BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M. Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE OF EARTH SYSTEMS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.429

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

SCIENCE - M. Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE INSTITUTE OF EARTH SYSTEMS

7th September, 2012

LEGAL NOTICE 291 of 2012, as amended by Legal Notices 121 of 2014

and 42 of 2022.

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

Degree of Master of Science - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the

Institute of Earth Systems.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Institute of Earth Systems;

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

of Master of Science - M.Sc.;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Science - M.Sc.;

"the Director" means the Director of the Institute of Earth

Systems;

"the Institute" means the Institute of Earth Systems; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be applicable from 1st November

2013 onwards.

The course shall be offered in any area of study related to

earth systems in which the Institute can offer expert guidance and

supervision, and subject to the availability of resources. The areas

of study shall be approved by the Board before the commencement

of the course.

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

a first cycle degree obtained with Second Class (Honours) or better,

in a discipline related to earth systems, or in any other area of study

which the Board considers as relevant, and obtained within the ten

years previous to registration for the course.

(2) The Board may, at its discretion, recommend the admission of

applicants in possession of a first cycle degree obtained with Third Class

(Honours), in an area of study which the Board considers as relevant,

and obtained within the ten years previous to registration for the Course.

Such applicants shall become eligible to join the Master’s course on

successful completion of the Preparatory Programme with an average

mark of at least 55%.

(3) Applicants whose first degree was obtained more than ten

years previous to registration for the course may also be admitted,

provided that they produce sufficient proof of their competence to

follow the course. The Board may, at its discretion, require such

applicants to follow a supplementary or preparatory programme as

specified in bye-law 5.

(4) All applicants may be asked to demonstrate competence in

those skills required by the nature of the proposed research via an

extended interview and/or the submission of appropriate

docum ent ati on. In cases where significant deficiencies are

identified, the Board may, at its discretion, require applicants to

follow a supplementary and/or preparatory programme as specified

in bye-law 5.

(1) The supplementary programme shall comprise study-

units at level 4 or lower, to which not more than 10 ECTS credits

shall be assigned.

(2) The preparatory programme shall comprise study-units at

level 4 or lower, to which not less than 30 ECTS credits and not

more than 60 ECTS credits shall be assigned.

(3) Students required by the Board to follow and complete a

supplementary and/or preparatory programme shall be required to

p a s s w i t h a n a v e r a g e m a r k of 5 5 % o r b e t t e r, p r i or t o t h e i r

registration for the course.

The course shall extend over a period of three semesters of

full-time study, or their equivalent in part-time study.

The programme of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 ECTS credits shall be assigned, and shall be

mainly by research. The programme shall comprise taught study-

units to which 20 ECTS credits are assigned, and a dissertation

study-unit to which 70 ECTS credits are assigned.

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.

(1) Students who, in any academic year, fail in the

assessment of not more than two study-units (if following the

course on a full-time basis) or one study-unit (if following the

course on a part-time basis) shall be given the opportunity to re-sit

the failed study-units.

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

permitted under paragraph (1) of this bye-law, or students who after

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

deemed to have failed the course.

Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 50,000 words, in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board.

A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at

the time of application.

Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time

during the Course after approval of the proposal.

(1) Each student shall be assigned a principal supervisor,

and where appropriate, a co-supervisor, who shall provide guidance

and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(2) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor, and are required to report to their supervisors at least

once every two months, and in addition, as often as the principal

supervisor and/or co-supervisor deems necessary.

(3) If students have serious and valid reasons to request a

change in their supervisory team (principal and/or co-supervisor),

such requests shall be addressed to, and considered by, the Board.

(1) The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for

each student, normally composed of three members as follows: the

Director, as Chairman, or his or her delegate, and two other

members, one of whom shall be the research supervisor, provided

that when the Director is the supervisor, he/she shall not be

appointed Chairman.

(2) The Panel of Supervision shall follow, as it deems fit, the

progress of students throughout the Course, and shall meet at least

three times a year to review such progress.

(3) Students shall seek approval from the Panel of Supervision

for any substantial modification in the title or content of the

dissertation; the Panel of Supervision shall also be responsible for

reviewing requests for extensions of studies and/or suspension of

studies.

(4) Supervisors shall submit to the Panel of Supervision

progress reports for the students under their supervision at the end

of each semester of study, 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 Principal Regulations; and

(ii)

the Board may not terminate studies prematurely

according to (b) until it has first given the student a

chance to appeal.

(5) Should the principal supervisor become unable to provide

the student with the necessary time and guidance for an extended

period of time for any reason, the Panel of Supervision shall be

responsible for identifying an alternate supervisor.

Students shall be required to present the work performed

during the course of their research, at internal seminars organised

by the Institute.

Following approval of the dissertation by the Board of

Examiners, students shall be required to present three hard bound

copies of the dissertation to the Institute, one of which shall be

retained in the University Library, and another one at the Library of

the Institute, as well as one copy in digital format as an electronic

file.

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the classification of

the Degree shall be based on the results obtained in all components

of the programme of study, all components 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.