under the auspices of the Faculty of Education

B

L.N. 362 of 2018

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2018 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2018 for the

Degree of Master of Arts in Social Practice Arts and Critical Education - M.A.

-

under the auspices of the Faculty of Education

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 Education 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 Arts in Social Practice Arts and Critical Education - M.A. - under the

auspices of the Faculty of Education.

(2)

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

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

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

the Course, on the recommendation of the Board;

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

of Arts in Social Practice Arts and Critical Education - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Social Practice Arts and

Critical Education - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Social

Practice Arts and Critical Education - P.G.Cert.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

B

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 Bachelor

degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours or with at least Category II in

theatre studies, fine arts, art education, drama education or any other area deemed

relevant by the Board

provided that applicants in possession of a degree with Third Class Honours or

Category III shall satisfy the Board that they are in possession of other qualifications,

including relevant experience, obtained following the first cycle degree.

(2) In exceptional cases the Admissions Board, on the recommendation

of the Board, may admit into the Course applicants not in possession of a first degree,

provided that it is satisfied that such applicants are in possession of other relevant

academic or professional qualifications and experience that together are deemed to

be comparable to the level of a first degree in the areas indicated in paragraph (1) of

this bye-law.

(3) The admission of applicants may 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.

(4) 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.

(5) 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 type and class;

(b)

experience in the area of the proposed study; and

(c)

performance during an interview.

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

stipulated in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this bye-law were obtained by 31 August

preceding the commencement of the Course shall be considered first.

B

Course Duration

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

Programme of Study

The programme of study shall comprise study-units to which a total of

90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 30 ECTS credits are assigned to taught study-

units and 60 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain the 30 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 Certificate.

Students shall be eligible for the award of the Degree if they obtain

the 90 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 10 ECTS

credits, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the

September supplementary examination session.

(3) 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 the

credits for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have failed the Course.

Dissertation

(1) Students shall be required to submit a practice-based project and

an individual dissertation of approximately 18,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

(2) Work on the project and dissertation shall be undertaken at any

time during the Course after approval of the research proposal. Each student shall

be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis

during the period of study.

B

(3) The theme of the project and a provisional title for the dissertation

accompanied by a provisional research proposal of approximately 300 words shall

be submitted at the time of application. The title for the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal outlining the proposed project and the main questions to be

addressed shall be submitted to the Board of Studies for approval by the beginning of

the second semester.

(1) The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each student,

normally composed of three members as follows: the Dean of the Faculty, or his/

her delegate as Chairman, and two other members, one of whom being the principal

supervisor, provided that when the Dean of the Faculty is the supervisor, s/he shall

not chair the Panel.

(2) The Panel of Supervision shall follow, as it deems fit, the progress

of students throughout the Course, provided that it meets at least twice a year to

review such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisors at least

once every two months, and in addition as often as the supervisor deems necessary.

(4) At the end of each semester of studies, supervisors shall be

required to submit to the Panel of Supervision reports regarding the students under

their supervision. Students shall seek approval from the Panel for any substantial

modification in the title or content of the dissertation.

(5) The Panels of Supervision shall periodically inform the Board,

in writing, on the general performance of each student. 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 Award

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification of

the Degree shall be based on the results obtained in all components of the programme

of study, all credits being weighted equally.

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