degree obtained with at least Category II shall also be

admitted following successful completion of a preparatory programme as indicated

in bye-law 5.

(2) The admission of applicants may be made 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) 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 areas of study and the number of available places at the

time of the call for applications.

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

applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants will 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 who fully satisfy the entry

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

considered first.

Preparatory Programme

Applicants not in possession of an Honours degree admitted under

paragraph (1) of bye-law 4 shall be required to complete a preparatory programme,

comprising not less than 30 ECTS credits and not more than 60 ECTS credits as

directed by the Board, depending on the number of credits already obtained in the

chosen area of study, with an overall average mark of 55% or better, prior to their

registration as regular students on the Course.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

B

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.

(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 the taught study-units shall be completed by the

end of the semester in which the teaching of the study-units are held.

(2) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not

more than 10 ECTS credits for taught study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-

sit the failed assessments 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.

Dissertation

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

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

the Board of Studies.

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

proposal of approximately 300 words shall be submitted at the time of application.

The title for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal outlining the proposed

project and the main questions to be addressed shall be submitted to the Board of

Studies for approval by not later than the end of the first semester.

B

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

normally composed of three members as follows: the Dean of the Faculty, or his/

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

supervisor, provided that when the Dean of the Faculty is the supervisor, s/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.

(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 said 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 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 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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