under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing

L.N. 184 of 2022

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Master in Disability Studies

Degree Course Regulations, 2022

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 regulations made by the Senate of the University of Malta by virtue of

the powers conferred upon it by articles 75(3) and 79(b)(v) of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Master in Disability Studies

Degree Course Regulations, 2022.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

“the Admissions Committee” means the admissions committee composed of

the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing or his delegate, and at least two other

academic members appointed by the Board, which shall be set up for the purposes

of the selection of applicants for the Programme, and which shall be responsible for

submitting a recommendation to the Admissions Board of the University to such

effect;

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing;

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies responsible for the academic

administration and organisation of the Course, which shall include representatives

from each Partner Institution;

“the Course” means the programme of study developed by the Partner

Institutions leading to the joint degree of Master in Disability Studies;

“the Degree” means the joint degree of Master in Disability Studies;

“the Partner Institutions” means the University of Malta and the University

of Leeds;

“the Partner University” means the University of Leeds;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Disability

Studies – P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Disability

Studies– P.G. Dip.;

“the Senate” means the Senate of the University of Malta; and

“the University” means the University of Malta.

(3) This Degree is a joint Master degree of the University and this shall be

taken to mean that the Course is taught in collaboration with the Partner University

within the framework of a joint degree programme. The Degree shall only be awarded

if both Partner Institutions declare the student to be eligible for the award.

Applicability

These regulations shall apply to courses commencing in September

2022 or later.

Qualifications for Admission

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

following qualifications

(a) a Bachelor degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits and obtained

with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or equivalent; or

(b) any first cycle degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits, classified

with at least Category II or Second Class Honours and at least three years of relevant

work experience.

(2) The Admissions Committee may, after thorough examination of

documents submitted in support of the qualifications presented, and following an

interview, recommend the admission of applicants applying for admission in terms

of the University’s Policy for the Recognition and Accreditation of Prior Learning

(RPL) who are in possession of other academic or professional qualifications and

documented experience if these are deemed to be comparable to the qualifications

referred to in paragraph (1) of this regulation. The admission of such applicants may

be made subject to those conditions, including financial conditions, that may be

imposed to address any lacunae in the applicants’ academic preparation.

(3) All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that they have the

necessary aptitude and disposition to follow the Course with profit.

(4) Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by

means of a personal interview conducted by an interviewing board appointed for the

purpose. The interviewing board shall be composed of at least three persons and be

administered solely by the University. Interviews may be conducted by electronic

means of communication with applicants.

(5) Applicants are required to demonstrate that their standard of

English is satisfactory. The offer of a place on the Course may be made subject to the

applicants obtaining such proficiency qualifications prior to the commencement of

their studies.

(6) Proficiency in English may be certified by the following: IELTS

obtained with at least 6.5 and a minimum 6.0 in each element, or comparable. English

native speakers and students who have attended a Bachelor’s course in an English-

speaking country shall not be required to submit this certification.

(7) Depending on the availability of resources, Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board of Studies, shall determine the number of applicants

that may be allowed to register on the Course. The number of available places, and

the criteria for selection, shall be announced at the time of the call for applications.

Application and Registration

(1) All applications must be made online via the University’s website

(um.edu.mt) in accordance with the published instructions and before the deadlines

stated on the website.

(2) Applicants who are selected to join the Course shall be registered

as students at both Partner Institutions.

Course Duration

(1) The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study

which shall be spread over one calendar year.

(2) The Board of Studies may allow students to extend their studies

by not more than six months in order to complete the project, provided that in special

circumstances, Senate, on the recommendation of the Board of Studies, may grant

students a further extension of up to two years in order to enable them to complete

their studies.

(3) If students following the Course supported by a scholarship

require an extension, the scholarship shall not be extended. Such extensions may be

given in terms of the applicable regulations of the Partner Institutions.

Programme of Study

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

total of 90 ECTS credits shall be assigned, comprising taught study-units assigned

60 ECTS credits and a project to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned. The Board

shall publish the programme prior to the commencement of the Course, following the

approval of Senate.

(2) The programme of study shall be delivered through a blend of in

person and online teaching. When lectures are delivered in person, all students shall

be required to attend lectures at the University.

