DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.562

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER

THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

1st November, 2016

LEGAL NOTICE 361 of 2016.

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

Degree of Master of Arts - M.A. - 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 appointed by

Senate for the course, on the recommendation of the Board;

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

of Master of Arts - M.A.;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts - M.A.;

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate

in the relevant area of study - P.G. Cert.; 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.

The course shall be offered in any area of study that falls

within the academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by

Senate.

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

a Bachelor degree from this University or any other institution

recognized by Senate in an area of study deemed relevant by the

Board with at least Second Class Honours. Applicants in

possession of a degree obtained with at least Category II shall also

be admitted following successful completion of a preparatory

programme as indicated in bye-law 5.

(2) The admission of applicants may be made conditional on

the result of an interview conducted by an interviewing board

appointed for the purpose.

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

composed of at least three members.

(4) The Board shall recommend to Senate the number of

applicants that may be allowed to register for the course, depending

on the availability of resources. The Board shall announce the areas

of study and the number of available places at the time of the call

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

for applications.

(5) When the number of places is so 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 who fully satisfy

the entry requirements by 31st August preceding the

commencement of the course shall be considered first.

Applicants not in possession of an Honours degree

admitted under paragraph (1) of bye-law 4 shall be required to

complete a preparatory programme, comprising not less than 30

ECTS credits and not more than 60 ECTS credits as directed by the

Board, depending on the number of credits already obtained in the

chosen area of study, with an overall average mark of 55% or

better, prior to their registration as regular students on the course.

The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study or the equivalent in part-time study.

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

which a total of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which not more

than 30 ECTS credits are assigned to taught study-units and not less

than 60 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) Students who obtain a total of 30 ECTS credits for 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 t e t he co ur s e , sha ll b e e li gi bl e fo r t he aw a rd of t he

Postgraduate Certificate.

(3) Students shall be eligible for the award of the Degree if

they obtain the 90 ECTS credits as outlined in the programme of

study for the course with an average mark of at least 50%.

(4) 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 the taught study-units shall be

completed by the end of the semester in which the teaching of the

study-units are held.

(2) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment

of not more than 10 ECTS credits for taught study-units shall be

given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments 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

required to withdraw from the course.

(1)

Students shall be required to submit an individual

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

dissertation of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 words in

accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

(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 who shall provide guidance

and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

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

research proposal of approximately 300 words shall be submitted at

the time of application. The title for the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal outlining the proposed project and the main

questions to be addressed shall be submitted to the Board of Studies

for approval by not later than the end of the first semester.

(1) The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for

each student, normally composed of three members as follows: the

Dean of the Faculty, or his/her delegate as Chairman, and two other

members, one of whom being the principal supervisor, provided

that when the Dean of the Faculty 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 studies, supervisors shall be

required to submit to the Panel of Supervision reports for 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 Panel 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 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.