the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

B

L.N. 207 of 2018

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2018 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

for the Degree of Master of Science in Diabetes Care - M.Sc. -

under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences and

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 Boards of the Faculty of Health Sciences and

the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in virtue of the powers conferred upon them 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 2018 in terms

of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the Degree

of Master of Science in Diabetes Care - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Faculty of

Health Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

(2)

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

“the Boards” means the Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Board

of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery;

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies appointed by Senate for

the Course on the recommendations of the Boards of the Faculty of Health Sciences

and the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery;

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

of Science in Diabetes Care - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Diabetes Care - M.Sc.

;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Diabetes

Care – P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes

Care – 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

2018 or later.

Requirements for Admission

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a)

the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery; or

(b)

the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery; or

(c)

the degree of Master of Dental Surgery awarded from July 2018

onwards; or

(d) the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) with at least

Second Class; or

(e)

the degree of Master of Pharmacy; or

(f) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) obtained with at

least Second Class in an area of study deemed suitable by the Board of Studies; or

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

Board of Studies, to be equivalent to the qualifications listed in (a) to (f) above.

(2) The Boards shall recommend to Senate the number of applicants

that may be allowed to register for the Course, depending on the availability of

resources. The Boards 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 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 for the purpose by the Boards.

(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.

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(6) Prior to registering for the Course, eligible applicants shall be

required to undergo a medical fitness test as directed by the Board of Studies, so as to

ascertain that they are fit to undertake work related to clinical placements.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over three years of part-time study.

Board of Studies

(1) The academic administration of the Course shall be entrusted to a

Board of Studies appointed for the purpose.

(2) The Board of Studies, which shall be appointed for a period of

two years, shall be composed as follows

(a) the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Dean of the faculty of

Medicine and Surgery or their respective delegate, one of whom shall be appointed

as Chairman on the joint recommendation of the two Faculties;

(b) at least two academic members of staff from each of the two faculties;

and

(c) two students elected from amongst the students registered on the Course.

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 are assigned to a dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain 30 ECTS credits assigned to 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.

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.

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.

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

than 10 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 required to withdraw from the Course

provided that students who fail in a study-unit involving a clinical placement

that requires assessment over a period of time shall not have the right to a supplementary

assessment and shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

Dissertation

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

approximately 15,000 to 20,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by

the Board of Studies.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the third year

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 by the end of third

semester.

(1)

Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies progress reports

for each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of studies. Such

reports may include recommendations 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 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.

€0.36