under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

B

L.N. 32 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 Social Work

under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

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 for Social Wellbeing 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 2018 in terms of

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

Master of Social Work under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.

(2) In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires -

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing;

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

of Social Work;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Social Work;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Social

Care Studies;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Care

Studies; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.”

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Applicability

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

2017 or later.

Requirements for Admission

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

following qualifications

(a) a Bachelor degree from this University or any other higher education

institution recognised by Senate, obtained with at least Second Class Honours in

Social Policy, Psychology, Youth and Community Studies or Social Wellbeing

Studies; or

(b) a Bachelor degree from this University or any other higher institution

recognised by Senate, obtained with at least Category II in any two of the following

areas of study: Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology or Social Studies; or

(c) a Bachelor degree from this University or any other higher institution

recognised by Senate, obtained with at least Category II in Theology with Psychology

or Social Studies or Sociology; or

(d) a Bachelor degree from this University or any other higher institution

recognised by Senate, obtained with at least Second Class Honours or Category II in

any discipline not mentioned above.

(2) Apart from being in possession of one of the qualifications indicated

in paragraph (1) of this bye-law, all applicants shall

(a) present a letter of attestation demonstrating that they have social-care

related experience which they would have engaged in not less than three years prior

to the commencement of the Course, provided that

(i) applicants admitted under sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph

(1) of this bye-law shall be required to have a minimum of 150 hours of experience;

and

(ii) applicants admitted under sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph (1) of this

bye-law shall be required to have a minimum of 500 hours of experience;

(b) present written reflections about their social-care related experience during

an interview;

(c) not be included in the Register established under the Protection of Minors

(Registration) Act (CAP. 518); and

B

(d) demonstrate that they have the necessary aptitude and disposition to follow

the Course with profit.

(3) (a) Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by means

of a personal interview and group discussion. Interviews shall be conducted by an

interviewing board composed of at least three members, appointed by the Board for

the purpose.

(b) Applicants who obtain less than 60% for the professional aptitude

and disposition criterion shall automatically not be admitted into the Course.

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

recommendation of the Board, shall determine the number of applicants that may be

allowed to register for the Course. The number of places shall be announced at the

time of the call for applications.

(5) When the number of applicants that may be admitted to the Course is

limited in terms of paragraph (4) of this bye-law, and the number of applicants who

satisfy the aptitude criterion as specified in paragraph (3) of this bye-law exceeds the

number of places available, applicants shall be selected according to the following

criteria, which shall be weighted as follows

(a) degree type and classification – 30%;

(b) social-care related experience – 15%;

(c) professional aptitude and disposition – 50%; and

(d) references – 5%.

(6) Applications for the Course shall be submitted by the deadline

announced by the University of Malta. 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.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

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

of 120 ECTS credits are assigned, and shall comprise 60 ECTS credits for taught

study-units, 30 ECTS credits for two work placements, and 30 ECTS credits for a

dissertation.

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(2) 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.

(3) Students who obtain the 60 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 Diploma.

In cases where students lack essential knowledge in the subject area, the

Board may require students admitted to the Course to follow and pass supplementary

study-units to which a maximum of 12 ECTS credits are assigned in addition to the

programme of study specified in bye-law 5 of these bye-laws.

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 10

ECTS credits for taught study-units if following the part-time Course, shall be given

the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessment during the September supplementary

examination session.

(3) Students who fail to pass in a work placement shall not have the right

to a supplementary assessment in the same academic year but shall be required to re-

do the work placement during an additional year of studies. Such an additional year

shall not be counted for the purpose of Course duration.

(4) 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 and shall be required to

withdraw from the Course.

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.

B

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

fourth 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 of the dissertation and a detailed research proposal

shall be submitted 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 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

(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 Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the Course.

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