under the auspices of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences

L.N. 395 of 2020

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2020 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards 2008

for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts

under the auspices of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74 (5) and 75 (6) of the

Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor the University of Malta has promulgated

the following bye-laws made by the Board of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge

Sciences 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 2020 in terms

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

of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts under the auspices of the Faculty of

Media and Knowledge Sciences.

(2)

In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge

Sciences;

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

of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital

Arts; 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

2020 or later.

Areas of Study

The Course shall be offered in any area of study which benefits from a

project-based approach, including disciplines from the digital arts, media arts, visual

arts, sound arts, graphic design, photography and interdisciplinary practice that falls

within the academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by Senate.

Requirements for Admission

(1)

The Course is open to applicants in possession of either

(a) a Bachelor’s degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours

or with placement in Category II from this or another university, in the Creative Arts

and/or Media or any other area as deemed relevant by the Board, together with a

substantial portfolio of recent works; or

(b) a professional qualification/qualifications and/or experience

deemed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, to satisfy in part the admission

requirements to the Course, provided that applicants may be required to complete a

preparatory programme as specified in bye-law 5, together with a substantial portfolio

of recent works.

(2) All applicants who are not in possession of a first degree in the

Creative Arts and/or Media shall be interviewed and evaluated by an interviewing

board composed of at least three members. Applicants shall be asked to provide

evidence of their professional experience in the Creative Arts and/or Media by means

of a portfolio.

(3) All prospective applicants are required to establish contact with

the Department in order to discuss their proposal prior to formal application.

Preparatory Programme

(1) All applicants may be required to follow a preparatory programme

as specified by the Board.

(2) The preparatory programme shall comprise not less than 30 and

not more than 60 ECTS credits as directed by the Board. Applicants shall be required

to obtain an overall average mark of 55% or better in the preparatory programme

prior to their registration as regular students on the Course.

Course Duration

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

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

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

total of 90 ECTS credits are assigned.

(2) The programme of study will be undertaken primarily by studio-

based or practice-based research. The detailed programme will vary depending on the

theme of research, but shall normally include a project and/or a portfolio of original

studio-based or practice-based or project-based work, as exhibited through a project

and/or a portfolio of work and a written dissertation.

(3) The programme of study shall comprise taught study units to

which 10 ECTS credits are assigned and a research component to which 80 ECTS

credits are assigned, as approved by the Board, of which 15 ECTS credits are assigned

to the dissertation.

(4) The programme of study shall be published by the Board 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 the taught study-units

shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments at the September

Supplementary Assessment Session. Students who after re-assessment fail to obtain

credit for any study-unit, shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

The Project and/or a Portfolio of Work and the Dissertation

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation

of not less than 15,000 words, exclusive of notes, bibliography and appendices, in

accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

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

the Course after approval of the proposal by the Board.

(3) The provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at the time of application.

The project and/or portfolio of work shall comprise studio-based or

practice-based or project-based work related to the theme of research as approved by

the Board.

Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance

and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

Students shall be required to sit for a viva voce examination focusing on

the project and/or portfolio of work and the dissertation.

Panel of Supervision

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

normally composed of three members as follows: Head of Department, or his or her

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

supervisor, provided that when the Head of Department is the supervisor, he or she

shall not chair the panel.

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

of students in their work for the project and/or a portfolio of work and a written

dissertation, 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 for the students under their supervision.

Students shall seek approval from said Panel for any substantial modification in

the title or content of the project and/or portfolio of work and the dissertation. The

project and/or portfolio of work and the dissertation may not normally be submitted

for examination without the approval of the supervisor.

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

writing, on the general performance of each student for the project and/or portfolio

of work and the dissertation. Such advice may include recommendations to either (a)

extend the period of study in order to enable the student to complete the project and/

or portfolio of work and 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 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 relevant Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the

Course.

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