BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF LAWS (LL.M) UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.207

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF LAWS

(LL.M) UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE FACULTY OF LAWS

20th March, 2009

LEGAL NOTICE 77 of 2009, as amended by Legal Notices 382 of 2010,

201 of 2013, 100 and 270 of 2015, 199 of 2016, 133 of 2018 and 168 of

2022.

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

Degree of Master of Laws (LL.M) under the auspices of the Faculty

of Laws.

(2)

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

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

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies appointed by

Senate for the Course, on the recommendation of the Board;

“the Course” means the programme of study leading to the

degree of Master of Laws - LL.M.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Laws - LL.M.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in the relevant area of study - P.G.Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

the relevant area of study - P.G.Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2021.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2018 or later.

The course shall be offered in any area of study that falls

within the academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by

Senate.

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of one

of the following qualifications

(a) the degree of Doctor of Laws; or

(b) a Bachelor degree in Law as the main area of study,

obtained with at least Second Class Honours or

Category II; or

(c) a degree from the University of Malta or any

recognised overseas institution which the Board

considers to be comparable to any of the degrees

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

provided that for the Degree in European and Comparative Law

o nly, th e Board of St udies m ay con si der also appli can ts in

possession of a Bachelor degree in European Studies, Political

S ci ence, E con om ics or i n any o the r area of stud y it d eem s

appropriate, if the first cycle degree presented for admission is

obtained with Second Class Honours or Category II.

The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study or the equivalent in part-time study.

The programme of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 credits shall be assigned.

The programme of study for any area of study offered in

the course may be either mainly taught or mainly by research.

Mainly taught programmes of study shall comprise taught

study-units to which a total of 60 credits are assigned and a

dissertation study-unit to which 30 credits are assigned.

Students who obtain 30 ECTS credits assigned to any

taught study-units with an average mark of at least 50% and do not

proceed with the course, or having proceeded do not successfully

c o m pl e t e t he co ur s e , sha ll b e e li gi bl e fo r t he aw a rd of t he

Postgraduate Certificate.

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.

Mainly research programmes of study shall comprise

study-units to which a total of 90 credits are assigned, of which

between 10 and 30 credits are assigned to taught study-units and

between 60 and 80 credits are assigned to the dissertation study-

unit.

Programmes of study shall be published by the Board 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 Course on a

full-time basis, or not more than 10 credits if following the Course on a

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

assessments during the September supplementary examination session.

(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) In mainly taught programmes of study, students shall

be required to submit an individual dissertation of between 15,000

and 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 or study.

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

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board of approval by

the beginning of the second semester.

(1) In programmes of study mainly by research, students

shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of

approximately 50.000 words in accordance with the guidelines

issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time

during the course after approval of the proposal by the Board. Each

student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance

and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

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

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at

the time of application.

(1) In all cases, students shall be required to have regular

contact with their supervisor.

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

the students 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.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS (LL.M)

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS