BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF GENDER, SOCIETY AND CULTURE - M.GSC - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.545

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

GENDER, SOCIETY AND CULTURE - M.GSC -

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

26th May, 2016

LEGAL NOTICE 201 of 2016, as amended by Legal Notices 300 and 381

of 2016 and 218 of 2023.

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

Degree of Master of Gender, Society and Culture - M. GSC - under

the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.

(2)

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty for Social

Wellbeing;

"the Board of Studies" means the Board of Studies for the course

as appointed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board;

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

of Master of Gender, Society and Culture - M. GSC;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Gender, Society and

Culture - M. GSC;

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate

in Gender, Society and Culture - P.G.Cert. GSC;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Gender, Society and Culture - P.G.Dip. GSC; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2016 or later.

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

a Bachelor degree from the University of Malta or any other

institution recognized by Senate, obtained with at least Second

Class Honours or Category II.

(2) Applicants in possession of a Bachelor degree obtained with

Third Class Honours or Category III may also be accepted,

provided that such applicants are in possession of other

qualifications or relevant experience, obtained following the first

cycle degree.

(3) The Faculty Admissions Committee may, after thorough

examination of documents submitted in support of the qualifications

presented, and following an interview, recommend the admission of

OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

applicants applying for admission in terms of the University’s Policy for

the Recognition and Accreditation of Prior Learning (RPL) who are in

possession of other academic or professional qualifications and

documented experience if these are deemed to be comparable to the

qualifications referred to in paragraph (1) of this bye-law. The

admission of such applicants may be made subject to those conditions

that may be imposed to address any lacunae in the applicants’ academic

preparation.

(3) All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that they

have the necessary aptitude and disposition to follow the course

with profit which shall be measured by means of a personal

interview conducted by an interviewing board appointed for the

purpose.

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

composed of at least three members.

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

eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available,

applicants will 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.

(6) For the purpose of selection, applicants whose

qualifications as stipulated in paragraph (1) of this bye-law were

obtained by 31 August preceding the commencement of the course

shall be considered first.

Applicants admitted under paragraphs (2) and (3) 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 obtain

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

regular students on the Course.”

(1) The course shall extend over three semesters of full-

time study or the equivalent in part-time study.

(2) Eligible applicants may register as visiting students for

individual study-units and obtain credit for them. Should they be

accepted to join the course within seven years from following the

first study-unit, the Board may allow the transfer of these credits to

the student’s academic record for the course.

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 a dissertation study-unit.

Students who obtain at least 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.

OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

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 20 ECTS credits, 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 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 20,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

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

third semester 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 an initial

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board of Studies for

approval not later than six weeks before the end of the second

semester of full-time study, or its equivalent in part-time study.

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

their supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies progress

reports for each student under their supervision at the end of each

semester of study, 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.

OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

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 course

programme, 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.