BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE AND MELITENSIA STUDIES - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

MASTER OF ARTS IN DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE AND

MELITENSIA STUDIES - M.A.

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.528

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS

IN DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE AND MELITENSIA

STUDIES - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

FACULTY OF MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES

20th November, 2015

LEGAL NOTICE 369 of 2015, as amended by Legal Notice 222 of 2019.

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2019

in terms of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate

Awards, 2008 for the degree of Master of Arts in Documentary

Heritage and Melitensia Studies - M.A. -under the auspices of the

Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Media and

Knowledge Sciences;

“the Course” means the programme of study leading to the

degree of Master of Arts in Documentary Heritage and Melitensia

Studies - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in

Documentary Heritage and Melitensia Studies - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Documentary Heritage and Melitensia Studies - P.G.Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2019 or later.

(1)

The course is open to applicants in possession of

either

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Library Information and

Archive Studies from the University of Malta obtained

with at least Second Class Honours or Category II; or

(b) a first cycle degree in any area of study deemed

relevant by the Board obtained with at least Second

Class Honours or Category II from the University of

Malta, or an equivalent qualification obtained from

any other recognised university; or

(c) the Diploma in Library and Information Studies, or the

Diploma in Archives and Records Management,

obtained from the University of Malta, or an

equivalent qualification obtained from any other

recognised university,

provided that such applicants submit a portfolio

MASTER OF ARTS IN DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE AND

MELITENSIA STUDIES - M.A.

documenting and describing a minimum of four years

of proven professional experience in the library,

archive or information management sector, which

experience was obtained following the completion of

their Diploma in Library and Information Studies, or

the Diploma in Archives and Records Management

course.

(2) Applicants in terms of paragraph (1)(b) and (c) of this bye-

laws shall be interviewed by a board appointed for the purpose, to

assess their suitability to follow the course with profit. The Board

shall announce the assessment criteria for admission into the course

at the time of the call for applications.

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

composed of at least three members.

The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study or six semesters of part-time study.

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

which a total of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 60 ECTS

credits are assigned to taught study-units and 30 ECTS credits

assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the

taught study-units with an average mark of at least 50% and do not

proceed with the course, or having proceeded do not successfully

compete the dissertation, shall be eligible for the award of the

Postgraduate Diploma.

(3) 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 in any academic year fail in the assessment

of not more than 20 ECTS credits for taught study-units, if

following the full-time course, or not more than 10 ECTS credits if

following the part-time course, shall be given the opportunity to re-

sit the failed assessments during the September supplementary

examination session.

(3) Students who fail in more than the number of credits

permitted under paragraph (2) of this bye-law, or students who,

after re-assessment fail to obtain the ECTS credits for any study-

unit, shall be deemed to have failed the course.

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 25,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Each dissertation shall be assigned a supervisor who shall

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

study.

MASTER OF ARTS IN DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE AND

MELITENSIA STUDIES - M.A.

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

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval not

later than six weeks before the end of the second semester.

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

their supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports for

each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of

studies, whether the student is following the course on a full-time

or a part-time basis. 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

classification of the Postgraduate Diploma and 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 Board

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