BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE OF SPACE SCIENCES AND

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.Sc. -

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE OF

SPACE SCIENCES AND ASTRONOMY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.498

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

SCIENCE - M.Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

INSTITUTE OF SPACE SCIENCES AND

ASTRONOMY

16th September, 2014

LEGAL NOTICE 328 of 2014, as amended by Legal Notice 252 of 2015.

(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

Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Institute of Space Sciences

and Astronomy;

"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.; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2015 or later.

The course shall be offered in any area of study that falls

within the academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by

Senate.

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of one

of the following qualifications

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in

Physics or Computational Physics or Statistics, with at

least Second Class (Honours); or

(b) the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), with

at least Second Class (Honours); or

(c) the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in ICT,

with at least Second Class (Honours); or

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

(Honours) in a discipline related to the proposed area

of study; or

(e) a qualification deemed by Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board, to be comparable to the

qualifications listed in paragraphs (a) to (d).

The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

studies or the equivalent in part-time studies.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.Sc. -

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE OF

SPACE SCIENCES AND ASTRONOMY

(1) The programme of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which not more

than 30 ECTS credits are assigned to taught study-units and not less

than 60 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

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

by Senate.

(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 for taught study-units, whether

following the course on a full-time or part-time basis, shall be

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

September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who fail more than the number of study-units

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 following a programme which includes the

writing of a dissertation to which 80 ECTS credits are assigned

shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of between

40,000 to 45,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by

the Board.

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

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at

the time of application.

(3) Students following a programme which includes the

writing of a dissertation to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned

shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of not less

than 35,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the

Board.

(4) The provisional title of the dissertation and a research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at the end of

the first semester.

(5) In both cases, 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.

(1) The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for

each student, normally composed of three members as follows: the

Director of the Institute, or his/her delegate as Chairman, and two

other members, one of whom being the principal supervisor,

provided that when the Director of the Institute is the supervisor, s/

he shall not chair the panel.

(2) The Panel of Supervision shall follow, as it deems fit, the

progress of students throughout the course, provided that it meets at

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.Sc. -

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE OF

SPACE SCIENCES AND ASTRONOMY

least twice a year to review such progress.

(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisors at

least once every two months, and in addition as often as the

supervisor deems necessary.

(4) At the end of each semester of studies supervisors shall be

required to submit to the Panels of Supervision reports for the

students under their supervision, whether the student is following

the course on a full-time or a part-time basis. Students shall seek

approval from said Panel for any substantial modification in the

title or content of the dissertation.

(5) The Panels of Supervision shall periodically inform the

Board, in writing, on the general performance of each student. 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)

this 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 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

relevant Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the

course.