BYE-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE AWARDS 2008 FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.610

BYE-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL

REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE

AWARDS 2008 FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS - M.A. -

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES *

9th November, 2018

LEGAL NOTICE 370 of 2018.

(1)

These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-laws in

terms of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards

2008 for the Degree of Master of Arts in Media and

Communications - M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Media

and Knowledge Sciences.

(2)

In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Media and

Knowledge Sciences;

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

degree of Master of Arts in Media and Communications – M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Media and

Communications – M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Media and Communications – P.G. Dip., and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2018 or later.

(1)

Subject to the conditions laid down in bye-law 4,

the Course shall be open to applicants in possession of one of the

following qualifications

(a)

a Bachelor’s degree obtained with Second Class

Honours or better in Communications or in a

closely related area of study deemed appropriate by

the Board; or

(b)

a Bachelor’s degree in Communications or in a

closely related area of study deemed appropriate by

*Repealed by Legal Notice 129 of 2020.

M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES

the Board, with an average mark of not less than

65% in that area of study; or

(c)

a degree from this or another university, which the

Board considers as comparable to the degrees

indicated in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(2)

The Board may consider applicants in possession of other

qualifications if they also present a compendium of recent works

confirmed to have been carried out by them and which is related to the

area of study applied for to the satisfaction of the Board.

(3)

The admission of applicants may be made conditional on

the result of an interview conducted by an interviewing board

composed of at least three members, appointed by the Board for the

purpose.

(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 number

of available places at the time of the call for applications.

(5)

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

eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants

shall 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 an interview.

(6)

For the purpose of selection, applicants whose

qualifications as stipulated in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this bye-law

were obtained by 31 August preceding the commencement of the

Course shall be considered first.

(1)

Applicants applying in terms of sub-paragraphs (b)

and (c) of paragraph (1) and in terms of paragraph (2) of bye-law 3

may be required to complete a preparatory programme, comprising

not less than 30 and not more than 60 ECTS credits as directed by the

Board, with an average mark of 55% or better prior to their

registration as regular students on the Course.

(2)

The Board may grant applicants full or partial exemption

from the requirement of the preparatory programme if it is satisfied

that they possess post first cycle degree work experience that

adequately prepare them for the Course.

The Course shall extend over four semesters of full-time

M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES

study.

(1)

The programme of study shall comprise study-units

to which a total of 120 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 55 ECTS

credits are assigned to taught study-units, 5 ECTS credits to a

placement study-unit, 10 ECTS credits to two mentored practice

sessions, and 50 ECTS credits assigned to the dissertation study-unit

or practical project.

(2)

Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the

taught study-units and the placement with an average mark of at least

50% and do not proceed with the Course, or having proceeded do not

successfully complete the dissertation or the project, shall be eligible

for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

(3)

Students shall be eligible for the award of the Degree if

they obtain the 120 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 by the Board

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 fail in the assessment of not more than 20

ECTS credits for study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit

the failed assessments. Students shall be allowed to re-sit the taught

study-units during the September supplementary examination session

and to re-sit the placement study-unit and/or re-submit the

independent study/project work by not later than the end of 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 the credits for any study-unit, shall be

deemed to have failed the Course.

(1)

During the first year of the Course, students shall

be required to undertake a placement in the area in which they choose

to specialize during the second year of the Course. Students shall be

supervised by an approved mentor who shall submit to the Board a

report at the end of the placement period.

(2)

Before undertaking the placement, students shall be

required to submit to the Board for approval, a proposal written by

them and endorsed by the placement mentor, by the deadline

indicated by the Board.

M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES

(3)

At the end of the placement, students shall be required to

submit a task-analytical essay in accordance with guidelines issued by

the Board.

(1)

In each of the two semesters of the second year of

the Course, students shall be required to take part in a mentored

practice project targetting their chosen area of specialisation, doing

independent study and/or project work under the guidance of an

approved mentor, who shall submit to the Board a report at the end the

mentored-practice period.

(2)

Students shall be required to submit a final report on the

experience and skills gained during the mentored practice.

(1)

Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of between 25,000 and 30,000 words, or a practical

project together with a written component of between 12,000 and

15,000 words, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2)

Work on the dissertation or project shall commence 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 or the theme of the

project, 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. 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

project; 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 the Degree shall be

based on the results obtained in all the components of the programme

of study, all credits being weighted equally.

M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES