BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ISLANDS AND SMALL STATES STUDIES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ISLANDS AND SMALL

STATES STUDIES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

INSTITUTE FOR ISLANDS AND SMALL STATES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.194

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN ISLANDS AND SMALL STATES STUDIES

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE

FOR ISLANDS AND SMALL STATES

9th April, 2010

LEGAL NOTICE 201 of 2010, as amended by Legal Notice 206 of 2013

and 200 of 2019.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Islands and Small States Studies under

the auspices of the Institute for Islands and Small States.

(2)

In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires

"the Board" means the Board of the Institute for Islands and

Small States;

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

of Master of Arts in Islands and Small States Studies;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Islands and

Small States Studies;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Islands and Small States Studies; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall apply to courses commencing in

October 2019 or later.

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class (Honours) or

Category II in an area of study deemed relevant by the Board.

(2) In exceptional cases the Admissions Board, on the

recommendation of the Board, may admit into the Course

applicants not in possession of a Bachelor’s degree, provided that it

is satisfied that such applicants are in possession of other academic

or professional qualifications and experience that together are

deemed to be comparable to the level of a first degree.

(3) The admission of applicants under paragraph (2) of this

bye-law shall be made after an interview during which their ability

to successfully complete the Course with profit shall be assessed.

(4) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be

composed of at least three members.

(5)

Eligible applicants may register as visiting students for

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ISLANDS AND SMALL

STATES STUDIES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

INSTITUTE FOR ISLANDS AND SMALL STATES

individual study-units and obtain credit for them. Should they be

accepted to join the Course within seven years from following the

first study-unit, the Board may allow the transfer of these credits to

the student’s academic record for the Course.

(6) In line with the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of

regulation 9 of the Admissions Regulations, applicants who do not

satisfy the requirements indicated in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this

bye-law may be allowed to follow individual study-units but shall

not be allowed to sit for the assessment of the study-units, provided

the lecturer concerned poses no objection thereto and is satisfied

that the individual has the necessary academic background to

follow the study-unit with profit.

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 are assigned, of which 60 credits are

assigned to taught study-units and 30 credits are assigned to the

dissertation study-unit.

(2) Students who obtain the 60 credits assigned to the taught

study-units 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.

(3) 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 teaching of the

study-unit is held.

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

of not more than 20 credits for taught study-units, if following the

full-time course, or not more than 10 credits if following the part-

time course, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed

assessments at the first practicable opportunity, as determined by

the Board.

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

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

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

failed the course.

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 20,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board.

(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

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ISLANDS AND SMALL

STATES STUDIES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

INSTITUTE FOR ISLANDS AND SMALL STATES

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 the

Principal Regulations; and

(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.