BYE-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE AWARDS, FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.589

BYE-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL

REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE

AWARDS, FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

SOCIAL WORK UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

30th January, 2018

LEGAL NOTICE 32 of 2018, as amended by Legal Notices 206 of

2018,174 of 2021, 156 of 2022 and 16 of 2026.

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

terms of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate

Awards, for the degree of Master of Social Work 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 Course” means the programme of study leading to the

degree of Master of Social Work;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Social Work;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Social Care Studies;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Social Care Studies; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008.”

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing

in October 2021 or later.

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants who are in

possession of the following qualifications

(a)

a Bachelor degree from this University or any higher

education institution recognised by Senate, obtained

with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division)

in Social Policy, Psychology, Youth and Community

Studies or Social Wellbeing Studies; or

(b)

a Bachelor degree from this University or another

higher education institution recognised by Senate,

obtained with at least Category IIA in any two of the

following areas of study: Anthropology, Psychology,

Sociology or Social Studies; or

(c )

a Bachelor degree from this University or another

higher education institution recognised by Senate,

obtained with at least Category IIA in Theology with

Psychology or Social Studies or Sociology; or

(d)

a Bachelor degree from this University or another higher

education institution recognised by Senate, obtained with

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

at least Second Class Honours and with a minimum

average mark of 65% in any area of study together with a

minimum of 300 hours of social care-related experience

gained over a maximum period of ten years immediately

prior to the commencement of the Course. A letter or

letters of attestation demonstrating that the applicant has

gained the requisite experience must be presented.

Applicants shall also be required to present written

reflections of their social care-related experience during

an interview.

(2) Applicants must not be listed in the Register established

under the Protection of Minors (Registration) Act (CAP. 518). Upon

acceptance into the Course, applicants will be required to submit an

original Police Good Conduct Certificate, issued by the Commissioner

of Police under the Conduct Certificates Ordinance. The certificate

must be issued within six months before the date of its submission.

(3)

(a)

All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that

they have the necessary aptitude and disposition to follow the Course

with profit.

(b)

Professional aptitude and disposition shall be

measured by means of a personal interview.

Interviews shall be conducted by an interviewing

board composed of at least three members,

appointed by the Board for the purpose.

(c)

Applicants who obtain less than 60% for the

professional aptitude and disposition criterion shall

automatically not be admitted into the Course.

(4)

Repealed by Legal Notice 16 of 2026.

(5)

Repealed by Legal Notice 16 of 2026.

(6) Repealed by Legal Notice 16 of 2026.

The Course shall extend over four semesters of full-time

study or the equivalent in part-time study.

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

which a total of 120 ECTS credits are assigned, and shall comprise

60 ECTS credits for taught study-units, 30 ECTS credits for two

work placements, and 30 ECTS credits for a dissertation.

(2) 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 complete

the Course, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate

Certificate.

(3) Students who obtain the 60 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 complete

the Course, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate

Diploma.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

In cases where students lack essential knowledge in the

subject area, the Board may require students admitted to the Course

to follow and pass supplementary study-units to which a maximum

of 12 ECTS credits are assigned in addition to the programme of

study specified in bye-law 5 of these bye-laws.

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 ) Stu dent s shall be r equi red to su bm it an in div idu al

dissertation of approximately 20,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board.

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

third and fourth 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 of the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by

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 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 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.

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.