under the auspices of the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies

L.N. 35 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 Science in

Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies - M.Sc. -

under the auspices of the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies

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 Centre for

Distributed Ledger Technologies in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article

8 (b)(v) of the Statute for the Centre, which bye-laws have been approved by the

Senate of the University of Malta

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 Science in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies - M.Sc. -

under the auspices of the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Centre for Distributed Ledger

Technologies;

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

the Course, on the recommendation of the Board;

“the Centre” means the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies;

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

of Science in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Blockchain and

Distributed Ledger Technologies;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in

Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies - P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Blockchain

and Distributed Ledger Technologies - 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

February 2019 or later.

Areas of Study

The Course shall be offered in any one of the following areas of study,

or in any other area of study that falls within the academic responsibility of the

Board

a.

(a)

Information and Communication Technology;

a.

(b)

Law and Regulation; and

a.

(c)

Business and Finance.

Requirements for Admission

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

a Bachelor degree from this University with at least Second Class (Honours) or

Category II in the areas of Business, Economics, Finance, Law, Management,

Information Technology, or in any other area which the Board deems appropriate.

(2) Applicants in possession of a Bachelor degree from this

University with Third Class Honours or Category III in the disciplines highlighted

in paragraph (1) of this bye-law may apply if they are also in possession of other

qualifications or have at least five years of relevant work experience, obtained

following the first cycle degree. The admission of applicants under this bye-law

may be made conditional on the results of an assessment as the Board may deem

appropriate.

(3) Applicants for the mainly taught programme of study shall

specify their choice of one of the areas of study indicated in bye-law 3 at the time of

submitting their application.

(4) Eligible applicants may register as visiting students for

individual study-units and obtain credit for them. Should they be accepted to join

the Course within seven years from following the first study-unit, the Board may

allow the transfer of these credits to the student’s academic record for the Course.

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

that may be allowed to register on each area of study, depending on the availability

of resources. The number of available places shall be announced at the time of the

call for applications.

(6) When the number of places for any area of study is so limited

and the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of available places,

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 classification; and

(b)

work experience or documented experience in the chosen area of

study.

(7) If deemed necessary, the Board may require applicants to attend

for an interview. Performance during the interview, which shall be conducted by

an interviewing board composed of at least three members, shall be taken into

consideration in the selection process.

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 may be either mainly taught or mainly by

research, and shall comprise study-units to which a total of 90 ECTS credits shall be

assigned.

(1) The mainly taught programme of study shall comprise taught

study-units to which a total of 60 ECTS credits are assigned and a dissertation

study-unit to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned.

(2) Students who obtain 30 ECTS credits for taught study-units

with an average mark of at least 50% and do not proceed with the Course shall be

eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate.

(3) Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits for 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.

The mainly by research programme of study shall comprise a taught

study-unit to which 5 ECTS credits are assigned and a dissertation study-unit to

which 85 ECTS credits are assigned.

In cases where applicants lack essential knowledge in particular areas

not covered in their first degree, the Board, on the recommendation of the Board of

Studies or the applicant’s Panel of Supervision, may require the applicant to follow

and pass supplementary study-units at level 4 or lower to which not more than 12

ECTS credits are assigned.

Programmes 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 in any academic year fail in the assessment of

not more than 20 ECTS credits if following the mainly taught Course on a full-

time basis, shall be given the opportunity to resit the failed assessments during the

September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of

not more than 10 ECTS credits if following the mainly taught Course on a part-

time basis, shall be given the opportunity to resit the failed assessments during the

September supplementary examination session.

(4) Students who fail in the taught study-unit of the mainly by

research programme shall be eligible for a resit at the September supplementary

session.

(5) Students who fail in more than the number of credits permitted

under paragraphs (2) and (3) 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 in the Mainly Taught Programme of Study

(1) In the mainly taught programme of study, structured as detailed

in bye-law 7, students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation (30

ECTS credits) of not more than 15,000 words in accordance with the guidelines

issued by the Board of Studies. The dissertation must also satisfy the Board of

Examiners as regards content and presentation.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken 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) 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.

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

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

dissertation.

(5) 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 studies, whether the

student is following the Course on a full-time or part-time basis.

(6) Reports submitted by supervisors may include recommendations

to (a) either 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.

Dissertation in the Programme of Study by Research

(1) In programmes of study mainly by research, structured as

detailed in bye-law 8, students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation

(85 ECTS credits) of not more than 40,000 words in accordance with the guidelines

issued by the Board of Studies. The dissertation must also satisfy the Board of

Examiners as regards content and presentation.

(2) Applicants for the programme mainly by research shall submit

(a) a provisional title; and (b) a provisional research proposal with their application

for approval by the Board.

(1) Each student shall be assigned a supervisor by the Board who

shall provide guidance and advice during the period of study, starting from the

formulation of a detailed written research proposal.

(2) Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time during

the Course after approval of the proposal.

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

normally composed of three members as follows: the Director, or his or her delegate

as chairperson and two other members, one of whom being the research supervisor,

provided that when the Director is the supervisor, he or she shall not chair the Panel.

(2) Panels of Supervision shall follow, as they deem fit, the progress

of students throughout the Course, provided that they meet at least once a year to

review such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisor 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 Panels of Supervision or Boards of Studies reports

regarding the students under their supervision. Students shall seek approval from

the Panel of Supervision for any substantial modification in the title or content of

the dissertation.

(5) Panels of Supervision or Boards of Studies, as appropriate,

shall periodically inform the Board, in writing, on the general performance of each

student. Such advice 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 the conditions specified in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (6)

of bye-law 12 shall also apply in these cases.

Classification of the Awards

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification

of the Postgraduate Diploma and the Degree shall be based on the results obtained

in all the 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.

€0.54