DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - PH.D. - DEGREE REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.101

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - PH.D. - DEGREE

REGULATIONS

18th November, 2008

LEGAL NOTICE 293 of 2008, as amended by Legal Notices 117 of 2009,

388 of 2010, 179 of 2011, 296 of 2013, 240 of 2014, 164 of 2015 and 382 of

2016.

(1) The title of these regulations is the Doctor of

Philosophy - Ph.D. - Degree Regulations.

(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,

the terms used shall be taken to mean as indicated in the Glossary

of Terms listed hereunder

Glossary of Terms

Term

Explanation

Board

the board of the University faculty or institute

or centre where the research will be carried out

Committee

the Ph.D. Committee appointed by Senate

Faculty

the University faculty or institute or centre

offering the degree

Faculty Doctoral t h e c o m m i t t e e e n t r u s t e d t o o v e r s e e e a c h

Committee

s t u d e n t ’s r e s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s a n d d o c t o r a l

studies

M.Phil. Degree

the degree of Master of Philosophy - M.Phil.

Ph.D. Degree

the degree of Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D.

Principal

the main supervisor assigned to students with

Supervisor

responsibilities as outlined in regulation 31

These regulations shall be applicable from October 2016

onwards.

(1) Applications for registration for the Ph.D. Degree shall

be accepted by Senate, on the recommendations of the Board and of

the Committee, under such conditions as Senate deems fit to

impose.

(2) The Committee shall be appointed by Senate for three years

and shall be composed as follows

The Rector (or his delegate) as Chairman

Three members elected from and by the Senate

The Registrar, who shall also act as Secretary

The Dean of the Faculty or the Director of the Institute

or Centre where the research will be carried out.

Applicants shall be accepted to register for the Ph.D.

Degree after it is ascertained by Senate that the Faculty where the

research will be carried out can provide suitable facilities for the

proposed research as well as supervisors who can provide regular

supervision taking account of their academic record and expertise

and other commitments.

(1) The Ph.D. Degree shall be awarded upon the successful

defence of a thesis containing original and significant contributions

to knowledge in one of the areas of study studied at the University.

The thesis, presented after an appropriate period of supervised

research, shall consist of the students’ account of their

investigations and research and shall offer evidence of originality

by the discovery of new facts, the development of new theory and/

or by the exercise of independent critical power and constitutes an

addition to knowledge. The thesis or parts thereof should be of

peer-reviewed publishable quality.

(2) Students shall comply with the provisions of these

regulations and of the Faculty Ph.D. Degree bye-laws and shall also

satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other relevant

statutes, regulations and bye-laws of the University, including

applicable ethical, and health and safety procedures.

(3) In accordance with the provisions of Statute 3, where the

University, with the approval of Senate, enters into an agreement

with other universities for the granting of a joint or double degree,

then the Ph.D. Degree may be awarded

(a) in the case of a joint degree, jointly on one certificate

by all the partner universities and shall be conferred at

one of the partner universities as agreed among them;

or

(b) in the case of a double degree, separately by each

partner university.

(1) The Committee shall consider applications for the

Ph.D. Degree from applicants who possess a Master degree of the

University of Malta or another university, normally in the same

area of studies applied for. In certain cases, the Committee may

also consider other qualifications if deemed to be appropriate.

(2) Bye-Laws may provide that applicants in possession of a

degree obtained at First Class Honours or Second Class Honours

(Upper Division) may also apply, provided that the Faculty

Doctoral Committee

(a) ascertains that the applicant has a very strong

background in the area of study related to the proposed

area of research; and

(b) submits a clearly motivated recommendation for

acceptance to the Board of the Faculty for eventual

consideration by the Ph.D Committee and Senate.

(3)

Applicants are required to be in possession of appropriate

qualifications to demonstrate that their standard of English is

satisfactory. The offer of a place to read for the Ph.D. Degree may

be made subject to the applicants obtaining such proficiency

qualifications prior to the commencement of their studies.

