BYE-LAWS FOR THE HIGHER DIPLOMA IN HEALTH SCIENCE - H.Dip. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH

OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.524

BYE-LAWS FOR THE HIGHER DIPLOMA IN

HEALTH SCIENCE - H.Dip. - UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH

SCIENCES

23rd October, 2015

LEGAL NOTICE 340 of 2015, as amended by Legal Notices 198 of 2016

and 315 of 2019.

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

Higher Diploma in Health Science - H.Dip. - under the auspices of

the Faculty of Health Sciences.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences;

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

Diploma in Health Science - H.Dip.;

"the Higher Diploma" means the Higher Diploma in Health

Science - H.Dip.;

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Undergraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2019 or later.

To be registered as regular students in the course,

applicants must have obtained all the credits of the Preparatory

Course, specifically related to the proposed area of study in the

Higher Diploma, which shall extend over a period of one year of

full-time study, immediately prior to the commencement of the

course. If by the end of the Preparatory Course, students do not

successfully complete all the study-units and obtain the 60 ECTS

credits they shall not be admitted to the course.

The requirements for admission and successful completion

of the Preparatory Course are listed in Appendix I to these bye-

laws.

Applicants who are eligible to join the course in terms of

article 8 of Appendix I to these bye-laws may be assessed for their

suitability to follow their chosen area of study.

The course shall extend over a period of two years of full-

time study taken after successful completion of a Preparatory

Course of one year’s duration.

The Higher Diploma may be awarded in terms of these

bye-laws in Nursing Studies or in any other area related to the

Health Sciences, following the approval of Senate.

The areas of study offered in any particular year shall be

published by the Board before the commencement of each course.

OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Senate, on the advice of the Board, may limit the number

of students that may be admitted to the course in any or all of the

areas of study and shall approve bye-laws for the selection of

applicants to the course in the area/s of study where the number of

students that may be admitted is limited.

The programme of study for each area of study, which shall

comprise study-units to which 120 ECTS credits are assigned, shall

have two distinct, although interdependent components: one

theoretical and the other practical/clinical.

Subject to changes that the Board may, with the approval of

Senate, be constrained to make, students are bound to follow the

study-units and obtain the credits as indicated in the programme of

study of the area of study they are following for the Higher

Diploma

Provided that programmes of study are drawn up in accordance

with the relevant provisions of the Principal Regulations.

(1) Students who fail a clinical practice study-unit or a

study-unit involving a practical placement may be required to

repeat the study-unit during the summer months before being re-

assessed, or if such an arrangement is found not to be possible, re-

do the study-unit in an additional year of study.

(2) The conditions for the re-assessment of such study-units

shall be indicated in the description of each study-unit that is

published in the catalogue.

(1) The overall evaluation of each student’s performance

shall be based on the results obtained in each year of the course,

weighted according to the following criteria

First Year Average Mark

40%

Second Year Average Mark

60%.

(2) The names of students who qualify for the award of the

Higher Diploma shall be published in a list in alphabetical order

classified as follows

Pass with Distinction

Pass with Merit

Pass.

OF HEALTH SCIENCES

APPENDIX I

The Preparatory Course

1. In order to be admitted to the Preparatory Course

specifically related to one of the areas of study in the Higher

Diploma outlined in bye-law 3, applicants are required to be in

possession of one of the following

(a) passes at Grade 5 or better in the Secondary Education

Certificate Examination in six subjects, including

Maltese, English Language, Mathematics, and

Biology; or

(b) the MCAST-BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and

Social Care (Health Studies) or the MCAST Advanced

Diploma in Health Sciences, or equivalent,

provided that applicants wishing to join a Preparatory Course

leading to admission to the Higher Diploma course with Nursing

Studies as the area of study may, instead, present the Certificate in

Nursing Practice awarded by the Institute of Health Care, or the

Certificate of Enrolled Nurse awarded by the Department of

Health.

For courses commencing in October 2016 or later

(a) passes at Grade 5 or better in the Secondary Education

Certificate Examination in six subjects, including

Maltese, English Language, Mathematics, and

Biology; or

(b) the MCAST-BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and

Social Care (Health Studies), or equivalent

Provided that applicants wishing to join a Preparatory Course

leading to admission to the Higher Diploma course with Nursing

Studies as the area of study may, instead, present the Certificate in

Nursing Practice awarded by the Institute of Health Care, or the

Certificate of Enrolled Nurse awarded by the Department of

Health.

2. Applicants are further required to be aged not less than 18

years with in th ree mo nths fo llowi ng th e date on which t he

Preparatory Course commences.

3. During the first semester of the Preparatory Course, students

are also required to undergo an occupational health assessment so as to

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

Students who do not fulfil this requirement may be barred from

progressing with their studies. Failure to disclose information about a

physical or mental health problem that could affect patient safety is

considered to be a serious breach of the University Suitability to Practise

Regulations..

4. The Preparatory Course shall consist of a number of study-

units to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned and shall extend over a

period of one year of full-time study.

5. Subject to changes that the Board, with the approval of

Senate, may be constrained to make, students are bound to follow

OF HEALTH SCIENCES

the study-units and obtain the credits as indicated in the programme

of study for the Preparatory Course they are following.

6. Students shall be considered as having successfully

completed the Preparatory Course if they obtain the credits as

outlined in the programme of study and obtain an average mark of

55%.

7. The provisions regarding assessment, progression and

successful completion of the Preparatory Course, and any other

provisions not outlined in this Appendix to these bye-laws shall be

those stipulated in the Principal Regulations and shall apply

mutatis mutandis.