BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A. - UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.350

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER

OF ARTS IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER

OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A. - UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL

WELLBEING

23rd October, 2009

LEGAL NOTICE 285 of 2009, as amended by Legal Notices 413 of 2010,

412 of 2013, 217 of 2014, 292 of 2017 and 127 of 2020.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Social Work - M.A. - or Master of Arts

in Social Policy - M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty for

Social Wellbeing.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for Social

Wellbeing;

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

degree of Master of Arts in Social Work - M.A. - or Master of Arts

in Social Policy - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work

- M.A. - or Master of Arts in Social Policy - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Social Work or Social Policy - P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Social Work or Social Policy - P.G. Dip.; and

"the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2020 or later.

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants who are in

possession of the following qualifications

(a) a Bachelor degree from this University or any higher

education institution recognised by Senate, in Social

Policy, Psychology, Youth and Community Studies or

Social Wellbeing Studies, obtained with at least

Second Class Honours and with a minimum average

mark of 65%; or

(b) a Bachelor degree from this University or another

higher education institution recognised by Senate,

obtained with at least Category II and with a minimum

overall average mark of 65% in any two of the

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

following areas of study: Anthropology, Psychology,

Sociology or Social Studies; or

(c) a Bachelor degree from this University or another

higher education institution recognised by Senate, in

Theology with Psychology or Social Studies or

Sociology, obtained with at least Category II and with

a minimum overall average mark of 65%; or

(d) a Bachelor degree from this University or another higher

education institution recognised by Senate, obtained with

at least Second Class Honours and with a minimum

average mark of 65% in any area of study.

(2) For the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy: a

Bachelor degree with at least Second Class Honours in

Social Policy or in any other area of study which the

Board deems to be relevant.

The Board shall recommend to Senate the number of

applicants that may be allowed to register for the course, depending

on the availability of resources. The number of available places

shall be announced at the time of the call for applications.

If there are more eligible applicants than the number of

places available, applicants shall be selected after an interview by a

board appointed for the purpose composed of at least three

members. The board shall select applicants using the following

criteria

(a) degree type and class - 30%;

(b) experience in the area of the proposed study - 35%;

and

(c) performance during an interview - 35%.

(1) Applicants admitted under bye-law 3(1)(b) shall be

required to complete a preparatory programme, comprising 45

credits as directed by the Board, prior to their registration as

regular students on the course. Only those applicants who obtain an

average of 65% or better in the preparatory programme shall be

considered for admission under bye-law 3(b).

(2) Preparatory programmes 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.

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.

Students who obtain a total of 30 credits for 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 taught

study-units, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate

Certificate in the respective area of study.

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

(1) Students who successfully complete the 60 credits

assigned to taught study-units with an average mark of at least 60% shall

be allowed to proceed 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 in the respective area of study.

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 the credits for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have

failed the course.

(1) 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 of 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

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

paragraph (a) shall be in accordance with the

provisions of the Principal Regulations; and

(ii) the Board may not terminate studies prematurely

according to paragraph (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 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.