BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN TRANSCULTURAL COUNSELLING - M.A. (T. Couns.) - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.418

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN TRANSCULTURAL COUNSELLING - M.A.

(T. Couns.) - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

24th January, 2012

NOTICE 25 of 2012, as amended by Legal Notices 372 of 2014, 370 of

2015, 186 of 2016, 52 of 2017, 238 of 2019 and 65 of 2026.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Transcultural Counselling - M.A.

(T.Couns.) - 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 Board of Studies" means the Board of Studies appointed for

the course by the Board of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing;

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

of Master of Arts in Transcultural Counselling - M.A. (T.Couns.);

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

Counselling - M.A. (T.Couns.);

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Counselling Studies P.G.Dip. (Couns. Stud.); and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2019 or later.

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

a Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class Honours or Category II

in one of the human and/or social sciences, or an area of study deemed

relevant by the Board, together with a minimum of one year paid or

voluntary work experience in a formal human or psychosocial setting.

(b) Applicants in possession of a Bachelor’s degree classified at

Third Class Honours or Category III may be admitted to the Course if

they are in possession of other qualifications deemed relevant by the

Board and a minimum of one year experience working directly in a

formal human or psychosocial setting. The admission of such

applications may be made subject to those conditions that the Board may

impose to address any lacunae in the applicants’ academic preparation.

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

have the necessary aptitude and disposition to follow the course

with profit.

OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

(3)

(a) Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by

means of exercises involving an extended personal

interview and personality test.

(b) Applicants who obtain less than 60% for the

professional aptitude and the disposition criterion shall

automatically not be admitted into the course.

(4) Senate, on the advice of the Board, may limit the number of

students to be admitted to the Course. When the number is so

limited and the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number

of places available, applicants shall be selected during an interview,

according to the following criteria

(a) degree type and classification –30%

(b) relevant work experience – 15%;

(c) other postgraduate qualifications in relevant area –

5%; and

(d) professional aptitude and disposition – 50%.

(5) The interviewing board shall be appointed by the Board and

shall be composed of at least three members.

(6) 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 four semesters of

full-time study.

(1) The programme of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 120 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 90 ECTS

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

ECTS credits to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) Throughout the Course, students are required to complete 50

hours of personal counselling with a professional legally warranted to

provide such a service.

(3) Students who obtain 60 ECTS 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

c o m pl e te t he co ur s e , shal l be e l ig i bl e f o r th e aw a rd o f t he

Postgraduate Diploma.

(4) 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 four taught study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit

OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

the failed assessments during the September assessment session.

(3) Students who fail in more than the number of study-units

permitted under paragraph (2) of this bye-law, or students who after

re-assessment fail to obtain credit for any taught study-unit, shall

be deemed to have failed the course.

(4) Students must maintain a good level of performance in the

study-unit/s involving supervised counselling practicum for which the

minimum overall pass mark shall be grade C - 55%, provided that an

obligatory pass in all the assessment components of a supervised

practicum is required in order for students to be awarded an overall pass.

(5) Students who fail to obtain a Pass in the supervised counselling

practicum shall not have the right to a supplementary assessment and

shall be required to re-do the supervised counselling practicum during

an additional year of studies. Such an additional year shall not be

counted for the purpose of Course duration.

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of between a minimum of 18,000 and a maximum of 20,000

words, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

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

third and fourth 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 approved by the Board of Studies not

later than the end of the second semester.

(4) Students are required to familiarise themselves with, and adhere

to instructions and guidelines as set out in the Dissertations Handbook

provided by the Department of Counselling.

(1) Students shall be required to have regular contact with

their supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies progress

reports for each student under their supervision. 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 Principal

Regulations; and

(ii) the Board of Studies 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.

OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING