under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts

B

L.N. 30 of 2018

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Master of Arts in International Humanitarian Action - M.A. -

Degree Course Regulations, 2018

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 regulations made by the Senate of the University of

Malta by virtue of the powers conferred upon it by articles 75(3) and 79(b) of the

said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Master of Arts in

International Humanitarian Action - M.A. - Degree Course Regulations, 2018.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

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

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies responsible for the

academic administration and organization of the Course, which shall include a

member from each Partner Institution;

“the Course” means the programme of study developed by the Partner

Institutions leading to the degree of Master of Arts in International Humanitarian

Action - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in International

Humanitarian Action - M.A.;

“the Partner Institutions” means the institutions taking part in the Joint

Master’s degree programme in International Humanitarian Action which is

approved by the Network On Humanitarian Action (NOHA) Board of Directors,

namely

Aix-Marseille Université,

Ruhr-Universität Bochum,

Universidad de Deusto,

University College Dublin,

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen,

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University of Malta,

Uppsala Universitet,

Uniwersytet Warszawski;

“the Senate” means the Senate of the University of Malta; and

“the University” means the University of Malta.

(3) This Degree is a Joint Degree of the University and this shall

be taken to mean that the Course is taught at the Partner Institutions within the

framework of a joint degree programme. The Degree shall only be awarded if the

Partner Institutions declare the student to be eligible for the award.

Applicability

These regulations shall be applicable to courses commencing in

September 2017 or later.

Qualifications for Admission

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants who are in possession

of a first cycle degree (Bachelor, EQF Level 6) from this or another university

recognized by Senate, with at least Second Class Honours or Category II or an

equivalent classification, in a discipline of relevance to Humanitarian Action, the

duration of which should be a minimum of three years and which should comprise

not less than 180 ECTS credits.

(2) (i) Applicants are required to demonstrate that their standard

of the languages of instruction of the Partner Institutions they plan to attend are

satisfactory. The offer of a place on the Course may be made subject to the

applicants obtaining such proficiency qualifications prior to the commencement of

their studies.

(ii)

Proficiency in English may be certified by one of the following

(a)

TOEFL: score of at least 250 (computer-based test) or 93 with a

writing score of at least 24 (internet-based test);

(b) Cambridge Proficiency Examination Advanced Certificate: pass at

Grade C or better; or

(c) IELTS: at least 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in each element;

provided that English native speakers and students who have followed a Bachelor’s

course taught in English shall not be required to submit the above certificates but

may be required to demonstrate proficiency in some other way.

(iii) Proficiency in French may be certified by a C1 level according to

the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR);

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(iv) Proficiency in Spanish may be certified by a B2 level according to

the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

(3) Depending on the availability of resources, Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board of Studies, shall determine the number of applicants

that may be allowed to register on the Course. The number of available places shall

be announced at the time of the call for applications.

(4) If there are more eligible applicants than there are available places,

applications shall be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria

(a)

type and level of academic qualifications (25%);

(b)

type and level of research experience (10%);

(c)

type and level of professional experience, such as practical

experience in the area of humanitarian action in governmental, inter-

governmental and/or non-governmental organisations and institutions

(25%);

(d)

motivation and concern for humanitarian issues (10%);

(e)

multicultural sensitivity (10%);

(f)

level of linguistic abilities (10%),

(g)

recommendations (5%);

(h)

nationality and gender balance (5%).

(5) Applicants may further be requested to sit for an interview which

shall be conducted by an interviewing board composed of at least three members,

appointed for the purpose.

(6) The interviewing board may make use of electronic means of

communication in order to carry out interviews with applicants.

Application and Registration

(1) All applications must be made on-line via the NOHA Consortium

website (nohanet.org) in accordance with the published instructions and before the

deadlines stated on the website.

(2) On application, applicants must indicate at which of the Partner

Institutions they wish to undertake studies, besides this University.

Course Duration

(1)

The Course shall extend over two years of full-time study.

(2) The Board of Studies may allow students to extend their studies

by not more than six months, provided that in special circumstances, Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board of Studies, may grant students a further extension of

up to two years in order to enable them to complete their studies.

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(3) If students following the Course supported by a scholarship

require an extension, the scholarship shall not be extended. Such extensions may be

given in terms of the applicable regulations at the Partner Institution involved.

Programme of Study

(1) The programme of study shall consist of study-units to which a

total of 120 ECTS credits shall be assigned, and shall comprise 60 ECTS credits

for taught study-units, 30 ECTS credits for a Work Placement or Regional Training,

and 30 ECTS credits for a dissertation. The Board shall publish the programme

prior to the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.

(2) All students shall be required to spend a compulsory study period

in at least two of the Partner Institutions, as indicated in the programme of study.

Catalogue of Study-Units

The Board of Studies shall draw up a catalogue of all study-units for

approval by Senate. The catalogue shall indicate the level, code, title, description

and type of each study-unit, the ECTS credits assigned to each study-unit, the

methods of teaching and assessment, as well as the re-assessment opportunities for

each study-unit.

Assessment and Progress

(1) The assessment of each study-unit shall be held on completion of

the study-unit, during the period of attendance at one of the Partner Institutions at a

time to be specified by the Board of Studies.

(2) Results for the assessment of the study-units and the dissertation

undertaken at the University shall be published as a percentage mark and grade as

indicated in below

Mark Range

Grade

80% - 100%

A

70% - 79%

B

55% - 69%

C

50% - 54%

D

45% - 49%

E

0% - 44%

F

provided the minimum pass mark for the dissertation shall be 50%.

(3) Students who fail in any of the taught study-units shall be

allowed one re-assessment. The re-assessment shall be held at the next scheduled

examination session (May or September) as the case may be. If successful on re-

assessment, the grade to be awarded shall be Grade E,

provided that if a student fails in a dissertation, the maximum grade/mark that can

be awarded after re-assessment shall be 50%/Grade D.

B

(4) Progression from one semester to the next shall be as specified in

the Study and Examination Regulations published on the NOHA website (nohanet.

org).

(5) Students who do not complete or fail in the assessment of the

Regional Training or the Work Placement shall not have the right to re-assessment

and shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

(6) Senate shall appoint a Board of Examiners for each study-unit

undertaken at the University, in accordance with the provisions of the University

Assessment Regulations.

Dissertation

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

approximately 30,000 words, excluding references and appendices, in accordance

with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

(2) Dissertations shall normally be written in English. However,

the Board of Studies may allow students to write their dissertation in any other

language, provided that the Board of Studies has ascertained, to the satisfaction of

Senate, that the Partner Institutions have the necessary expertise to supervise and

examine the work. In such cases, students shall be required to include a translation

of the abstract in English.

(3) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the fourth

semester of the Course. Students shall submit for approval a title and a detailed

research proposal by the deadline and in the format specified in the NOHA Master

Thesis Guide and other relevant documents as drawn up by the Board of Studies.

(4) Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for any

substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation.

(5) Dissertations shall include a declaration signed by the students

that it is their own original work.

(6) Before graduating, students shall present one hard bound copy

of the dissertation to the Board of Studies, and an electronic version to each of

the Partner Institutions, which shall include a signed declaration of authenticity.

The electronic version must conform to the standards set by each of the Partner

Institutions.

(1) The Board of Studies shall appoint a supervisor for each student.

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 study. 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

B

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 regulation 5 of these regulations; and

(ii) the Board of Studies may not terminate studies prematurely

according to (b) until it has first given the student a chance to be heard.

(3) The role of the supervisor shall cease when the dissertation is

submitted for examination but may be re-assumed, on the advice of the Board of

Examiners, in order to provide guidance to students whose dissertation is referred

back for significant correction pending final acceptance.

(1) Each dissertation shall be examined by a Board of Examiners,

composed of at least three members, one of whom shall normally be a local

examiner from one of the Partner Institutions. The Board of Examiners may

additionally also include an external examiner appointed from an institution

external to the Partner Institutions.

(2) Students may be required to take a viva voce examination to

defend their dissertation and this may also be conducted using electronic means of

communication if so approved by the Board of Studies.

Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory may be allowed by

the Board of Studies, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, to re-

submit it in a revised form, within a period of up to six months from the day on

which it is referred back to them.

Award of the Degree

(1) Students who obtain the 120 ECTS credits shall be eligible for the

award of the Degree.

(2) The names of students who qualify for the award of the Degree

shall be published in a list in alphabetical order.

(3) The Degree shall be awarded jointly by the University and any of

the Partner Institutions at which the student has completed at least 30 ECTS credits.

€0.72