BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.334

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

18th November, 2008

LEGAL NOTICE 297 of 2008, as amended by Legal Notices 250 of 2017.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Religious Studies 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 Religious Studies;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Religious

Studies;

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate

in Religious Studies; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2017 or later.

The course shall be offered mainly by research in any area

of Religious Studies in which the Board can offer expert guidance

and supervision. Subject to the availability of resources, the areas

of study shall be indicated by the Board before the commencement

of the course.

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of

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

Honours in Religious Studies; or

(b) a Bachelor degree obtained with Category II or better

in Religious Studies; or

(c) a Bachelor degree in Religious Studies with at least

Second Class Honours or with at least Category II.

(1) Admission of applicants under bye-law 4(b) and (c)

shall be made conditional on the results of an interview and in such

cases the applicants shall be required to successfully complete a

preparatory programme of 30 credits obtained with an average

mark of 55% or better prior to their registration in the course.

(2) Preparatory programmes of study shall also be governed by

the Principal Regulations.

The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study or the equivalent in part-time study.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

The programme of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 credits are assigned, of which 30 credits are

assigned to taught study-units and 60 credits are assigned to a

dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain the 30 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 Certificate.

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 fail in the assessment of not more than 10

credits for taught study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-

sit the failed assessment during the September supplementary

examination session.

(3) Students who fail in more than 10 credits or students who

after reassessment 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 throughout the

course after approval of the proposal. Each student shall be

assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a

regular basis during the period of study.

(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 recommendations 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 Degree shall be based on the results obtained

in all components of the course programme, all credits being

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

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.