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

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN LAW

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.209

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN LAW UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

23rd March, 2010

LEGAL NOTICE 165 of 2010, as amended by Legal Notice 456 of 2014.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Law 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 course" means the programme of study leading to the

Degree of Master of Arts in Law;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Law;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Law; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2016 or later.

The course shall be offered in areas of study in law and

related areas that fall within the academic responsibility of the

Board, after approval by Senate.

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

the following qualifications

(a) for the mainly by research course

(i) the degree of Doctor of Laws; or

(ii) the degree of Bachelor of Laws with at least

Category II; or

(iii) the degree of Bachelor of Laws (Honours) with

at least Second Class Honours; or

(iv) equivalent qualifications to those listed in sub-

paragraphs (i) to (iii) above as approved by

Senate on the recommendation of the Board.

(b) For the mainly taught course

(i)

a Bachelor’s degree in law, including the degrees

of Bachelor of Arts in Legal and Humanistic

Studies and the Bachelor of Arts in Socio-Legal

Studies, obtained with at least Second Class

Honours or Category II; or

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN LAW

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

(ii) a first cycle qualification other than a degree in

law, classified with at least Second Class

Honours or Category II, in an area of study

related to law and to the programme of study as

approved by Senate; or

(iii) equivalent qualifications to those listed in sub-

paragraph (i), as approved by Senate on the

recommendation of the Board.

(2) Applicants may be required to sit for an interview before

being accepted for the course. The interview shall assess the

suitability of those applicants in regard to the particular programme

of study offered in the course for which they have applied. The

decision of the Board of Studies shall be final.

(3) Interviews shall be carried out by an Interviewing Board

set up for the purpose and consisting of at least three members.

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.

(1) The programme of study for any area of study offered

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

(2)

(a) 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.

(b) 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 a

Postgraduate Diploma.

(3) Mainly research programmes of study shall comprise

taught study-units to which 10 credits are assigned and a

dissertation study-unit to which 80 credits are assigned.

(4) 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 the taught study-units shall be held

by the end of the semester in which the teaching of the study-units

is completed, including the period reserved for end of semester

assessments.

(2) Students following a taught programme of study who in

any academic year fail in the assessment of not more than 20

credits, 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 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

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN LAW

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

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

withdraw from the course.

(1) In a mainly taught programme of study, students shall

be required to submit an individual dissertation of approximately

25,000 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 for the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by

the beginning of the second semester.

(1) In a mainly by research programme of study, students

shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of

approximately 50,000 words in accordance with the guidelines

regarding format issued by the Board. The dissertation must also

satisfy the Board as regards content and presentation.

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

during the course after approval of the research proposal. 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.

In all cases, students shall be required to have regular

contact with their supervisors, who 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 the Degree shall be

ba s e d o n th e r e s u l t s o bt a i ne d i n al l t he c o m p o ne n ts of t h e

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.