(4) In addition to the qualifications specified in sub-regulations

(1), (2) and (3), applicants shall also possess such qualifications

and satisfy such other conditions as the Board may from time to

time establish for the purpose and which shall be approved by

Senate in the form of bye-laws.

(1) Applications may be submitted at any time of the year

but students shall be registered with effect from one of the

following dates: 1 October, 1 December, 1 February, 1 April, and 1

June.

(2) Applications for the Ph.D. Degree shall include the

following

(a) the provisional title for the thesis;

(b) a

detailed

research

proposal,

normally

of

approximately 1000 words;

(c) a statement on whether the studies will be undertaken

on a full-time or a part-time basis, and, in the latter

case, the number of hours that shall be dedicated to

this research work;

(d) a statement by a member of staff of the University who

has agreed to act as Principal Supervisor;

(e) a recommendation from the head of department or the

division co-ordinator that the research topic is

acceptable;

(f)

where appropriate, a request to present the thesis in a

language other than English; and

(g) where appropriate, a request to undertake the research

outside the University.

In the case of applicants from outside Malta, funding and

visa requirements shall be taken into consideration when the

application and research programme are being considered.

Accepted applicants shall register for the M.Phil. Degree in

the first instance. Senate may allow the transfer of registration from

the M.Phil. Degree to the Ph.D. Degree if the conditions laid down

in regulation 37 have been satisfied.

(1) Applicants shall be interviewed by the Faculty

Doctoral Committee with the participation of the applicants’

designated Principal Supervisor in order to assess the applicants’

ability and potential to reach doctoral level. Where it is not

practical to hold an interview, appropriate alternative means of

judging suitability must be found to the satisfaction of the

Committee. The result of the interview shall be made available to

the Committee, together with the Board’s recommendation, for its

consideration.

(2)

The Faculty Doctoral Committee shall submit its report for

the consideration of the Board.

The Committee shall recommend to Senate the acceptance

of all applications which satisfy the requirements outlined in

regulations 6 and 7.

Accepted applicants shall be expected to enrol by the date

indicated to them in accordance with regulation 7(1). The offer to

applicants who do not so enrol shall lapse.

Students shall seek the approval of Senate, following a

recommendation by the Board, on the advice of the Faculty

Doctoral Committee, for any substantial modification in the title or

content of their thesis.

(1) Theses shall be written in English, except that theses

in areas of study involving a language may be written in that

language.

(2) However, a Board may allow students to write their thesis

in any other language, provided that the Board has ascertained, to

the satisfaction of the Sub- Com mittee and Senate, that the

University has the necessary expertise to supervise and examine the

work. In such cases, students shall be required to include a

translation of the abstract in English.

(1) Senate may allow students to undertake research in

collaboration with research institutions other than universities if

such collaboration would

(a) extend the student’s own experience;

(b) provide a wider range of expertise to assist in the

development of the research work; and

(c) enable the student to become a member of a wider

research community.

(2) Such collaboration shall normally involve essential access

by the student to one or more of the following resources of the

collaborating research institution: taught study-units, equipment,

facilities, premises, supervision by staff, data.

The University may allow students on doctoral

p r o g r a m m e s to p a r t i c i p a t e i n r e s e a r c h p r o je c t s w h e r e d a ta

generated jointly by a group of researchers is used for the writing

of theses, provided that each student writes a separate thesis.

Any research undertaken by students which involves direct

contact with patients or healthy participants, whether clinical,

biomedical or social research, or the secondary use of existing

human materials or specimens, or involving animals must be

subject to ethical review. Such review must be undertaken by the

Research Ethics Committee appointed by Senate for the purpose.

These research proposals shall first be considered by the Board

who shall submit the proposal to the Research Ethics Committee.

The Committee and Senate shall only consider such applications if

the Research Ethics Committee has given its approval.

All students who undertake their research work at the

University shall be encouraged to undertake a period of study at an

overseas higher education and/or research institution in order to

gain wider research experience.

Applicants may be accepted to register for the Ph.D.

Degree and to work mostly away from the University, provided

that

(a) they shall work in a field of major relevance to the

University department in which their research is to be

carried out;

(b) the facilities at the place in which they will be carrying

out their research shall be equivalent to or better than

those of the department or complementary to those of

the department and are essentially required for the

work; the department concerned shall provide written

evidence of this to the Board;

(c) they shall normally spend a total of at least three

weeks per semester on the Malta campus during which

period they shall hold meetings with the Principal

Supervisor; and

(d) an adviser is appointed to follow the student regularly

at the off-campus place of study/research.

(1) Studies for the Ph.D. Degree shall extend over three

years of full-time study or six years of part-time study. If the nature

of the work or the research so demands, the Committee may

recommend to Senate a longer period.

(2) In the case of students accepted in terms of regulation 6(2),

the period of full-time study shall normally extend for not less than

four years.

(3) On the recommendation of the Board and the Committee,

Senate may grant students an extension of studies of up to two

years in order to enable them to complete their studies, irrespective

of whether they are registered on a full-time or a part-time basis.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (1), in

exceptional circumstances, the Senate, on the recommendation of

the Board and the Committee, may give permission for the

submission of a thesis after the equivalent of two years of full-time

study or four years of part-time study have expired from the date of

first registration.

Full-time students may not engage in employment which is

likely to interfere with the progress of their research and must

inform the University about the extent of their employment

commitments.

(1) Doctoral students engaged as full-time research

assistants by the University may be allowed to register on a full-

time basis, provided that their research falls within the area of

research for their thesis.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of regulation 20, the

minimum period of study for doctoral students holding full-time

appointments as research assistants at the University shall be three

years.

Early submission shall not affect any laboratory bench fee

liability.

On the recommendation of the Board and of the

Committee, the S enate may allow stud ents, for a goo d and

sufficient reason, to suspend their studies for a maximum period of

twelve months, irrespective of whether they are registered on a

f u ll - t im e o r a p a r t -t i m e ba s is . I n s uch c a s e s , th e p e r io d o f

suspension of studies shall not be taken into consideration for

calculating the period of registration for the Ph.D. Degree in terms

of the duration requirement.

Senate may allow students to change their mode of study

from full-time to part-time or from part-time to full-time, whenever

feasible. The period of registration shall be recalculated on the

basis of the proportion of time during which the students were

studying in each mode.

(1) Students are required to enrol with their home Faculty

at the beginning of each academic year throughout their period of

study.

(2) Such enrolment shall be allowed only on the submission of

a s a t i s f a c t o r y pr o g r e s s r e p o r t fr o m th e s t u de nt s ’ P r in c i p a l

Supervisor.

(1) Bye-laws may specify that the Ph.D. Degree shall

include study-units intended to develop skills and competencies as

required for the proper execution of the research or to introduce the

students to specialist areas related to their doctoral research or to

provide preparation for future careers. The Board shall submit the

programme of study for Senate’s approval.

(2) Students shall successfully complete the programme of

study during the first part of their studies.

(1) Examiners shall be governed by

the

General

Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards.

(2) In order to remain registered on the M.Phil. degree,

students must maintain an average mark of 60% in the study-units,

which shall be calculated at the end of the semester or year, as

applicable.

(1) Full-time doctoral students may be required to support

the Faculty’s t eachin g a ctivities and/or provide laboratory

demonstration service for up to a maximum of one hundred hours a

year, provided that these duties do not conflict with their research

work and that students may be exempted from this requirement for

a good and valid reason.

(2) The criteria used in assigning such duties to students shall

be equitable and transparent.

(3) Doctoral students involved in teaching shall be assigned a

mentor to whom they may turn for advice. They shall also be

provided with advice and facilities to ensure that they may teach

effectively. Students involved in demonstration work shall be

provided with instruction and guidance, including relevant safety

training.

(4) For such work, students shall be remunerated at standard

rates as approved by the University.

