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

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN MEDIATION

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.405

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN MEDIATION UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

21st April, 2011

LEGAL NOTICE 146 of 2011, as amended by Legal Notices 364 of 2011,

398 of 2012, 204 of 2013, 370 of 2014, 331 of 2016, 174 of 2022 and 89 of

2023.

(1) The title of these bye-laws is Bye-Laws of 2012 for the

Degree of Master of Arts in Mediation 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 Board of Studies" means the Board of Studies appointed by

Senate for the course, on the recommendation of the Board;

"the course" means the programme of study leading to the degree

of Master of Arts in Mediation - M.A;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Mediation -

M.A.;

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate

in Mediation - P.G.Cert.;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Mediation - P.G.Dip.; and

"the Prinicipal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be applicable to courses commencing

in October 2016 or later.

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

one of the following qualifications

(a) a Bachelor’s degree obtained with at least Second

Class Honours or Category II in any of the following

areas

Counselling,

Criminology,

ICT,

Law,

Management, Planning and Environment, Psychology,

Social Policy, Social Work, Social Studies, Sociology

or Youth and Community Studies; or

(b) a Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class Honours or

Category II obtained from this or from another university,

in an any other area deemed comparable or relevant by the

Board of Studies.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN MEDIATION

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

(2) All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that they

have the necessary aptitude and disposition to follow the course

with profit.

(3) Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by

means of exercises involving (i) role play with a client; (ii) group

discussion; and (iii) a personal interview conducted by a board

appointed for the purpose.

(4) Senate, on the recommendation of the Board shall

determine 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.

(5) When the number is so limited and the number of eligible

applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall

be selected according to the following criteria, which shall be

weighted as follows

(a) degree type and classification - 30%;

(b) work experience in the area of the proposed study -

30%;

(c) professional aptitude and disposition - 30%; and

(d) communication skills expressed in both the English

and Maltese languages - 10%.

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

composed of at least three members.

(7) For the purpose of selection, applicants whose

qualifications as stipulated in paragraph (1) of this bye-law were

obtained by 31 August preceding the commencement of the course

shall be considered first.

The course shall extend over a period of five semesters of

part-time study.

(1) 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 a

dissertation study-unit.

(2) Students who obtain 30 credits assigned to any taught

study-units with an average mark of at least 50% and do not

proceed with the course, or having proceeded do not successfully

c o m pl e t e t he co ur s e , sha ll b e e li gi bl e fo r t he aw a rd of t he

Postgraduate Certificate.

(3) Students who obtain 60 credits assigned to 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.

(4) The programme of study shall be published after approval

b y S e n a t e , normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the course.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN MEDIATION

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

(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 10 credits shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the

failed assessments during the 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 required to

withdraw from the course.

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of not less than 15,000 words and not more than 20,000

words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the

final two semesters 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 at

the beginning of the third 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.

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 defend his case.

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.