BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SPATIAL PLANNING UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SPATIAL PLANNING

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.454

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

SPATIAL PLANNING UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE FACULTY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

19th July, 2013

LEGAL NOTICE 210 of 2013, as amended by Legal Notice 292 of 2022.

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

Degree of Master of Spatial Planning under the auspices of the

Faculty for the Built Environment.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty for the Built

Environment;

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

of Master of Spatial Planning;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Spatial Planning;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Planning Studies; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses

commencing in October 2012 or later except that bye-law 3(b) shall

be applicable for courses commencing in October 2013 or later.

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Malta with

at least Second Class (Honours) in a discipline related

to the Built Environment, Architecture, Urban Design

or

Planning,

Civil

Engineering,

Geography,

Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Law or Legal

Studies, Public Administration, Chemistry, Biology,

Earth Systems, or in any other area of study as deemed

suitable by the Board; or

(b) a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Malta with

at least Third Class Honours in the disciplines

highlighted in paragraph (a) of this bye-law, if they are

also in possession of other qualifications or at least 10

years of relevant work experience, obtained following

the first cycle degree. The admission of applicants

under this bye-law may be made conditional on the

results of an assessment as the Board may deem

appropriate; or

(c) a qualification deemed by Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board, to be comparable to the

qualifications listed in paragraph (a) of this bye-law.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SPATIAL PLANNING

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

The admission of applicants under this bye-law may be

made conditional on the results of an assessment as the

Board may deem appropriate.

The course shall extend over four 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 120 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 90 ECTS

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

assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) The programme of study shall consist of at least 50% of

study-units in general Spatial Planning disciplines, and at least 25%

in specialist Planning disciplines. The programme shall also

include Planning Workshops, carrying a total of 10 ECTS credits.

(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 as proposed by the Board 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 20 ECTS credits, 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 assessment during

the September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who fail more than the number of credits

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 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

third and fourth 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 by

the end of the second semester of the course. The dissertation

should focus on the same discipline selected by each student in the

Planning Workshops referred to in bye-law 5(2).

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

their supervisor, not less than once a month.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SPATIAL PLANNING

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports for

each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of

studies, 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 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.

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.