(1) When accepting an application for the Ph.D. Degree,

the Senate, on the recommendation of the Board and the

Committee, shall appoint a Principal Supervisor from among the

members of the academic staff of the University in accordance with

the provisions of regulation 4. Such a member of staff shall have

appropriate qualifications, including extensive knowledge and

research experience in the broad subject area of the student and

current involvement in research groups.

(2) Senate may also appoint a co-supervisor or adviser to

provide the link if the research is of an interdisciplinary nature or if

the research is being undertaken in collaboration with another

organisation.

(3) A Principal Supervisor, co-supervisor or adviser shall not

be related to a student by consanguinity or by affinity to the third

degree inclusive or have a dual relationship with the student.

(1) A Principal Supervisor shall be responsible for

providing guidance to students under his/her care in the following

areas

(a) offering ideas and providing guidance and

encouragement on the planning and progress of

research, submission of the thesis and publication of

the results;

(b) providing or arranging for instruction in research

methodology,

including

use

of

information

technology;

(c) guiding students in acquiring and improving

appropriate generic skills, including written and oral

communication, numeracy, decision-taking, and

organisational and management skills; and

(d) ensuring that the students are aware of the manner in

which research results are reported and that they

understand the implications of plagiarism and other

unbecoming academic practices.

(2) A Principal Supervisor shall meet students regularly to

review their progress. These meetings shall occur at least six times

a year for full-time students. Meetings may be substituted by other

means of communication.

(3) The supervisory role of Principal Supervisors, co-

supervisors and advisers shall cease when the thesis is submitted

for examination. The role may be re-assumed, on the advice of the

Board of Examiners, in order to provide guidance to students

whose thesis is referred back for significant correction pending

final acceptance.

(4) Principal Supervisors, co-supervisors and advisers are not

responsible for proof-reading theses. Neither is it their

responsibility to ensure that theses do not contain plagiarised parts.

(5) If plagiarism is detected by a supervisor in drafts or in the

final version of a thesis prior to the form al submission for

examination, the Principal Supervisor shall use discretion as to

whether to reprimand the student and demand corrective action or

report the matter to the Assessment Disciplinary Board, depending

on the gravity of the offence.

(6) The total number of doctoral students accepted for

supervision at any time by any single full-time academic shall be

limited to three, provided that if the academic can demonstrate to

the Committee that -

(a) he/she disposes of a research management structure

which facilitates communication and interaction

between supervisor and individual researchers; or

(b) he/she has less teaching commitments than normal,

then the Committee may authorise the supervision of a larger

number of doctoral students.

A co-supervisor may be appointed when the nature of the

research work makes it necessary or expedient to do so; the role of

co-supervisor is to act on a regular basis as consultant to the

research project.

One or more advisers may be appointed when it is

anticipated that particular aspects of the research work will

necessitate occasional significant consultation with one or more

experts.

When co-supervisors and/or advisers are appointed, the

Principal Supervisor shall retain the ultimate responsibility of

leadership in supervision.

(1) The Senate, acting on the advice of the Board, shall

also appoint a Faculty Doctoral Committee composed of between

three and five members, chaired by the Dean or his/her delegate,

the other members being normally heads of department.

(2) The Faculty Doctoral Committee shall follow, as it deems

fit, the progress of students in their research work, provided that it

shall meet at least once a year to review the progress of each

student.

(3) Principal Supervisors shall be required to submit regular

written progress reports on their students to the Faculty Doctoral

Committee. Students shall have a right to view the reports and to

make their own comments.

(4) If a Principal Supervisor leaves the University or is

otherwise unable to supervise, the Faculty Doctoral Committee

shall arrange for appropriate alternative advice and take steps to

ensure that the student’s research is not hindered or impeded. If the

absence is of a permanent nature, the Faculty Doctoral Committee

shall propose a new Principal Supervisor to the Committee and

Senate, through the Board.

(5) Students are also invited to submit annual reports to the

Faculty Doctoral Committee on the progress of their studies, which

shall include any problems that they may be encountering.

(6) Students who wish to change their Principal Supervisor

should discuss this matter with the Chairman of the Faculty

Doctoral Committee who shall recommend to the Board to make

adequate provisions to rectify the situation if reasonable grounds

are shown to exist and, where applicable, funding arrangements

permit.

The Faculty Doctoral Committee shall periodically inform

the Board, in writing, on the general performance of students. Such

advice may include a recommendation either to

(a) grant an extension of the study period in order to

enable the student to complete the thesis, provided that

the period of extension of studies shall be according to

regulation 20; or

(b) terminate the studies prematurely if this is deemed to

be proper in the circumstances, provided that the

student can appeal his/her case before Senate within

fifteen days from the notice of termination of studies.

(1) Senate may allow a transfer of registration from the

M.Phil. Degree to the Ph.D. Degree with the same research

proposal if the following conditions have been satisfied

(a) a satisfactory progress report from the student’s

Faculty Doctoral Committee has been received; and

(b) after 12 months and not later than 24 months of full-

time study (or the equivalent in part-time study) have

elapsed, and after successful completion of the

programme of study if applicable, an ad hoc board

appointed by the Board for the purpose, composed of a

chairman, the Principal Supervisor and another

member, has ascertained that

(i)

the student has completed successfully the

programme of study, if applicable; and

(ii) the quality of the research work presented by the

student has the potential to reach the standard

appropriate to that required of a doctoral degree

and recommends transfer.

(2)

The ad hoc board may

(a) establish that the student has not successfully

completed the programme of study, where such

programme is a component of the M.Phil. degree; or

(b) determine that the student’s research work has not

reached

a

sufficient

standard

to

warrant

recommendation of the transfer and advises re-

submission within a specified period; or

(c) advise that the student be given up to 12 months in

order to complete his/her studies for the award of an

M.Phil. Degree.

(3) The ad hoc board shall inform the Committee of the results

of its deliberations through the Board.

(4) If the transfer is allowed by Senate, the work already done

for the M.Phil. Degree shall count towards the requirements for the

Ph.D. Degree.

(5) If a student fails to present a request to transfer his studies

to the Ph.D. degree within the period stipulated in sub-regulation

(1)(b), the student would be required to submit a justifiable reason,

which Senate would consider following recommendations of the

Faculty Doctoral Committee, the Board and the Committee.

Not less than three months before the intended date of

submission, students shall signify their intention to the Faculty

Doctoral Committee to present their thesis stating its exact title.

The Faculty Doctoral Committee, after ascertaining that the period

of study conforms to that stipulated in these regulations, and that

the Principal Supervisor has given his opinion to the student

regarding the submission of his/her thesis for examination, shall

advise the Board to recommend to Senate the appointment of a

Board of Examiners.

(1) When presenting a thesis for examination, students

shall submit

(a) a signed declaration that the thesis is their own

personal work, and that the greater portion of the work

has been done after their registration for the Ph.D.

Degree;

(b) where appropriate, a statement declaring that a part of

the thesis has already been submitted for another

degree or qualification or that the thesis has been

published; and

(c) Principal Supervisors shall signify in writing, on the

appropriate form, that they are aware that the student

is submitting his/her thesis for examination by the

Board of Examiners.

(2) Students shall not discuss their work with the examiners

during the period between their appointment as examiners and the

oral examination.

The thesis shall be written in the prescribed format and

shall not exceed 100,000 words excluding bibliography, appendices

and abstract. The work presented shall conform to the established

scholarly standards of the appropriate discipline.

Boards of Examiners shall be governed by the General

Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards.

(1) Theses shall be examined by a Board of Examiners

appointed for the purpose by Senate, on the recommendation of the

Board, and shall include a Chairman, an external examiner, and at

least another member, provided that the oral examination of the

thesis shall be conducted by at least three examiners including the

external examiner.

(2) The members of the Board of Examiners shall be academics

experienced in research in the general area of the student’s thesis

and where practicable, shall have experience as specialists in the

topic to be examined, provided that two of the examiners, including

the external examiner, shall be academics who command authority

within the area of research concerned. Where the student is an

assistant lecturer at the University, a second external examiner

(normally non-visiting) must be appointed and whenever

practicable the local examiners shall be appointed from different

departments.

(3) Principal Supervisors, co-supervisors and advisers shall be

precluded from being examiners but the Principal Supervisor shall

be invited to attend as an observer during the oral examination. He/

she may contribute if invited to do so by the members of the Board

of Examiners but must withdraw prior to the final deliberations of

the Board of Examiners.

If a statement has been made as per regulation 39(1)(b), the

Board of Examiners set up under regulation 42(1) shall recommend

to Senate whether the thesis should be accepted for examination or

not.

(1) The examination of doctoral theses shall take place in

two stages

(a) submission by the student and preliminary assessment

by the Board of Examiners; and

(b) oral defence of the thesis.

(2)

In assessing a thesis, the Board of Examiners shall require

(a) evidence that it represents a significant contribution to

knowledge in a particular field of study;

(b) evidence of originality;

(c) evidence of the ability of the student to relate the

subject matter of the thesis to the existing body of

knowledge;

(d) evidence of the ability of the student to apply research

methods appropriate to the subject; and

(e) a satisfactory level of literary presentation.

(3) Each examiner shall submit an independent preliminary

report to the Chairman of the Board of Examiners. In the report,

each examiner shall consider whether the thesis provisionally

satisfies the requirements for the award of the Ph.D. Degree and

where possible, make an appropriate provisional recommendation

subject to the outcome of the oral examination.

(4)

The Board of Examiners shall admit the student to an oral

examination after either approving the Ph.D. thesis unconditionally

or subject to the correction of minor errors to the satisfaction of the

Principal Supervisor.

(5) If the Board of Examiners is not satisfied with the quality

of the thesis, it shall not admit the student to the oral examination

and shall either -

(a) refer the thesis back to the student for major revision

and resubmission within a minimum of six months and

a maximum of twelve months in revised form to the

satisfaction of the Board of Examiners; or

(b) not permit the student to resubmit in a revised form but

admit the student to an oral examination for the award

of the M.Phil. Degree instead; or

(c) refer the thesis back to the student for major revision

and re-submission within six months in a revised form

to the satisfaction of the Board of Examiners for the

award of the M.Phil. Degree instead; or

(d)

not grant permission to resubmit and state that no

degree be awarded,

provided that permission as in paragraphs (a) or (c) is granted once

only.

(1) Students shall be required to defend their thesis orally

before the Board of Examiners. The oral examination shall cover

the subject of the thesis and matters relevant thereto.

(2) The oral examination shall take place at the University of

Malta for all students.

(3) The Board of Examiners shall submit a final report

(together with the examiners’ individual reports) to Senate, which

shall include a reasoned statement regarding their judgement of the

student’s performance.

Students shall be informed of the date of the oral

examination at least three weeks before the scheduled date.

(1) Following the

oral

examination,

the

Board

of

Examiners shall either

(a) submit to the Committee and Senate a joint final report

including their recommendation relating to the award

of the Ph.D. Degree; or

(b) refer the thesis back to the student for major revision

and re-submission within six months in revised form

to the satisfaction of the Board of Examiners, and to

admit the student to a second oral examination, if the

Board of Examiners so decides.

(2) The joint final report shall provide sufficiently detailed

comments on the scope and quality of the work as apparent from

the written thesis and the oral defence. In addition to general

remarks about the strengths and any weaknesses of the thesis, the

report should include, as an annex, an itemised list of remarks

about any specific improvements or minor mistakes requiring

correction. This list shall be relayed to student for guidance in

improving the document. It shall be the responsibility of the

Chairman to ensure that any required corrections and amendments

to the thesis have been properly executed.

