Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy

B

L.N. 363 of 2018

EDUCTION 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 - M.Sc. – under the auspices of the

Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy

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 of Economics, Management

and Accountancy 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 Science - M.Sc. - offered under the auspices of the Faculty of Economics,

Management and Accountancy.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Economics, Management and

Accountancy;

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

of Science - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science - M.Sc.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in the relevant

areas of study - 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.

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Areas of Study

(1) The Course shall be offered in any combination of areas of study

that fall within the academic responsibility of the Board. Subject to approval by

Senate, the Board may also allow any of the areas of study offered by the Faculty to

be offered jointly with other areas of study which fall under the responsibility of other

academic entities within the University.

(2) The permissible combinations of areas of study shall be published

by the Board before the commencement of each Course and after approval by Senate,

provided that in any year, combinations of areas of study shall be offered depending

of the availability of resources.

Requirements for Admission

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Commerce from this University, in the same

or in related areas of study as one of the areas of study applied for, obtained with

at least Category II and with a minimum average mark of 65% in one of the two

proposed areas of study in the Degree; or

(b) the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from this University, in

the same or in related areas of study as one of the areas of study applied for, obtained

with at least Second Class Honours

provided that subject to the submission of a portfolio covering at least 3 years’

experience in relevant areas, the Board may consider also applicants in possession of

the degree obtained with Third Class Honours; or

(c) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Business and IT from

this University, obtained with at least Second Class Honours; or

(d) the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and Computing from this

University, obtained with at least Category II and with a minimum average of 65% in

the Business area

provided that subject to the submission of a portfolio covering at least 3 years’

experience in relevant areas, the Board may consider also applicants in possession of

the degree obtained with Category III; or

(e) a first cycle degree from this University obtained with at least Second

Class Honours or Category II in an area deemed appropriate by the Board

provided that such applicants shall be required to submit a portfolio covering

at least 3 years’ experience in relevant areas, and

provided further that such applicants shall be required to attend for an interview

to allow the Board to assess their suitability to follow the Course with profit; or

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(f) a first cycle degree from any university that is equivalent to the

qualifications set out in paragraphs (a) to (e) of this bye-law.

In appropriate cases, 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 11.

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 combinations of areas of study and the number of

available places at the time of the call for applications.

When the number of places is so limited and the number of eligible

applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall be selected

according to the following criteria, the weighting of which shall be published at the

time of the call for applications

(a)

degree type and classification;

(b)

experience in the proposed area of study;

(c)

performance during an interview; and

(d)

motivational letter.

Interviews, when necessary, shall be conducted by a board appointed

for the purpose composed of at least three members and chaired by the Dean of the

Faculty or his/her delegate.

For the purpose of selection, applicants whose qualifications as stipulated

in bye-law 4 were obtained by 31 August preceding the commencement of the Course

shall be considered first.

Course duration

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study which

shall include a summer period.

Programme of Study

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

of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 60 ECTS credits are assigned to taught

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

(2) Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught study-

units 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 90 ECTS credits as outlined in the programme of study for the Course with an

average mark of at least 50%.

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(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 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 of

up to a maximum of 20,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the

Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken primarily during the

third 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) Students must submit a provisional title for the dissertation and a

detailed research proposal to the Board for approval by the end of the first 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 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 may not terminate studies prematurely according to (b) above

until it has first given the student a chance to be heard.

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Classification of 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.

Repeal

The Bye-Laws of 2017 in terms of the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the degree of Master of Science in Strategic

Management and Marketing, published as Legal Notice 241 of 2017, shall be deemed

to cease to be in force as from 1 st October 2018, provided that students registered for

this course before the 1 st October, 2018 shall continue to be governed by the bye-laws

that were in force at the time of their joining the course.

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