MASTER OF DENTAL SURGERY - M.D.S. - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.485

MASTER OF DENTAL SURGERY - M.D.S. -

DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS

28th March, 2014

LEGAL NOTICE 101 of 2014, as amended by Legal Notices 327 of 2014,

9 of 2020, 289 of 2021, 326 of 2022, 174 of 2023 and 121 of 2025.

(1) The title of these regulations is the Master of Dental

Surgery - M.D.S. - Degree Course Regulations.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Dental Surgery;

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

of Master of Dental Surgery - M.D.S.;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Dental Surgery -

M.D.S.; and

"the Faculty" means the Faculty of Dental Surgery.

These regulations shall be applicable commencing in

October 2021 or later, except for regulation 5 which shall be applicable

as from 1 st July, 2021 onwards.

To be eligible for the award of the Degree, students must

(a) be registered as regular students in the Course in terms

of the Admission Regulations of the University;

(b) satisfy the Special Course Requirements in accordance

with regulation 4;

(c) complete the programme of study, qualify in the

examinations and satisfy any other requirements as

prescribed in these regulations; and

(d) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other

relevant statutes, regulations and bye-laws of the

University.

(1) Senate on the advice of the Board, may limit the number of

students that may be admitted to the Course. In such circumstances,

Senate shall make regulations for the selection of applicants for

admission. Prior to the commencement of the Course, the Board shall

announce the number of places available to Maltese and other EU/EEA

nationals, to non-EU/EEA nationals, and to candidates applying in terms

of paragraph (4) of regulation 4.

(2) To apply for admission to the course applicants must,

besides satisfying the requirements for admission as regular

students in terms of the Admission Regulations, satisfy the

following Special Course Requirements

(a) passes in the Matriculation Examination at Advanced

Level at Grade C or better in Biology and Chemistry;

and

(b) a

pass

in

the

Matriculation

Examination

at

Intermediate Level at Grade C or better in Physics,

provided that all passes in these Special Course Requirements have

been obtained together in one session of examinations (i.e. one

sitting) and are from one recognized examining board.

(3) For the purpose of sub-regulation (2), a pass obtained in a

session of examinations which is held after the results of a previous

session were published shall be deemed to be a pass obtained in a

session that is distinct from the previous one. This regulation shall

also apply to the second session of the Matriculation Examination

o ff e r e d b y t h e M AT S E C B o a r d o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a

according to the provisions of the Matriculation Examination

R e g u l a ti o n s a n d t h i s n o t wi t h s t a n di n g a n y o t he r r e g u l a ti o n

governing the award of the Matriculation Certificate.

(4) Applicants in possession of the degree of Bachelor of Science

(Honours) with at least Second Class (Honours) in Dental Hygiene or

Dental Technology may also apply.

(5) (a) Maltese applicants who, in terms of paragraph (5) of

regulation 12 of the Admissions Regulations, 2016 are exempted

from possessing a pass in Secondary Education Certificate in

Maltese at Grade 5 or better are required to present the Medical

Maltese Proficiency Certificate awarded by the University of Malta

prior to commencement of the Course; and

(b) non-Maltese applicants are required to present the

Medical Maltese Proficiency Certificate awarded by

the University of Malta, or a pass in the study-unit in

Medical Maltese as part of the Certificate in

Foundation Studies (Medical, Dental and Health

Sciences) course, prior to commencement of the

Course,

provided that applicants presenting overseas qualifications and a

pass in the Secondary Education Certificate examination in Maltese

at Grade 5 or better shall be exempted from presenting the Medical

Maltese Proficiency Certificate.”

(6) For courses commencing in October 2014 or later, prior to

enrolling for the course, accepted applicants are also required to

undergo an occupational health assessment as detailed in the

Occupational Health Protocol approved by the Board, so as to

ascertain that they are fit for the duties related to their proposed

studies. Students who do not fulfil this requirement shall be barred

from attending the clinical placements.

