under the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering

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L.N. 374 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 Science in Signals, Systems and Control – M.Sc. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering

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 Engineering 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 Signals, Systems and Control – M.Sc. – offered under the

auspices of the Faculty of Engineering.

(2)

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

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

“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 Science in Signals, Systems and Control – M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Signals, Systems and

Control – M.Sc.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Signals,

Systems and Control – 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.

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of one of the

following qualifications

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with at least Second

Class Honours; or

(b) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) with at least Second Class

Honours in appropriate subjects as approved by the Board; or

(c) the degree of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Honours)

with at least Second Class Honours; or

(d) the degree of Bachelor of Science in Information and Communication

Technology (Honours) with at least Second Class Honours; or

(e) any other Honours degree with a suitable mathematical and computer

programming component which the Board deems comparable to the qualifications

indicated in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this bye-law.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in 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 60 ECTS credits are assigned to taught

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

(2) 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.

(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%.

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(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 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

normally not exceeding 25,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by

the Board.

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

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 end of the

second semester.

(4) Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies through their

supervisor for any substantial modifications in the title or content of the dissertation.

(5) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor, who shall submit to the Board of Studies progress reports for the student/s

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

following the Course on a full-time or 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

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(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 Degree and the Postgraduate Diploma 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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