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

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.332

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP UNDER

THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

THEOLOGY

18th November, 2008

LEGAL NOTICE 295 of 2008, as amended by Legal Notices 126 of 2009,

6 of 2010, 252 of 2017 and 170 of 2022.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Spiritual Companionship under the

auspices of the Faculty of Theology.

(2)

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

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

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

degree of Master of Arts in Spiritual Companionship;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Spiritual

Companionship;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Spiritual Companionship;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Spiritual Companionship; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2021.

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in

October 2017 or later.

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

(a) a Bachelor degree in Theology, Religious Studies or

related areas of study, obtained with at least Second

Class Honours or with at least Category II or at least

Cum Laude; or

(b) a Bachelor degree in any area of study together with

experience related to Spiritual Companionship.

(2) The Faculty Admissions Committee may, after thorough

examination of documents submitted in support of the

qualifications presented, and following an interview, recommend

the admission of applicants applying for admission in terms of the

University’s Policy for the Recognition and Accreditation of Prior

Learning (RPL) who are in possession of other academic or

professional qualifications and documented experience if these are

deemed to be comparable to the qualifications referred to in

paragraph (1) of this bye-law. The admission of such applicants

may be made subject to those conditions that may be imposed to

address any lacunae in the applicants’ academic preparation.and

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

experience that together are deemed to be comparable to the level

of a first degree.

(3) All applicants shall satisfy the Board through an interview,

that they have the necessary academic background, professional

aptitude and disposition to follow the Course with profit. The

interview shall be conducted by an interviewing board appointed by

the Board, and shall be composed of at least three members.

(4) All applicants shall submit a Police Good Conduct Certificate

issued by the Commissioner of Police in terms of the Conduct

Certificates Ordinance.

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, of which 60 credits are

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

dissertation study-unit.

(1) Students who obtain the 30 credits assigned to the

taught study-units in the first semester with an average mark of at

least 50% and do not proceed with the course, shall be eligible for

the award of the Postgraduate Certificate.

(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.

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 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 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 15,000 - 20,000 words in accordance with

the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation may 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.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

(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) 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 pursued 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.