BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER IN CONTEMPORARY DIPLOMACY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS

DEGREE OF MASTER IN CONTEMPORARY DIPLOMACY

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.165

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER IN

CONTEMPORARY DIPLOMACY UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS

2nd December, 2008

LEGAL NOTICE 317 of 2008, as amended by Legal Notices 219 of 2017

and 43 of 2022.

(1) The title of these bye-laws is the Bye-Laws for the

degree of Master in Contemporary Diplomacy under the auspices

of the Faculty of Arts.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Arts;

"the course" means the programme of study leading to the degree

of Master in Contemporary Diplomacy;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master in Contemporary

Diplomacy;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Contemporary Diplomacy; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in February 2018 or later.

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a Bachelor degree obtained with at least Second Class

Honours or with at least Category II in an area of study

deemed relevant by the Board; or

(b) appropriate professional qualifications, together with

sufficient related professional experience, that are

acceptable to the Senate and deemed comparable to the

qualifications in paragraph (a) by the Board.

The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study or the equivalent in part-time study.

(1) The programme of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 credits shall be assigned.

(2)

The course shall be conducted in three phases as follows

(a) Phase One: An Introductory Workshop, which shall be

organized at the University of Malta or at a venue

assigned by the University of Malta, to which 15

credits shall be assigned. The workshop shall focus on

intensive research and study skills for diplomacy and

international relations;

DEGREE OF MASTER IN CONTEMPORARY DIPLOMACY

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS

(b) Phase Two: Online Learning, which shall be conducted

via the Internet, to which 45 credits shall be assigned;

and

(c) Phase Three: Research work and the writing of a

dissertation, to which 30 credits shall be assigned.

Students who obtain the 60 credits assigned to the taught

study-units covered during Phase One and Phase Two with an

average mark of at least 50% and do not proceed with the course, or

having proceeded do not successfully complete the dissertation,

shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

The programme of study shall be published after approval

by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the course.

(1) The assessment of each taught study-unit shall be

completed by the end of the semester in which the unit is held.

(2) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of

not more than 20 credits, if following the course full-time, or not

more than 10 credits if following the course part-time, shall be

given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments the next time

the study-unit is available.

(3) Students who fail in more than the number of credits

permitted under paragraph (2), or students who after re-assessment

fail to obtain the credits for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have

failed the course.

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 25,000 words, in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board. The Board may prescribe a

different length if the nature of the research so requires.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the

third semester of the course. Each student shall be assigned a

supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular

basis during the period of study.

(3) A provisional title of the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by

the beginning of the second semester.

(1) Students shall be required to have regular contact with

their supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports for

each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of

studies, whether the student is following the course on a full-time

or a part-time basis. Such reports may include a recommendation to

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

to complete the dissertation; or (b) 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 of

Principal Regulations; and

DEGREE OF MASTER IN CONTEMPORARY DIPLOMACY

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS

(ii) the Board may not terminate studies prematurely

according to (b) until it has first given the

student a chance to be heard.

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the

classification of the Postgraduate Diploma and of the Degree shall

be based on the results obtained in all the components of the

programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

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.