BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN

EARTH SYSTEMS - M.SC

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.590

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND

ASSESSMENT – M.SC. – UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE INSTITUTE OF EARTH SYSTEMS

13th February, 2018

LEGAL NOTICE 50 of 2018, as amended by Legal Notices 208 of 2018

435 of 2021, 243 of 2023, 101 of 2024 and 8 of 2025.

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

degree of Master of Science in Environmental Monitoring and

Assessment – M.Sc. – under the auspices of the Institute of Earth

Systems.

(2)

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

“the Board” means the Board of the Institute of Earth Systems;

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies responsible

for the academic administration and organisation of the Course,

appointed by Senate;

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

degree of Master of Science in Environmental Monitoring and

Assessment - M.Sc.;

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

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment - M.Sc.;

“the Institute” means the Institute of Earth Systems;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment - P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma

in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment - P.G. Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2021.

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing

in October 2018 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) To be registered as regular students in the Course,

applicants shall be in possession of

(i)

a first cycle degree in Science with Earth Systems as a

main area of study obtained with Second Class

Honours or better; or

(ii) a first cycle degree in Science obtained with Second

Class Honours or better in an area that is deemed

relevant by the Board.

(2) Applicants with a first cycle degree in Science with Earth

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN

EARTH SYSTEMS - M.SC

Systems as a main area of study obtained with Third Class Honours

may be admitted if they show evidence of significant experience in

work relevant to the area of study of the Course, obtained after their

first cycle degree. The admission of applicants under this bye-law

may be made conditional on the results of an interview.

(3) Repealed by Legal Notice 8 of 2025.

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 number of available places shall

be announced at the time of the call for applications.

When the number of places is so limited and the number of

eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available,

applicants shall be selected according to 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.

Interviews, when necessary, shall be conducted by an

interviewing board appointed by the Board, and shall be composed

of at least three members.

Applications for the Course shall be submitted by the

deadline announced by the University of Malta. 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.

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study, which shall include a summer period, or the equivalent in

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 for taught study-units with

an average mark of at least 50% and do not proceed with the Course shall

be eligible for the award of the 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.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN

EARTH SYSTEMS - M.SC

(1) The assessment of each taught study-unit shall be Assessment and

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

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 resit 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

considered to have failed the Course.

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

their supervisor, not less than once a month.

(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 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 of Studies

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