BYE-LAWS FOR DEGREE OF MASTER OF CRIMINOLOGY - M.A. (CRIM.) - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CRIMINOLOGY - M.A.

(CRIM.) - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.471

BYE-LAWS FOR DEGREE OF MASTER OF

CRIMINOLOGY - M.A. (CRIM.) - UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

8th November, 2013

LEGAL NOTICE 373 of 2013, as amended by Legal Notices 215, 368 of

2014 and 376 of 2018.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Criminology - M.A. (Crim.) - under the

auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty for Social

Wellbeing;

"the Board of Studies" means the Board of Studies appointed by

Senate for the Course, on the recommendation of the Board;

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

of Master of Arts in Criminology - M.A. (Crim.);

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Criminology

- M.A. (Crim.); 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.

(1)

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a Bachelor degree obtained with at least Second Class

Honours from the University of Malta in an area of

study deemed relevant by the Board; or

(b) a Bachelor degree obtained with at least Category II

from the University of Malta in an area of study

deemed relevant by the Board; or

(c) a Bachelor degree from another university recognized

by Senate comparable to the qualifications indicated in

paragraphs (a) and (b) of this bye-law.

(2) The admission of applicants shall be made conditional on

the result of an interview conducted by an interviewing board

appointed for the purpose.

(3) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be

composed of at least three members.

(4)

The Board shall recommend to Senate the number of

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CRIMINOLOGY - M.A.

(CRIM.) - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

applicants that may be allowed to register for the course, depending

on the availability of resources. The Board shall announce 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 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.

(6) For the purpose of selection, applicants whose

qualifications as stipulated in paragraph (1) of this bye-law were

obtained by 31 August preceding the commencement of the course

shall be considered first.

Applicants not in possession of an Honours degree

admitted under sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) (if applicable) of

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

preparatory programme, comprising not less than 30 ECTS and not

more than 60 ECTS credits as directed by the Board, depending on

the number of credits already obtained in an area of study related to

Criminology, with an overall average 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 10 ECTS

credits are assigned to taught study-units and 80 ECTS credits are

assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) The programme of study shall be published after approval

by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the course.

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

criminological theory, 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 12 ECTS credits are assigned in addition to the

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

(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 fail the assessment for the taught study-units

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

during the September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who after re-assessment fail to obtain credit for

any study-unit shall be required to withdraw from the course.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CRIMINOLOGY - M.A.

(CRIM.) - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 40,000 to 50,000 words in

accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

(2) 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.

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

research proposal outlining the proposed project and the main

questions to be addressed shall be submitted to the Board of Studies

for approval at the time of application.

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

their supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies 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 Principal

Regulations; and

(ii) the Board of Studies 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 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

of Studies as necessary due to the part-time nature of the course.