under the auspices of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences

B

L.N. 37 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 Science in Cognitive Science – M.Sc. -

under the auspices of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge 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 Media and Knowledge

Sciences 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 Science in Cognitive Science – M.Sc. - offered under the auspices of the

Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge

Sciences;

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

of Science in Cognitive Science – M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Cognitive Science –

M.Sc.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive

Science – P.G. Dip.;

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

Applicability

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

2015 or later.

B

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of a Bachelor’s

degree from this University, or from any other university approved by Senate for this

purpose, obtained with at least Second Class Honours or Category II.

All applicants shall be required to submit with their application a letter

giving their motivation for applying for this Course, and shall further be required to

attend for an interview to assess their suitability to follow the Course with profit.

Applicants shall be selected according to the following criteria, the

weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call for applications

(a) classification of the first degree;

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

(c) motivation letter; and

(d) performance during the interview.

For the purpose of selection, applicants whose qualifications as stipulated

in bye-law 3 were obtained by 31 August preceding the commencement of the Course

shall be considered first.

The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be composed of at

least three members.

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.

Course duration

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-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 60 ECTS credits are assigned to taught

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

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

units 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.

(3) The programme of study shall be published after approval by Senate,

normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the Course.

B

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 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

up to a maximum of 25,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the

Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken primarily 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) Students must submit a provisional title for the dissertation and a

detailed research proposal to the Board for approval by 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 study, 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.

B

Classification of Awards

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

the Postgraduate Diploma and the Degree shall be based on the results obtained in all

the components of the programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

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