BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER IN ACCESS TO EDUCATION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.472

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER

IN ACCESS TO EDUCATION UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION

8th November, 2013

LEGAL NOTICE 375 of 2013, as amended by Legal Notices 272 of 2015

349 of 2021 and 120 of 2025.

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

Degree of Master in Access to Education under the auspices of the

Faculty of Education.

(2)

In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise

requires –

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

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

Faculty of Education;

"the Course" means the programme of study leading to the

degree of Master in Access to Education;

"the Degree" means the Degree of Master in Access to

Education;

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate

in Access to Education;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Access to Education; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall apply to courses commencing in

October 2015 or later.

(1) The course shall be offered in the following areas of

specialization: Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), Culturally

Responsive Education, and Inclusive Schools and Communities.

(2) The areas of specialization offered in any particular year

shall be published by the Board of Studies before the

commencement of each course, following approval of Senate.

(1) Applicants may be registered as students in the course

if they are in possession of the following qualifications obtained

from this University, or from any other university approved by

Senate for this purpose

(a) for the SpLD area of specialization

either

(i)

a first cycle degree classified with at least

Second Class (Honours) in Education or

Communication Therapy, together with a

minimum of two years’ work experience in

education or communication therapy;

or

(ii) a first cycle degree classified with at least

Second Class (Honours) in any other area,

together with a Postgraduate Certificate in

Education in any area and a minimum of two

years’ work experience in education;

or

(iii) a teacher’s certificate with at least five years’

teaching experience;

or

(iv) any first cycle degree followed by a recognised

teaching qualification together with two years’

experience in an education setting;

(b) for the Culturally Responsive Education, and the

Inclusive Schools and Communities areas of

specialization

either

(i) a first cycle degree classified with at least

Second Class (Honours) in one of the following

areas: Psychology, Education, Communication

Therapy, Social Work, Youth and Community

Studies, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy,

Nursing, or any other area deemed relevant by

the Board;

or

(ii) a first cycle degree classified with at least

Second Class (Honours) in any other area

together with a Postgraduate Certificate in

Education in any area;

or

(iii) a teacher’s certificate with at least three years’

teaching experience and other suitable

qualifications obtained following their first

cycle degree or the teacher’s certificate;

or

(iv) any first cycle degree followed by a recognised

teaching qualification together with one years’

experience in an education setting.

(2) The Board of Studies shall recommend to Senate the

number of applicants that may be allowed to register in each area of

specialization, depending on the availability of resources. The

number of available places shall be announced at the time of the

call for applications.

(3) If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available

places, applicants shall be selected using the following criteria,

weighted as follows

(a) degree type and classification - 20%;

(b) professional aptitude and disposition - 40%;

(c) work experience in the area or a related field - 20%;

and

(d) performance during the interview - 20%.

(4) The interviewing board appointed by the Board of Studies

shall be composed of at least three members.

(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.

The course shall extend over six semesters of part-time

study.

(1) The academic administration of the course shall be

entrusted to a Board of Studies appointed for the purpose.

(2) The Board of Studies, which shall be appointed for a period

of two years, shall be composed as follows

(a) the Dean of the Faculty of Education and the Dean of

the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, one of whom shall be

appointed as Chairman on the joint recommendation of

the two Faculties;

(b) one member representing each of the areas of

specialization in the programme, namely SpLD,

Culturally Responsive Education, and Inclusive

Schools and Communities;

(c) the course coordinator appointed by Senate after

consultation with the Board of the Faculty of

Education; and

(d) two student representatives elected from amongst the

students registered on the course.

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

assigned to a dissertation study-unit.

(1) 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 taught study-units, shall be eligible for the award of

the Postgraduate Certificate.

(2) Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught

studyunits 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 n orm ally not l ess t han eig ht m ont hs pri or to th e

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 10 ECTS credits shall be given the opportunity to re-

sit the failed assessment/s once 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 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 of Studies.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the

fifth and sixth 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 of Studies for

approval not later than the beginning of the fourth semester of the

course.

(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. 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 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 Postgraduate Diploma and the Degree shall be

based on the results obtained in all components of the programme

of study, all credits being weighted equally.