BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN EUROPEAN STUDIES - M.A - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN EUROPEAN

INTEGRATION STUDIES - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.509

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN EUROPEAN STUDIES - M.A -

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE INSTITUTE

FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

17th February, 2015

LEGAL NOTICE 51 of 2015.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in European Integration Studies - M.A. -

under the auspices of the Institute for European Studies.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Institute for European

Studies;

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

of Master of Arts in European Integration Studies - M.A.;

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

Integration Studies - M.A.; and

"the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in February 2015 or later.

(1) The course shall be open to applicants in possession of

a Bachelor degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours or

Category II in European Studies.

(2) The Board may allow applicants possessing a degree other

than that specified in paragraph (1) of this bye-law to join the

course, provided that the degree classification is not less than

Second Class Honours or Category II, and subject to the

submission of a letter of motivation and an interview to establish

whether such applicants have sufficient proficiency and

background to enable them to follow the course with profit. In such

instances, the Board may recommend that applicants follow a

preparatory programme as detailed in bye-law 4 of these bye-laws.

(3) All applicants shall be required to submit with their

application a detailed synopsis of their research topic. Applicants

shall be interviewed by an interviewing board appointed for the

purpose of evaluating the research proposal, which must satisfy the

Institute’s criteria.

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

composed of at least three members. It shall be chaired by the

Director or his/her delegate.

(5) When the number of places is limited and the number of

eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available,

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN EUROPEAN

INTEGRATION STUDIES - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

applicants shall 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 the interview, referred to in

paragraph (3) of this bye-law.

(6) For the purpose of selection, applicants whose

qualifications, as stipulated in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this bye-

law were obtained by 31 August preceding the commencement of

the course shall be considered first.

(1) Applicants admitted under paragraph (2) of bye-law 3

may be required to complete a preparatory programme, comprising

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

and to obtain an overall average mark of 55% or better, prior to

their registration as regular students on the course.

(2) The Board may grant students full or partial exemption

from the requirement of the preparatory programme if it is satisfied

that the students possess post-first cycle qualification work

experience that is relevant to the course.

The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study or the equivalent in part-time study.

The course shall comprise study-units to which a total of

90 ECTS credits shall be assigned, of which 10 ECTS credits are

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

the dissertation study-unit.

The programme of study shall be published by the Board

after approval by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior

to the 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 fail the assessment of the taught study-units

shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed study-units 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.

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of between 45,000 and 50,000 words (including

references and footnotes) in accordance with specific guidelines

approved by the Board.

(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 by the Board who shall

provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period of

study.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN EUROPEAN

INTEGRATION STUDIES - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

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

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval

concurrently with the application. The research proposal must be

endorsed by a member of the academic staff of the Institute who

has guided the student in its preparation.

(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

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 study, supervisors shall be

required to submit to the Panel of Supervision reports on the

students under their supervision. 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)

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 provisions of the foregoing bye-laws shall apply

mutatis mutandis to courses followed on part-time basis, and

subject to such changes as may reasonably be deemed by the Board

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