(3) In the joint final report, with the examiners’ preliminary

reports attached as annexes, the Board of Examiners may

recommend to Senate that

(a) the Ph.D. Degree be awarded if the thesis satisfies the

criteria set out in regulation 5(1) and (2); or

(b) the Ph.D. Degree be awarded subject to minor

amendments being carried out to the satisfaction of the

Chairman of the Board of Examiners within three

months of the official notification to the student by the

Board of Examiners; or

(c) the Ph.D. degree be not awarded and that the student

be either awarded the M.Phil. Degree or be declared to

have definitively failed.

(4) Where examiners are not in agreement, they shall follow

the relevant procedures as described in the University assessment

regulations. In any event, the separate reports of each examiner

shall be submitted to the Committee and Senate.

(5) When the disagreement cannot be resolved, and the

decision is taken by a majority vote, the Chairman shall so record

in the joint final report, provided that any disagreeing member may

submit a minority report giving reasons for the disagreement. In

such circumstances, Senate shall either agree to accept the majority

report or take any other measures it seems appropriate.

Students must abide by the University of Malta Intellectual

Property Policy.

In line with the University of Malta’s Institutional

Repository Policy, the University Library shall provide in open

access the electronic copies of the thesis and shall make them

publicly available on the University of Malta’s Institutional

Repository.

(1) Confidential information includes, but is not limited

to, training know-how, information, methodologies and manuals;

workbooks; statements of operating practice; specifications;

drawings; designs; formulae; discoveries; inventions; technical

information; know-how generally; lab notebooks; manuscript

papers; software; information about the methods, concepts and

techniques on which software is based; samples; finances; financial

models; pricing and other commercial information; business plans;

marketing plans; and any information considered to be sensitive by

the University Research Ethics Committee.

(2)

Students are bound not to disclose any confidential

information which may come into their possession and, or which

they are exposed to and/or which they have access to. Furthermore,

students may be asked by the University to sign specific

confidentiality agreements should it be deemed necessary.

(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-regulation (1), information

shall not be considered as confidential information if

(a) it was already known to the student and it was not

subject to any obligation of confidentiality by the

student to the University;

(b) it is or becomes publicly known without an act or

omission of the student;

(c) it is obtained by the student from a third party with a

valid right to disclose such confidential information,

provided that said third party is not under a

confidentiality obligation to the University;

(d) it is approved for release in writing by an authorised

representative of the University; or

(e) the student is specifically required to disclose pursuant

to a law or order of any Court of competent

jurisdiction.

(1) Where the student considers that assessable student

work should remain confidential during or after completion of the

programme of study or research, a request for it to be embargoed

must be made to the Library Committee. The Library Committee

shall consult with the Faculty concerned before taking a decision.

The period of embargo approved shall not normally exceed two

years from final submission of such work to the University.

However, in cases where publication of the assessable student work

would prove detrimental to the student or the University or the

sponsor or the funding body or the persons referred to in such

work, a further period may be approved.

(2) In any case and without prejudice to sub-regulation (1), the

University retains the right to request the embargo of assessable

student work. In the event that assessable student work is

embargoed, the student shall be bound to treat the contents of such

work as confidential and prior to any publication, the provisions

about publication and exploitation, as detailed in the University of

Malta Intellectual Property Policy shall apply in every case.

(1) Following successful defence of the thesis and prior to

the conferment of the Ph.D. Degree, students are required to

present two hard bound copies of the thesis to the Faculty, and one

electronic version for the University Library, which shall include a

signed declaration of authenticity. The electronic version must

conform to the standards set by the University of Malta Library.

(2) Doctoral theses shall each be assigned by the Registrar a

thesis identifier, consisting of a set of digits and letters, in order to

act as unique identifiers for the works.

These regulations shall apply mutatis mutandis in the case

of students being considered for the M.Phil. Degree.

The Senate may, on the recommendation of each Board,

approve bye-laws governing the Ph.D. Degree to regulate matters

not covered by these regulations.