under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

L.N. 351 of 2021

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2021 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 for the

Degree of Master of Science in Pharmacotoxicology - M.Sc. -

under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

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 Medicine and Surgery 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 2021 in terms of

the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 for the Degree of

Master of Science in Pharmacotoxicology - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Faculty

of Medicine and Surgery.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery;

“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 Science in Pharmacotoxicology - M.Sc.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Pharmacotoxicology

- M.Sc. ;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in

Pharmacotoxicology - P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Pharmacotoxicology - P.G. Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2021.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in

October 2021 or later.

Requirements for Admission

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery; or

(a)

(b) the degree of Master of Dental Surgery, (or the degree of Bachelor of

Dental Surgery obtained with at least Second Class Honours if awarded prior to July

2018); or

(c) the degree of Master of Pharmacy, (or the degree of Bachelor of

Pharmacy (Honours) obtained with at least Second Class Honours if awarded prior to

July 2012); or

(d) an Allied Health Sciences degree which includes a pharmacology

component, obtained with at least Second Class Honours; or

(e) a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Science,

Pharmacology, or any other area of study which includes a pharmacology component

and is deemed suitable by the Board of Studies, obtained with at least Second Class

Honours or Category II.

(2) 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 number of available places at the time of the

call for applications.

(3) When the number of places is so limited and the number of eligible

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

the following criteria, the weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call

for applications

degree class;

(a)

experience in the area of the proposed study; and

(b)

performance during an interview, if deemed necessary.

(c)

(4) Interviews, if necessary, shall be conducted by a board composed

of at least three members appointed for the purpose by the Board.

(5) For the purpose of selection, applicants who fully satisfy the entry

requirements by 31st August preceding the commencement of the Course shall be

considered first.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over two or three years of 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 are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

Students who successfully complete a prescribed set of study-units

totaling 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 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 10 ECTS credits shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed

assessments during the September assessment 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 required to withdraw from the Course.

Dissertation

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

approximately 15,000 to 20,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by

the Board of Studies.

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

two semesters of the Course; provided that students wishing to complete the Course

over two calendar years shall be allowed to work on the dissertation during the two

summer periods following the taught semesters. Such students will be required to

inform the Board of Studies of this decision by not later than the first semester of the

second year of the Course.

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

proposal shall be submitted to the Board of Studies for approval by the beginning of

the third semester.

(1)

Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies progress reports

for each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of studies. 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

the extension of the study period referred to in (a) shall be in

(i)

accordance with the provisions of 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 the components of the programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

€0.36