under the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering

L.N. 244 of 2023

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2023 in terms of the Doctor of Philosophy –

Ph.D. - Degree Regulations, 2023 for the

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering

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

Engineering 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 2023

in terms of the Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - Degree Regulations,

2023 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. -under the

auspices of the Faculty of Engineering.

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Engineering;

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

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Engineering;

“FICS” means any Faculty, Institute, Centre or School; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the Doctor of Philosophy –

Ph.D. - Regulations, 2023.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable from 1 October 2023 onwards.

Requirements for Admission

(1)

Applicants for the Degree offered by the Faculty shall be in

possession of one of the following degrees obtained in the last fifteen years prior

to registration

(a) a Master’s degree, in an area of study related to Engineering, Science,

ICT or Mathematics; or

(b) a Bachelor Honours degree in an area of study related to Engineering,

Science, ICT or Mathematics obtained at First Class Honours or Second Class

Honours (Upper Division), provided that the Faculty Doctoral Committee

(i) ascertains that applicants have a very strong background in the area

of study related to the proposed area of research; and

(ii) submits a clearly motivated recommendation for acceptance to the Board

for eventual consideration by the Doctoral Academic Committee and Senate; or

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

indicated in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of this bye-law.

(2) Applicants in possession of one of the degrees indicated in paragraph

(1) of this bye-law obtained more than fifteen years prior to their application

may apply and are required to produce sufficient proof of their competence to

carry out research at the required level.

(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, as detailed in the Principal

Regulations.

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

skills required by the nature of the proposed research.

Faculty Doctoral Committee

The Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment of a Faculty

Doctoral Committee composed as follows

The Dean of the Faculty or delegate as Chair,

4 heads of department or their delegates.

All members of the Faculty Doctoral Committee must be

resident academics.

Taught Study-Units

When the Board deems it necessary, it may require students to

successfully complete a number of study-units during the course of their studies,

under those conditions that it may impose, after approval by Senate. Students shall

successfully complete such study-units with an overall average mark of at least 60%

before they apply to transfer their studies from the M.Phil. degree to the Ph.D. degree,

in accordance with the provisions of the Principal Regulations.

Transfer Assessment Board

The Transfer Assessment Board shall be composed of an examining

Chair, an internal examiner, and the Principal Supervisor. The Chair and the

internal examiner shall normally be resident academics, provided that one of these

shall normally be a Faculty member from a department different from where the

student is registered, or from another FICS where this is necessary to provide the

appropriate range of expertise for the assessment of the research carried out.

Transfer of Registration from the M.Phil. Degree to the Ph.D. Degree

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 a report

on their research work, for consideration by the Transfer Assessment Board

appointed by Senate. The Transfer Assessment Board would give favourable

consideration to work published or accepted for publication in refereed technical

journals or conferences.

Transfer Report Presentation and Format

The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and

presentation of the transfer report.

Board of Examiners for M.Phil. and Ph. D. Degrees

(1) The Board of Examiners for Ph.D. degrees shall include a Chair,

who shall be a resident academic, a visiting external examiner, and two internal

examiners who shall normally be resident academics. One of the internal examiners

shall normally be a Faculty member from a department different from where the

student is registered, or from another FICS where this is necessary to provide the

appropriate range of expertise for the assessment of the research carried out. The

Chair shall only act as a convenor.

(2) The Board of Examiners for M.Phil. degrees shall include a Chair,

who shall be a resident academic, a visiting external examiner, and two internal

examiners who shall normally be resident academics. One of the internal examiners

shall normally be a Faculty member from a department different from where the

student is registered, or from another FICS where this is necessary to provide the

appropriate range of expertise for the assessment of the research carried out. The

Chair shall only act as a convenor.

Thesis Presentation and Format

The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and

presentation of the thesis for the Degree.

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

submit to the Faculty two hard bound copies of the thesis and one copy in digital

format within six weeks from the publication of their result. The Degree shall not

be conferred on students who do not comply with the provisions of this bye-law.

Repeal

The Bye-Laws of 2009 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 Faculty of Engineering, published as Legal Notice 313 of 2009,

shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from 1 October 2023.

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