the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

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L.N. 347 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

Biomedical Engineering (Biomechanics) - M.Sc. -

under the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering 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 Engineering 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 Biomedical Engineering (Biomechanics) - M.Sc. - offered under

the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

(2)

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

“the Boards” means the Boards of the Faculty of Engineering and 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 Engineering and

of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery;

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

of Science in Biomedical Engineering (Biomechanics) - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

(Biomechanics) - M.Sc.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Biomedical

Engineering (Biomechanics) - P.G.Dip.; and

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“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

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

following qualifications

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from this University,

or from any other higher education institution recognized by Senate, obtained with at

least Second Class Honours; or

(b) the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from this University or

equivalent obtained from any other higher education institution recognized by Senate;

or

(c) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) from this University, or

from any other higher education institution recognized by Senate, obtained with at

least Second Class Honours in one of the following areas: Medical Biochemistry,

Applied Biomedical Science (or Medical Laboratory Science), Physiotherapy,

Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or in another area of study deemed relevant by the

Board of Studies.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over two years (four semesters) of full-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 Engineering and the Dean of the Faculty

of Medicine and Surgery or their respective delegate;

(b)

two Course Co-ordinators, one appointed by each Faculty;

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(c) at least one academic member of staff from each of the two

faculties, representing the departments which contribute towards the delivery of the

programme; and

(d)

two students elected from amongst the students registered on the

Course.

Programme of Study

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

total of 120 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 90 ECTS credits are assigned to

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

(2) Students who obtain 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 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 120 ECTS credits as outlined in the programme of study for the Course with an

average mark of at least 50%.

(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 fail in the assessment of not more than 20 ECTS

credits for taught study-units in Year 1, and not more than 10 ECTS credits for taught

study-units in Year 2, 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 20,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by

the Board of Studies.

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(2) Depending on the nature of the research area, students may be

allowed to participate in joint research projects where data generated jointly by two

or more students is used for the writing of a dissertation, provided that each student

writes a separate dissertation.

(3) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the final year

of the Course. Each student or group of students shall normally be assigned two

supervisors who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the

period of study.

(4) 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.

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

their supervisors for any substantial modifications in the title or content of the

dissertation.

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

supervisors, who shall submit to the Board of Studies progress reports for the

student/s under their supervision at the end of each semester of the second year 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 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 of Studies 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.

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