under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts

L.N. 307 of 2017

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2017 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

for the Degree of Master of Arts in Health, Medicine and Society - M.A. -

under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts

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 Arts 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 2017

in terms of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards,

2008 for the degree of Master of Arts in Health, Medicine and Society -

M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts.

(2)

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

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

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

of Arts in Health, Medicine and Society - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Health, Medicine and

Society - M.A.;

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

Medicine and Society - 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

2017 or later.

B

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants who are in possession of

(i) a first cycle degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours or

Category II in any subject; or

(ii) a first cycle degree obtained with Third Class Honours or Category III in

any subject, provided that they satisfy the Board that they are in possession of other

qualifications, including relevant experience, obtained following their first cycle

degree.

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 taught study-

units and 30 ECTS credits 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 a Postgraduate Diploma.

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%.

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, 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 study-units 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 deemed to have failed the Course.

B

(4) Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught

study-units with an average mark of at least 65% for those study-units for which a

mark/grade is awarded, shall be allowed to proceed to the dissertation study-unit.

Dissertation

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

approximately 20,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(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 for approval not later than six weeks before

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 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 relevant Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the

Course.

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