under the auspices of the Faculty of Information and Communication

L.N. 308 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 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 articl e 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 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 Degree” means the degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D.;

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Information and Communication

Technology; and

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

Regulations, 2023.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable from 1 February 2024 onwards.

Requirements for Admission

(1) Applicants for the Degree offered by the Faculty shall be in possession

of one of the following degrees: a Master’s degree, or a Bachelor’s degree obtained

with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division), normally in the same area of

study applied for. In addition, the Master’s or Bachelor’s degree obtained must be

in Engineering, or Information and Communication Technology, or Mathematics, or

Science.

(2) The Degree is normally open to applicants who have obtained the

qualifications specified in paragraph (1) of this bye-law

(a) within the last ten years before applying for registration for the Degree; or

(b) if the qualification is older than ten years, if they produce sufficient proof

of their competence to carry out such a research degree, subject to approval by Senate

on the advice of the Board.

(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. The proposal shall include the research

questions to be addressed, the hypothesis to be tested, and the methodology to be

adopted in dealing with the research issues.

(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 (Chair)

3 – 4 Heads of Department or their delegates.

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, and/or to

satisfactorily undertake tasks recommended by the Board, under those conditions

that it may impose, after approval by Senate.

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

(1) Further to the provisions of the Principal Regulations, students shall

submit a written application requesting the transfer from the M.Phil. degree to the

Ph.D. degree, together with a summary of the work carried out by them, preferably

in the form of a technical report, for consideration by the Transfer Assessment Board.

The report shall also include any modifications to the original research proposal.

(2) The Transfer Assessment Board would give favourable consideration

to work published or accepted for publication in refereed technical journals and

conferences.

Research Seminars

The Faculty attaches great importance to the association of doctoral

students with other research students and members of staff. Students shall therefore

be required to participate fully and present in the research seminars of the Faculty

at least once per year, or equivalent in the case of part-time registration, during the

course of their studies.

Thesis Presentation and Format

The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and

presentation of the thesis for the Degree.

Further to regulation 47 (1) of the Principal Regulations, the Ph.D.

thesis shall not normally exceed 200 pages, exclusive of appendices, bibliographies,

glossaries, abstract, endnotes, and footnotes.

Procedure during Oral Examination

During the oral examination, the students are expected to present a

synopsis of the thesis of about 20 minutes, to provide a demonstration of the artefact

if so required, and then to answer questions posed by the members of the Board of

Examiners.

Repeal

The Bye-Laws of 2010 in terms of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

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

– under the auspices of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology,

published as Legal Notice 215 of 2010, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as

from 1 February 2024.

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