BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMATION - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN FAITH

FORMATION - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.531

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMATION - M.A. -

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

19th January, 2016

LEGAL NOTICE 21 of 2016, as amended by Legal Notices 248 of 2017.

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

Degree of Master of Arts in Christian Faith Formation - M.A. -

under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Theology;

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

of Master of Arts in Christian Faith Formation - M.A.;

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

Faith Formation - M.A.;

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate

in Christian Faith Formation - P.G. Cert.;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Christian Faith Formation - P.G. Dip.; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2017 or later.

The course shall be open to applicants in possession of

(a) a degree in education with at least Second Class

Honours from the University of Malta or a degree from

another university recognised as equivalent for the

purpose together with a minimum of one year’s

teaching experience; or

(b) any other degree with at least Second Class Honours,

together with a recognised teaching or education

qualification and a minimum of one year’s teaching

experience; or

(c) a degree in education or a Teacher's Certificate,

together with at least two years’ teaching experience

and other suitable qualifications obtained following

the degree or after the Teacher's Certificate; or

(d) any first cycle degree together with either a recognised

teaching qualification or the Postgraduate Certificate

in Education, together with five years’ experience in

an education setting; or

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN FAITH

FORMATION - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

(e) any first cycle degree, together with at least two years’

teaching experience in any Christian faith formation

institute; or

(f)

a qualification deemed by Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board, to be equivalent to the

qualifications listed in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of this

bye-law, together with the required years of

experience.

The course shall extend over six semesters of part-time

study.

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 are

assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain 30 ECTS credits assigned to taught

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

proceed with the course, or having proceeded do not successfully

c o m pl e te t he co ur s e , shal l be e l ig i bl e f o r th e aw a rd o f t he

Postgraduate Certificate.

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

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

Postgraduate Diploma.

The programme of study shall be published 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 10 ECTS credits shall be given the opportunity to

re-sit the failed assessment 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

deemed to have failed the course.

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 15,000 - 20,000 words in accordance with

the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the

last two semesters of the course. Each student shall be assigned a

supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular

basis during the period of study.

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

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval not later than

six weeks before the end of the fourth semester.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN FAITH

FORMATION - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES

OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

(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. Such reports may include recommendations 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.

(1) The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of

the 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.

(2)

The Postgraduate Certificate shall be awarded unclassified.