Faculty of Information and Communication Technology

L.N. 277 of 2022

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2022 in terms of the General Regulations for

University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 for the

Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons) -

under the auspices of the

Faculty of Information and Communication Technology

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 Information and

Communication Technology 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 2022 in terms of

the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 for the degree

of Bachelor of Science (Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons), under the auspices of the Faculty of

Information and Communication Technology.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Information and Communication

Technology;

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

of Science (Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons);

“the Certificate” means the Certificate in Computing;

“the Degree” means the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) - B.Sc.

(Hons);

“the Diploma” means the Diploma in Computing;

“the Higher Diploma” means the Higher Diploma in Computing; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Undergraduate Awards, 2019.

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in October

(1)

The degree shall be awarded in any one of the following areas of

(a) Computing Science;

(b) Computer Engineering;

(c) Microelectronics and Embedded Systems.

(2) The areas of study offered in any particular year shall be published

by the Board at the time of the call for applications.

Special Course Requirements

(1)

To be registered as regular students in the Course applicants shall

(a) satisfy the special course requirements listed in paragraphs (2)

and (3) of this bye-law;

or (b) as from October 2023 onwards, be in possession of the Certificate

in ICT Foundation Studies from this University.

(2) (a) Applicants for the Computing Science area of study applying

in terms of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) of this bye-law shall satisfy the general

entry requirements for admission as specified in the Admissions Regulations of the

University and be in possession of

(i) passes at Advanced Matriculation Level at Grade C or better in Pure

Mathematics and in any other subject; and

(ii) a pass at Intermediate Matriculation Level in any subject (excluding the

subjects presented at Advanced Level).

(b) If applicants have other qualifications considered to be

sufficient, they may be exempted by the University Admissions Board, on the advice

of the Faculty Admissions Committee, from the whole or part of these special course

Applicants for the Computer Engineering and Microelectronics

(3)

and Embedded Systems areas of study applying in terms of sub-paragraph (a) of

paragraph (1) of this bye-law shall

either

(a) satisfy the general entry requirements as specified in the

Admissions Regulations of the University and be in possession of

(i) passes at Advanced Matriculation Level at Grade C or better in Pure

Mathematics and in one of the following subjects: Applied Mathematics, Physics,

Biology, Chemistry, and Computing; and

(ii) a pass at Intermediate Matriculation Level in Physics, if not presented at

Advanced Level

or

(b) be in possession of

(i) passes in the Secondary Education Certificate Examination including

English Language, Mathematics and Maltese; and

(ii) the MCAST-BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in an area deemed to

be relevant to the Course by the Board;

or

(c) be in possession of the Certificate in Engineering Sciences

from the University.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over a period of three years of full-time study or

the equivalent in part-time study.

Course Programme

(1) Applicants shall be required to indicate their choice of area of study

at the time of application for admission.

(2)

The Course shall consist of study-units to which 180 ECTS credits

shall be assigned.

(3)

The Board shall publish the programme of study for each area of

study before the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.

Subject to changes that the Board may, with the approval of Senate, be constrained to

make, students are bound to follow the study-units and obtain the credits as indicated

in the programme of study of the area of study they are following for the Degree.

Students who successfully complete study-units to which 30 ECTS

credits are assigned and opt not to proceed with the Course or, having proceeded, do

not successfully complete the Course, shall be entitled to the Certificate.

Students who successfully complete study-units to which 60 ECTS

credits are assigned and opt not to proceed with the Course or, having proceeded, do

not successfully complete the Course, shall be entitled to the Diploma.

Students who successfully complete study-units to which 120 ECTS

credits are assigned and opt not to proceed with the Course or, having proceeded, do

not successfully complete the Course, shall be entitled to the Higher Diploma.

Classification of the Award

(1) The Final Weighted Average mark for the classification of the degree

of Bachelor of Science (Honours) offered on a full-time basis shall be based on the

results obtained in the three years of the Course and shall be weighted as follows

First Year Average Mark

20%

Second Year Average Mark

40%

Third Year Average Mark

40%.

(2) The Final Weighted Average Mark for the classification of the Diploma

and Higher Diploma shall be based on the results obtained in all the study-units, with

all credits awarded 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.

The Course may be offered on a flexible part-time basis with the following

special provisions in terms of the provisions outlined in the General Regulations

for University Undergraduate Awards, applicable with the necessary changes needed

(mutatis mutandis) owing to the part-time nature of the course

(a) During each academic year, students shall be allowed to register for a

number of study-units as agreed with the Course Coordinator, to which not less than

12 ECTS credits are assigned, provided that registration for the study-units included

in the programme of study for each course year (60 ECTS credits) is spread over not

more than 3 academic years.

(b) In order to progress regularly from one course year to the next, the 60

ECTS credits of each course year must be completed in not more than 3 academic

years.

(c) Students who are absent for the assessment of a study-unit, or fail in the

assessment of a study-unit, shall, if eligible, be required to take the assessment of any

number of such incomplete study-units at the September assessment session or at the

next available opportunity.

(d) If necessary, students may be allowed to refer the assessment of the study-

unit to the next academic year, provided that not more than 12 ECTS credits may be

referred from one course year to the next.

(e) The assessment of study-units that may be referred to the next academic

year shall be considered as additional to the minimum number of credits (12 ECTS)

that students are obliged to register for during any academic year.

(f) Students who, after having registered for all the study-units comprising

the programme of a course year, and after the September session lack more than 12

ECTS credits to complete the programme for the course year, may be allowed, if

eligible and after academic advice, to refer them to the next academic year during

which they shall not be allowed to register for any other study-units. If such an

academic year is needed in addition to the maximum period of three years referred to

in (b), it shall be considered as an additional year.

(g) Students who, after having registered for all the study-units comprising

the programme of the final year, may, if necessary and if eligible, refer any incomplete

study-units to an additional academic year.

(h) An additional year, whether required in terms of paragraphs (f) or (g) may

be granted once only throughout the Course, unless in special circumstances and with

the approval of Senate.

(i) Students registered on the flexible part-time programme must obtain the

approval of the Course Coordinator before they are registered on the study-units they

wish to follow in any academic year.

(j) Subject to approval by the Board, students registered on the Course

may be allowed to change the mode of attendance from full-time to flexible part-

time or vice-versa at the beginning of the second year of the regular programme of

study. Changes in mode of attendance in any subsequent year of the Course may be

considered by the Board, if the course programme permits.

(k) Notwithstanding the provisions in the General Regulations for

Undergraduate Courses, owing to the nature of the course when offered on a flexible

part-time basis that allows for a longer duration than normal, students registered on

such a flexible part-time course programme shall not be entitled to ever repeat a

course year in its entirety, nor to an extension year after each course year.

Repeal

The Bye-Laws of 2013 in terms of the General Regulations for University

Undergraduate Awards, 2019 for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) –

B.Sc. (Hons) – under the auspices of the Faculty of Information and Communication

Technology, published as Legal Notice 194 of 2013, shall be deemed to cease to be

in force as from 1 st October 2022, provided that students registered for this course

before 1 st October 2022 shall continue to be governed by the bye-laws that were in

force at the time of their joining the course.

€0.54