BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL PHYSICS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.434

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER

OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL PHYSICS UNDER

THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

OF HEALTH SCIENCES

13th November, 2012

LEGAL NOTICE 397 of 2012, as amended by Legal Notices 312 of 2019

265 of 2020 and 350 of 2022 and 177 of 2023 and 213 of 2024.

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

Degree of Master of Science in Medical Physics under the auspices

of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences;

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

of Master bof Science in Medical Physics;

"the Degree" means the Degree of Master of Science in Medical

Physics;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Medical Physics; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2020 or later.

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

of a Bachelor’s degree comprising 240 ECTS credits obtained with

at least Second Class Honours in one of the following areas of

study

(a) Science with Physics as a main area of study; or

(b) Physics, Medical Physics and Radiation Protection; or

(c) Radiography; or

(d) Electrical and Electronic Engineering; or

(e) Mechanical Engineering.

(ii) Applicants in possession of a first cycle degree in the above

areas of study, comprising not less than 180 ECTS credits,

may also be admitted to the Course subject to the successful

completion of a Preparatory Programme.

(2) 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 Board shall announce the

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number of available places at the time of the call for applications.

(3) When the number of places is so limited and the number of

eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available,

applicants will be selected using the following criteria, the

weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call for

applications

(a) degree type and class;

(b) experience in the area of the proposed study; and

(c) performance during an interview, if deemed necessary.

(4) Interviews, if necessary, shall be conducted by a board

composed of at least three members appointed for the purpose.

(5) For the purpose of selection, applicants who fully satisfy

the entry requirements by 31st August preceding the

commencement of the course shall be considered first.

(6) During the first year of the Course, accepted students may be

required to undergo an occupational health assessment so as to ascertain

that they are fit for work which brings students in contact with the

clinical environment. Students who do not fulfil this requirement may be

barred from progressing with their studies. Failure to disclose

information about a physical or mental health problem that could affect

patient safety is considered to be a serious breach of the University

Suitability to Practise Regulations.

Applicants admitted in terms of sub-paragraph (ii) of

paragraph (1) of bye-law 3 shall be required to complete a

preparatory programme, comprising not less than 60 ECTS as

directed by the Board, with an overall mark of 55% or better, prior

to their registration as regular students on the Course.

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study

or the equivalent in part-time study.

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

which a total of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 60 ECTS

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

assigned to a dissertation study-unit.

(2) In cases where students lack essential knowledge in the area of

research methodology, the Board may require students admitted to the

Course to follow and pass supplementary study-unit/s in the said area to

which a maximum of 10 ECTS credits are assigned in addition to the

programme of study specified in paragraph (1) of this bye-law.

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

complete the dissertation, shall be eligible for the award of the

Postgraduate Diploma.

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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) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 20,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of

not more than 20 ECTS credits for taught study-units, if following

the full-time course, or not more than 10 ECTS 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) of this bye-law or students who after

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

required to withdraw from 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 last

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 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

study, whether the student is following the course on a full-time or

a part-time basis. Such reports may include recommendations 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 the components of the

programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

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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.