(1) The course shall extend over a period of five years and

shall be divided into two parts: the Pre-Clinical Part, of two years’

duration, that is, Years 1 and 2, and the Clinical Part, of three

years’ duration, that is, Years 3, 4 and 5.

(2) Except with the permission of the Board, students must

follow the course without suspension or repetition. The Board may

allow students to suspend or to repeat a year once in each of the

two parts of the course.

(3)

The Board may allow students an additional year of study, if

eligible in terms of these regulations.

The Board shall publish the programme of study,

comprising all the study-units taught in each year of the course,

their syllabus and method of assessment following the approval of

Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the course. Subject to the approval of Senate, the

Board may make any necessary changes to the programme of study

as required.

(1) The programme of study for each year of the course

shall comprise study-units to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned

and may include practical, laboratory and clinical placements as

detailed in the description for each study-unit on offer during the

year.

(2) Practical, laboratory and clinical placements shall be

carried out throughout the course, including during the periods

when the University is in recess and may take place in the teaching

clinics of the Faculty and/or in community or hospital settings as

indicated by the Board before each placement.

(1) During the Course, the result of each study-unit shall be

published according to the following marks and grades in descending

order of merit

Mark Range

Grade

90% - 100%

A+

80% - 89%

A

75% - 79%

B+

70% - 74%

B

60% - 69%

C+

55% - 59%

C

50% - 54%

D+

45% - 49%

D

0% - 44%

F.

(2) Students who fail in a study-unit declared to be

compensatable in the programme of study with a mark of not less

than 35% shall be awarded the grade CP (Compensated Pass) if

their Year Average Mark is at least 50%. Study-units passed by

compensation shall not be re-assessed.

(3) In any academic year, students may not be awarded more

than 8 ECTS credits through compensated passes.

(1) The method of assessment for each study-unit shall be

indicated in the study-unit description and published in the

catalogue of study-units. The result of each study-unit shall take

into account all components of the assessment of that study-unit.

(2) In any academic year, students who fail study-units to

which not more than 16 ECTS credits are assigned, or two study-

units which between them are assigned not more than 20 ECTS

credits, and who are not eligible to a compensated pass, shall be

allowed a supplementary assessment in September of the same

year.

(3) Students who after the supplementary session fail in study-

units to which 10 or less ECTS credits are assigned, after academic

counselling by the Dean and/or the Head of Department concerned,

may be given the option by the Board, to either

(a) refer the failed study-unit/s to the following year to be

done over and above the study-units indicated for that

year; or

(b) refer the failed study-unit/s to an additional year of

study, if (i) the study-unit cannot be referred to the

following year in terms of paragraph (5) of this

regulation, or (ii) if they are in Year 5 of the Course.

The possibility to refer study-units to an additional

year of study shall be allowed once in each of the two

parts of the Course; or

(c) repeat the year, if eligible in terms of these regulations.

(4) Students referred to in sub-regulation (3)(a) who take up

the option to refer failed study-units to the following year of the

course shall be considered to have progressed conditionally and

shall not be allowed to continue with the course if, after the

supplementary session of that year, they fail again to obtain a pass

in the referred study-unit/s.

(5) Study-units which students may be allowed to refer to the

following year will be indicated in the programme of study.

(6) If a student is prevented for a reason considered valid by

Senate from being assessed in referred study-units, the student shall

be required to complete the previous year ’s requirements in an

additional year of study, if eligible in terms of these regulations.

Under no circumstances shall a student be allowed to progress to

the following year if the requirements of the year previous to the

current one have not been satisfied.

(7) Nothwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (3), in

the case of assessments that can only be held once during an

academic year and hence no supplementary session is possible,

students who fail these assessments or are prevented for a reason

considered valid by Senate from being assessed in these study-units

shall be allowed to proceed to the following year of the course,

provided that they pass such assessments in that year, or in an

additional year of study, if eligible in terms of these regulations.

(8) Students who after the supplementary session fail in study-

units to which more than 10 ECTS credits are assigned shall not be

allowed to proceed to the following year of the course, but shall be

required to repeat the year if eligible in terms of these regulations.

