under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology

B

L.N. 361 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 in Theology – M.Th. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by sections 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 Theology in virtue of the

powers conferred upon it by section 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 in Theology - M.Th. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology.

(2)

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

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

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

in Theology - M.Th.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master in Theology - M.Th.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Theology

– P.G. Cert;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Theology –

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.

B

Areas of Study

The Course combines teaching and research in any area of Theology in

which the Board can offer expert guidance and supervision. The areas of study shall

be indicated by the Board in the Course Programme.

Requirements for Admission

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a Bachelor degree obtained with Second Class Honours or better in

Theology with a subsidiary area in Philosophy; or

(b)

a Bachelor degree obtained with Category II or better in Theology.

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

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

resources. The Board 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 will be selected using

the following criteria, the weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call

for applications

(a)

degree type and class;

(b)

experience in the area of the proposed study; and

(c)

performance during an interview.

(4) The admission of applicants under sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph

(1) of this bye-law shall be made conditional on the result of an interview conducted

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

for the purpose. Such applicants shall be required to follow a preparatory programme

as indicated in bye-law 5.

(5) For the purpose of selection, applicants whose qualifications as

stipulated in paragraph (1) of this bye-law were obtained by 31 August preceding the

commencement of the Course shall be considered first.

Preparatory Programme

Applicants admitted under sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) of bye-

law 4 shall be required to successfully complete a preparatory programme comprising

30 ECTS credits obtained with an average mark of 55% or better prior to their

registration in the Course.

B

Course Duration

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

Programme of Study

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 a dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain at least 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 at least 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.

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%.

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 indicated in

paragraph (2) of this bye-law or students who after reassessment 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 of

approximately 15,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

B

(2) Work on the dissertation may be undertaken after approval of the

proposal. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance and

advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(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. 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 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 components of the programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

Equivalence

The degree of Master in Theology is equivalent to the canonical degree

awarded on successful completion of the first cycle of philosophical and theological

studies, as prescribed by the Apostolic Constitution Sapientia Christiana.

€0.36