Catalogue of Study-Units

The Partner Institutions shall make publicly-available the details of the

Programme, indicating the level, code, title, description and type of each study-unit,

the ECTS credits assigned to each study-unit, the methods of teaching and assessment,

as well as the re-assessment opportunities for each study-unit.

Assessment and Progress

(1) Senate shall appoint a Board of Examiners for each study-unit

undertaken at the University, in accordance with the provisions of the University

Assessment Regulations.

(2) The assessment of each study-unit shall be completed by the end

of the semester in which the teaching of the study-unit is held.

(3) Results for the assessment of the study-units and the project shall

be published as a percentage mark and grade as indicated below

Mark Range

Grade

80% - 100%

A

70% - 79%

B

55% - 69%

C

50% - 54%

D

45% - 49%

E

0% - 44%

F

provided the minimum pass mark for the project shall be 50%.

(4) Students who fail in any of the taught study-units shall be allowed

one re-assessment. The re-assessment shall be held at the next scheduled examination

session (May or September) as the case may be. The maximum mark/grade that can

be awarded after re-assessment of taught study-units shall be 45%/Grade E.

(5) Students who fail in the project shall be allowed a re-examination

in terms of paragraph (2) of regulation 11 of these regulations. The maximum mark/

grade that can be awarded after re-examination shall be 50%/Grade D.

(6) Students who obtain 30 ECTS for taught study-units and opt not

to proceed with the Course, or having proceeded do not successfully complete the

Course, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate.

(7) Students who obtain 60 ECTS for taught study-units and opt not

to proceed with the Course, or having proceeded do not successfully complete the

Course, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

Project

(1) Students who are eligible, will proceed to the project study-unit,

which they shall be required to carry out in accordance with the guidelines issued by

the Board of Studies.

(2) Work on the project shall be undertaken during the final semester

of the Course. Students shall submit for approval a title and a detailed project proposal

by the deadline and in the format specified by the Board of Studies.

(3) Students shall be required to familiarize themselves with, and

adhere to the instructions and guidelines as set out in the Project Guidelines provided

by the Board of Studies.

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

substantial modification in the title or content of the project.

(5) Projects shall include a declaration signed by the students that it is

their own original work.

(1) The Board of Studies shall appoint a supervisor for each

student and, where applicable, a co-supervisor or advisor, at least one of whom is a

representative of one of the Partner Institutions.

(2) The supervisor and, where applicable, the co-supervisor or

advisor, shall follow the progress of students, provided that this progress is reviewed

at least once.

(3) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor and, where applicable, the co-supervisor or advisor.

(4) Supervisors shall periodically inform the Board of Studies,

submitted in a format agreed by both Partner Institutions, on the general performance

of each student under their supervision. Such reports may include a recommendation

to either (a) extend the period of study in order to enable the student to complete the

project; or (b) to 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 outlined in Regulation 5 of these regulations; and

(ii) the Board of Studies may not terminate studies prematurely

according to (b) until it has first given the student a chance to be heard.

(1) Each project shall be examined by a Board of Examiners composed

of at least three members, representing each of the Partner Institutions. The Board of

Examiners may additionally also include an external examiner appointed from an

institution external to the Partner Institutions.

(2) Students whose project is found unsatisfactory may be allowed

by the Board of Studies, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, to re-

submit it in revised form within a period of up to six months from the day on which

it is referred back to them.

Joint Master Award of the Degree

(1) Students who successfully complete the 90 ECTS credits included

in the programme of study for the Course shall be eligible for the award of the Degree.

(2) The overall evaluation of each student’s performance in the Course

for the purpose of the classification of the Degree, the Postgraduate Certificate and

the Postgraduate Diploma, shall be based on the results obtained, all credits awarded

being weighted equally.

(3) The names of students who qualify for the award of the Degree or

Postgraduate Diploma shall be classified as Pass with Distinction, Pass with Merit or

Pass, in accordance with the following guidelines

Final Weighted Average Mark

Classification

80% - 100%

Pass with Distinction

70% - 79%

Pass with Merit

50% - 69%

Pass

(4)

The Postgraduate Certificate shall be awarded unclassified.

General Provision

In matters not provided for by these regulations, the Board and the Board

of Studies shall be guided by the provisions of the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2021, published as Legal Notice 371 of 2021, as applicable.

€0.63