BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE - M.Arch.- UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.500

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARCHITECTURE - M.Arch.- UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

10th October, 2014

LEGAL NOTICE 365 of 2014,as amended by Legal Notices 76 of 2016,

8 of 2017, 328 of 2018 and 21 of 2021.

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

Degree of Master of Architecture - M.Arch. - under the auspices of

the Faculty for the Built Environment.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty for the Built

Environment;

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

degree of Master of Architecture - M.Arch.;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Architecture -

M.Arch.;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Architecture - P.G. Dip.;

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008; and

"the Schedule" means the list of thematic study-units and the

credit value assigned to each, which applicants are expected to

have covered as part of their first cycle degree programme.

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing

in October 2020 or later.

(1)

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a first cycle degree in Built Environment Studies from

this University, with at least at Second Class

(Honours); or

(b) a qualification deemed by Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board, to be comparable to the

qualification listed in paragraph (a) of this bye-law.

The admission of applicants under this bye-law may be

made conditional on the results of an assessment as the

Board may deem appropriate.

(2)

All applicants shall be required to submit a transcript of

studies showing that during the first cycle degree they successfully

completed the minimum number of credits in the relative thematic

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study-units, as indicated in the Schedule approved by the Board.

Study-units which were awarded a Compensated Pass shall not be

considered sufficient for this purpose, provided that, at the

discretion of the Board, applicants who present Compensated

Passes in up to 4 ECTS credits may be allowed to join the Course

subject to any conditions which the Board may impose.

(3) Study-units which were successfully completed during

exchange periods of study at other universities may be offered in

lieu of study-units indicated in the Schedule, subject to

confirmation by the Board that such study-units have a thematic

content which is compatible with the relative Schedule, and that

study-units so presented are at least at the same level as the study-

units they are replacing.

(4) Applicants who commenced the first cycle degree leading

to the qualification specified in paragraph (1)(a) of this bye-law in

October 2011 or October 2012 who lack not more than 4 ECTS

credits in study-units from the relevant thematic area may be

allowed to follow and successfully complete supplementary study-

units to make up for this shortfall, in addition to the programme of

study specified in bye-law 5.

(5) Applicants in possession of a qualification as indicated in

paragraph (1) of this bye-law who do not satisfy the requirements

of paragraph (2) of this bye-law and lack more than the number of

credits indicated in paragraph (4) of this bye-law may be allowed to

follow and successfully complete a Preparatory Programme,

comprising not less than 30 and not more than 60 ECTS credits,

with an overall average mark of 55% or better, prior to their

registration as regular students on the course. Under no

circumstances, shall the Preparatory Programme be taken in order

to improve a prior performance in the first cycle degree in Built

Environment Studies.

The course shall extend over four semesters of full-time

study.

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

which a total of 120 ECTS credits are assigned, of which not less than

45 ECTS credits are assigned to the Final Project Workshop and

Dissertation study-unit. It shall include study-units grouped by themes

(two main themes each assigned 25 ECTS credits and one secondary

theme assigned 10 ECTS credits), and 15 ECTS credits assigned to

synoptic project-based workshops.

(2) The programme of study shall particularly address the

topics of architectural design, history and theory of architecture,

fine arts, urban design and planning, environmental performances,

the construction process and costs, and structural behaviour.

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

by Senate on the recommendation of the Board, normally not less

than eight months prior to the commencement of the Course.

(4)

Programmes shall be offered as follows

M.Arch. (Architectural Design), comprising main

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thematic study-units in Architectural Design, and in

Architectural Science and Technology, and secondary

thematic study-units in Management Studies;

M.Arch. (Architecture and Urban Design), comprising

main thematic study-units in Architectural Design, and

in Urban Design, and secondary thematic study-units

in Management Studies; and

M.Arch. (Architecture and Conservation Studies),

comprising main thematic study-units in Architectural

Design, and in Conservation Studies, and secondary

thematic study-units in Management Studies.

(5) Students who obtain 60 ECTS credits assigned to taught study-

units 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 Diploma.

(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)

(i) Students who in any academic year fail in the

assessment of not more than 20 ECTS credits shall be

given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments

during the September supplementary examination

session,

provided that if a student fails in two-thirds or more of

the assignments associated with the Design Workshops

held in the first year of studies, corresponding to work

undertaken over a significant portion of the academic

year, the Board may decide that a re-assessment during

the following September supplementary session is not

a viable option for the student, and may require that

the student re-submits the failed assignments during an

additional year, before being admitted to the second

year of studies; and

(ii) Students in the second year of the course shall only be

given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments

of taught study-units assigned not more than 20 ECTS

credits during the September supplementary

examination session.

(3) Students who fail 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.

Students shall be required to complete the Final Project

Wo r k s h o p a n d w r i t e a d i s s e r t a t i o n i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e

guidelines issued by the Board.

(1) The Final Project Workshop has the same status as a

dissertation as defined in the General Regulations for University

P o s t g r a d u a t e Aw a r d s . T h e a ss e s sm e n t o f t h e F i n a l P r o j e ct

Workshop shall accordingly be as defined in the Procedures for

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Boards of Examiners of Master’s dissertations (assigned less than

60 ECTS credits), approved by Senate.

(2) The Board of Examiners for the Final Project Workshop

shall be composed of at least seven members, comprising the Dean

as Chairman and including members of staff with expertise in the

disciplines relevant to the theme of the Final Project Workshop, as

approved by Senate.

(3) Work on the Final Project Workshop shall be undertaken

during the third and fourth semesters of the course. Students shall

be assigned a number of supervisors who shall provide guidance

and advice, in conformity with the main themes of the Final Project

Workshop.

(4) The Final Project Workshop shall comprise a synoptic

design project, presented by each student via drawings, written

documents, audio-visual material and an oral presentation.

(5) The theme for the Final Project Workshop shall be

submitted to the Board for approval by the deadline indicated by

the Board. Students may undertake similar themes for the Final

Project Workshop, provided that they shall be required to submit

for assessment individual project proposals.

(1) The dissertation shall be of approximately 15,000 words in

accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board. Each student shall

be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a

regular basis during the period of study.

(2) A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by

the deadline indicated by the Board.

(3) The assessment of the dissertation shall include an oral

examination. The process of assessment of the dissertation shall be

as defined in the Procedures for Boards of Examiners of Master

Dissertations (assigned less than 60 ECTS credits), approved by

Senate.

(4) The Board of Examiners shall be composed of at least four

members, including the Chairman and the supervisor, as approved

by Senate, provided that in cases where the Head of Department is

also the supervisor, he shall not chair but another member shall be

appointed as chairman; in cases where the Board deems it

appropriate, a chairman other than the Head of Department may be

appointed.

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

their supervisors, not less than once a month.

(2) Students shall be required to make an interim presentation

to the relative Board of Examiners, mid-way through the

programme of both the Dissertation and Final Project Workshop, so

that it may be ascertained that each student is making satisfactory

progress. Following such interim presentations, a progress report

shall be drawn up, which may include recommendations to either

(a) extend the period of study in order to enable the student to

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complete the work properly; or (b) terminate studies prematurely if

the Board 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 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 Award Classification Board shall be composed of at

least seven members of staff, including the Dean, or delegate, as

chairman, appointed by the Board. The classification procedures

shall otherwise conform to the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards.

A Visiting External Examiner shall be appointed to review

the taught component of the course as well as the Final Project

Workshop and dissertation, in accordance with the applicable

procedures.