BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN MATRIMONIAL CANON LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE UNDER THE AUSPICES

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN MATRIMONIAL CANON

LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.373

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER

OF ARTS IN MATRIMONIAL CANON LAW

AND JURISPRUDENCE UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

9th April, 2010

LEGAL NOTICE 204 of 2010, as amended by Legal Notices 260 of 2017.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Matrimonial Canon Law and

Jurisprudence 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 Matrimonial Canon Law and Jurisprudence;

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

Canon Law and Jurisprudence;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Matrimonial Canon Law and Jurisprudence; 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.

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

of

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

Honours or Category II in a discipline related to

Theology, Laws, Social Work, or Psychology, and any

other area as deemed relevant by the Board; or

(b) a qualification deemed by Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board, to be equivalent to the

qualifications listed in paragraph (a) of this bye-law.

(2) Applicants in possession of a degree classified with Third

Class Honours or Category III in a discipline related to Theology,

Laws, Social Work or Psychology and any other area as deemed

relevant by the Board may also be admitted, provided that they

have obtained other qualifications, including relevant experience,

following their first cycle degree.

(3)

(a) The Board shall, after approval by Senate, determine

the number of applicants that may be allowed to

register depending on the availability of resources. The

B o a r d s h a l l , h o w e v e r, a n n o u n c e t h e n u m b e r o f

available places at the time of the call for applications.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN MATRIMONIAL CANON

LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

(b) If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the

number of available places, the Board shall select

applicants according to the following criteria

(i) degree type and classification;

(ii) work experience in the area or a related field;

(iii) performance during an interview held for the

purpose; and

(iv) professional aptitude and disposition.

(4) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be

composed 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 are assigned, of which 60 credits are

assigned to taught study-units and 30 credits assigned to the

dissertation study-unit.

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 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 end of the second semester.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN MATRIMONIAL CANON

LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

(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 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.