BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.455

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

SCIENCE - M.Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

26th July, 2013

LEGAL NOTICE 219 of 2013, as amended by Legal Notices 355 of 2014,

321 of 2015, 189 of 2016, 377 of 2018 and 311 of 2019, 251 of 2021 and

348 of 2022 and 290 of 2024.

(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;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma 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 2021 or later.

Applicants may be required to provide evidence of work

experience following registration with the relevant regulatory council in

the proposed area of study or area of specialisation, if applicable. The

minimum number of years of experience required shall be indicated at

the time of the call for applications, provided that for the Health Systems

Management and Leadership area of study, applicants must have at least

three years’ work experience in the Health Services sector, whilst for the

Physiotherapy area of study, applicants must be clinically active for at

least 5 hours per week in the second semester of the Course in order to

complete the relevant clinical placement study-unit.

(1)

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of

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

Class Honours in an area of study deemed suitable by

the Board; or

(b) a degree from the University of Malta or another

university which the Board considers as comparable to

the degree indicated in sub-paragraph (a) of this bye-

law.

(2) Applicants may be required to provide evidence of being in

possession of the licence to practise in the register of the profession

concerned, as kept by the relevant regulatory council.

(3) Applicants may be required to provide evidence of work

experience following registration with the relevant regulatory council in

the proposed area of study or area of specialisation, if applicable. The

minimum number of years of experience required shall be indicated at

the time of the call for applications.

(4) 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/areas of specialisation and the number of available places

at the time of the call for applications.

(5) 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.

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

composed of at least three members appointed for the purpose.

(7) 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.

(8) 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 the duties related to their proposed studies. 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.

Applicants shall be required to indicate their choice of area

of study/area of specialisation at the time of applying for admission

to the course.

The programme of study for each area of study/area of

specialisation shall comprise study-units to which a total of 90

credits are assigned, of which 60 credits are assigned to taught

study-units and 30 credits are assigned to a dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain the 30 credits assigned to any taught

study-units covered during the first and second semesters 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 the Postgraduate Certificate.

Students who obtain the 60 credits assigned to the 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.

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 20 credits for taught study-units, if following the full-time

Course, or not more than 10 credits if following the part-time Course,

shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the

September supplementary examination session. When it is not

practicable or possible for the failed study-unit to be re-assessed during

the current year, students shall not have the right to a supplementary

assessment, but shall be required to refer the study-unit to the following

year to be completed over and above the study-units for that year; or if

this is not possible to re-do the study-unit during an additional year,

which shall not be taken into account for the purpose of course duration.

(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 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 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

studies, 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 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.