under the auspices of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and

L.N. 25 of 2021

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2021 in terms of the Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - Degree

Regulations, 2008

for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. -

under the auspices of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and

Biobanking

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 Molecular Medicine and

Biobanking in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 7 (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 2021 in terms of the

Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - Degree Regulations, 2008 for the Degree of Doctor

of Philosophy – Ph.D. - under the auspices of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and

Biobanking.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and

Biobanking;

“the Centre” means the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking;

“the Degree” means the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - Degree

Regulations, 2008.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable from 1 October 2021 onwards.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants for the Degree shall be in possession of one of the following

degrees

(a) a Master’s degree, normally of this or another University, in an area of

studies relevant to that applied for, obtained subsequent to the completion of a first

cycle qualification;

(b) a Bachelor’s degree, with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division),

normally of this or another University, in an area of studies relevant to that applied

for;

(c) qualifications which the Board deems comparable to the degrees indicated

in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(1) Applicants may submit their application form, together with a

comprehensive research proposal outlining the proposed project, including research

sources and materials, at any time of the year.

(2) Applicants may also be asked to demonstrate competence in those

skills required by the nature of the proposed research.

(3) Applicants will be called for an interview to provide details of the

research project proposal that forms the core basis of the studies to be undertaken for

the Degree.

Centre Doctoral Committee

The Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment of a Centre Doctoral

Committee composed as follows

Chairman of the Centre or delegate

3 – 5 Members of the Centre.

Supervision and Students’ Progress

Principal Supervisors shall be required to submit a written report to the

Board, through the Centre Doctoral Committee, every June for all students under

their supervision.

Students shall only be allowed to proceed with their studies subject to

satisfactory progress reports from their Principal Supervisor. If the report is negative,

the Board shall make recommendations to Senate on the student’s continuing

registration for the Degree.

(1) After 12 months and not later than 24 months of full-time study

or the equivalent in part-time study have elapsed, students are required to submit

some chapters / report on their research work for consideration by an ad hoc board

appointed by the Board. The ad hoc board shall be composed of a chairman, who

shall be a member of Centre, and two examiners, one of whom shall be the Principal

Supervisor and the other an expert in the chosen field of study.

(2) The ad hoc board shall examine the student’s submission and

where appropriate provide an oral examination and shall submit a written report

for consideration by the Board following its apparisal by the Centre’s Doctoral

Committee in the first instance. The report may contain recommendations according

to the provisions of the Principal Regulations.

Students registered at the Centre shall be required to participate in the

Centre’s research and teaching programmes.

Thesis Presentation and Format

Six months before the submission deadline students shall be informed

that they are required to inform the Board through the Centre’s Doctoral Committee

that they will be submitting their thesis for examination not less than three months

before the submission deadline.

The Board shall recommend, after considering the Centre’s Doctoral

Committee appraisal, to Senate the appointment of the Board of Examiners in

accordance with the Principal Regulations.

The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and

presentation of the thesis for the Degree.

(1) Students shall be required to submit a loose bound copy of their thesis

for each member of the Board of Examiners, together with a copy in digital format.

The officer in charge of the Centre shall issue a dated receipt.

(2) On successful completion of their studies, students shall be required to

submit to two hard bound copies of the thesis and a signed declaration of authenticity

to the Centre and one electronic version for the University Library within six weeks

from the publication of their result. One hard bound copy of the thesis shall be kept

in the Library of the Centre. Students who do not comply with this bye-law shall not

be awarded the Degree unless a non-disclosure agreement has been signed prior to

the examination and the Library alerted to this fact accordingly.

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