under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

L.N. 199 of 2019

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2019 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

for the Degree of Master of Arts in Contemporary Family Studies - M.A. -

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 2019 in terms

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

of Master of Arts in Contemporary Family Studies - M.A. - 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 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 Contemporary Family Studies - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Contemporary Family

Studies - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in

Contemporary Family Studies - P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary

Family Studies - 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

2019 or later.

Requirements for Admission

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of a Bachelor’s

degree from this University, or another higher education institution recognized by

Senate for the purpose, obtained with at least Second Class Honours in Psychology,

Social Work and/or Education, or in an area of study related to a caring profession

including Nursing or Midwifery, or in any other area related to Social Sciences,

deemed relevant by the Board.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in 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 60 ECTS credits are assigned to taught study-

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

Students who successfully complete a prescribed set of study-units

totalling 30 ECTS credits for 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 the 60 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 Diploma.

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 by the Board of Studies 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, if following the Course full-time, or not more than 10

ECTS credits if following the Course part-time, shall be given the opportunity to re-

sit the failed assessment 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

approximately 20,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board

of Studies.

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

semester of 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.

(3) A provisional title of the dissertation and a research proposal shall

be submitted to the Board of Studies for approval by the beginning 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 study. 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 relevant 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.

Repeal

The Bye-Laws of 2014 in terms of the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the Degree of Master in Family Studies

under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, published as Legal Notice

283 of 2012, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from the 1st October 2019,

provided that students registered for this course before the 1st October 2019 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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