BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.441

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

SCIENCES UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

28th December, 2012

LEGAL NOTICE 486 of 2012, as amended by Legal Notices 119, 354

and 387 of 2014, 309 of 2019 and 349 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

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 of Science - M.Sc.;

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

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate

in the relevant area of study; 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.

The course shall be offered in any area of study that falls

within the academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by

Senate.

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

one of the following qualifications

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) obtained

with at least Second Class (Honours) from the Faculty

of Health Sciences in an area of study which should be

directly related to the area in which the research is to

be carried out; or

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

Class (Honours) in a discipline deemed by the Board

as being closely related to the area of study in which

the research is to be carried out; or

(c) a qualification deemed by Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board, to be equivalent to the

qualifications listed in (a) and (b) above,

provided that for the Clinical Biomechanics and Health Systems

Management and Leadership areas of study, applicants in possession of

a first degree obtained with at least Second Class (Honours) in a

discipline deemed by the Board as being related to the area of study in

which the research is to be carried out shall be considered as eligible.”.

(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 areas

of study and the 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 shall 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, students may be required to

undergo an occupational health assessment so as to ascertain that they

are fit for work which may bring them 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.

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 not more

than 30 ECTS credits are assigned to taught study-units and not less

than 60 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) Students who obtain a total of 30 ECTS credits for 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 course, shall be eligible for the award of a

Postgraduate Certificate.

(3) 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 Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment

of a Faculty Masters by Research Committee normally composed

as follows

The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences or delegate

(Chairperson)

2 - 5 members of the Faculty of Health Sciences

possessing academic doctoral qualifications

Head of Department in which the research will be

carried out

The research student’s academic Supervisor.

(2) The Board may recommend to Senate a Committee having a

different composition from that described in paragraph (1) of this

bye-law, if the programme of studies requires input from academics

from other faculties.

(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 two taught study-units, if following the full-time

course, or not more than one taught study-unit if following the part-

time course, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed

assessments during the September supplementary examination

session, provided that, if applicable, students who fail in a study-

unit involving a clinical placement that requires assessment over a

pe r i o d o f ti m e s h a l l n o t h a ve t h e r i g h t t o a s u p p l e m e n t a r y

assessment and shall be required to withdraw from the course.

(3) Students who fail 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 study-unit, shall be

required to withdraw from the course.

(1) Students following a programme which includes the

writing of a dissertation to which 70 or 80 ECTS credits are

assigned shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of

between 40,000 and 45,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) The provisional title of the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at

the time of application.

(3) Students following a programme which includes the writing

of a dissertation to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned shall be

required to submit an individual dissertation of not less than 35,000

words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(4) In such instances, a detailed research the proposal shall be

submitted to the Board for approval by the beginning of the second

semester.

(5) In all cases, work on the dissertation may be undertaken at

any time during the course, after approval of the research proposal.

Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide

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

(1) The Masters by Research Committee shall follow, as it

deems fit, the progress of students throughout the course, provided

that it meets at least twice a year to review such progress.

(2) Students shall be required to report to their supervisors at

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

supervisor deems necessary.

(3) At the end of each semester of studies, supervisors shall be

required to submit to the Masters by Research Committee reports

for the students under their supervision. Students shall seek

approval from said Committee for any substantial modification in

the title or content of the dissertation.

(4) The Masters by Research Committee shall periodically

inform the Board, in writing, on the general performance of each

student. 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)

this 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 Degree shall be based on the results obtained in

all the 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.