(9) In a repeat year, students are required to follow and be

assessed in all study-units of the programme of study for the year,

even those they may have previously passed. Any mark/grade may

be obtained in the repeat year and will replace the marks/grades

obtained in the preceding year.

(10) The maximum mark/grade that may be awarded in a

referred study-unit, irrespective of whether the subject is assessed

in a normal or a supplementary session of examinations, is 45%,

grade D.

(1) Unless otherwise specified in the description of a

study-unit, attendance for lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical,

laboratory and clinical placements, and any other teaching session

in whatever mode is obligatory. Following consultation with the

Head of Department, lecturers may bar a student whose attendance

in a study-unit is not satisfactory from being assessed in that study-

unit.

(2) Before being allowed to sit for any of the assessments

specified in the programme of study, students must present to the

Dean a certificate, signed by the heads of department concerned,

showing that they have completed satisfactorily the schedule of

clinical placements prescribed for the year.

(3) Students shall not be allowed to re-sit any study-unit unless

they have satisfactorily followed such courses of studies and/or

practical and/or clinical work as the Board may in each case

determine.

(1) The classification of the Degree shall be determined

by the Degree Classification Board composed of the Dean as

Chairman, the Heads of Department and the course coordinators

involved in the teaching of the programme.

(2) The Final Weighted Average Mark for the classification of

the Degree shall be based on the results obtained during the five

years of the course, which shall be weighted as follows

First Year Weighted Average Mark

10%

Second Year Weighted Average Mark

10%

Third Year Weighted Average Mark

15%

Fourth Year Weighted Average Mark

25%

Fifth Year Weighted Average Mark

40%.

(3) The Degree Classification Board shall consult the

following guidelines when deciding upon the final classification of

the Degree

Final Weighted Average Mark

Classification

80% - 100%

Pass with Distinction

70% - 79%

Pass with Merit

45% - 69%

Pass.

(4) The Degree Classification Board, at its own discretion,

may award the Degree with a higher classification than that

indicated in sub-regulation (3) to students whose Final Weighted

Average Mark is up to three marks less than the minimum for the

classification, provided that all students who obtain the same or a

higher Final Weighted Average Mark within that classification shall

be awarded the higher classification. In such cases, the Degree

Classification Board is required to minute the decision and the

justification for it.

(5) The Degree Classification Board, at its own discretion,

may also award a Degree with a lower classification than that

indicated in sub-regulation (3), provided that all students who

obtain the same or a lower Final Weighted Average mark within

that classification shall be awarded the lower classification. In such

cases, the Degree Classification Board is required to obtain the

authorization of the Board that shall minute the decision and the

justification for it. The students concerned may appeal to Senate

against the decision within fifteen days of the publication of the

classification.

When a student withdraws from a Course either by choice

or because ineligible to proceed further in terms of these

regulations,

(a) if at least 60 credits have been obtained, the student

shall be granted the Diploma in General Studies (Dip.

Gen. St.);

(b) if at least 120 credits have been obtained, the student

shall be granted the Higher Diploma in General

Studies (H.Dip. Gen. St.);

(c) if at least 180 credits have been obtained in the Course

and in accordance with the definition of a Bachelor

degree as stipulated in paragraph (4) of regulation 3 of

the General Regulations for University Undergraduate

Awards, the student may request to be awarded the

degree of Bachelor in General Studies (B.Gen. St.);

and

(d) in all instances, students who are granted an award in

terms of this regulation after withdrawing from the Course

because ineligible to proceed further, shall not be entitled

to be re-admitted to continue their studies in the Course.

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the degree of

Bachelor in General Studies (B.Gen.St.) shall be based on the

results obtained, all study-units being weighted equally and shall be

classified as follows

Average Mark

Classification

80% - 100%

Category I

70% - 79%

Category IIA

55% - 69%

Category IIB

45% - 54%

Category III.

In matters not provided for by these regulations, the Board

shall be guided by the provisions of the General Regulations for

University Undergraduate Awards, as applicable.