MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC. - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.612

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC.

- DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND

SURGERY

27th November, 2018

LEGAL NOTICE 398 of 2018, as amended by Legal Notice 436 of 2021 .

(1)

These regulations may be cited as the Master of

Science in Surgical Skills - M.Sc. - Degree Course Regulations.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise

requires -

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

Surgery;

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

for the academic administration and organisation of the Course,

which shall include members from each Partner Institution;

“the Course” means the programme of study developed by the

Partner Institutions leading to the degree of Master of Science in

Surgical Skills - M.Sc.;

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

Skills - M.Sc.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Surgical Skills - P.G.Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Surgical Skills - P.G.Dip.;

“the Partner Institutions” means the institutions taking part in the

teaching of the Master of Science in Surgical Skills, namely

University of Malta; and

Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), Queen Mary University of London;

“the Senate” means the Senate of the University of Malta; and

“the University” means the University of Malta.

(3)

This Degree is a joint degree of the University and this

shall be taken to mean that the Course is taught by both the Partner

Institutions within the framework of a joint degree programme. The

award shall only be awarded if the Partner Institutions declare the

student to be eligible for the award.

These regulations shall apply to courses commencing in

October 2018 or later.

(1)

The Course shall be offered in any area of

specialisation that falls within the academic responsibility of the

Board, after approval by Senate.

(2)

Students shall be required to indicate their chosen area of

specialisation during the first year of the Course.

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession

of one of the following qualifications

(a)

the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery; or

(b)

a qualification deemed by Senate, on the

recommendation of the Board, to be equivalent to

the qualification listed in sub-paragraph (a); or

(c)

an Allied Health Science degree with

a

classification of Second Class Honours or better.

(2)

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.

(3)

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, if deemed

necessary.

(4)

Interviews, when necessary, shall be conducted by a board

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

purpose.

(5)

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.

(6)

All applicants must present a Police Conduct Certificate,

which must not be issued earlier than six months from the date of

application.

(1)

The Course shall extend over two years of part-

time study, which shall include the summer periods.

(2)

The Board of Studies may allow students to extend their

studies by not more than six months, provided that in special

circumstances, Senate, on the recommendation of the Board of

Studies, may grant students a further extension of up to two years in

order to enable them to complete their studies.

(1)

The programme of study shall consist of study-

units to which a total of 90 ECTS credits shall be assigned, and shall

comprise 60 ECTS credits for taught study-units and 30 ECTS for the

dissertation study-unit.

(2)

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%.

(3)

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 Course, shall be eligible for the award of the

Postgraduate Diploma.

(4)

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.

(5)

The Board shall publish the programme prior to the

commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.

(6)

All students shall be required to attend for lectures and

clinical placements as indicated in the programme of study for the

Course, at the venues indicated by the Board of Studies.

The Board of Studies shall draw up a catalogue of all

study-units. The catalogue shall indicate the level, code, title,

description and type of each study-unit, the ECTS credits assigned to

each study-unit, the methods of teaching and assessment, as well as

the re-assessment opportunities for each study-unit.

(1)

The assessment of each study-unit shall be held on

completion of the study-unit.

(2)

Results for the assessment of the study-units and the

dissertation shall be published as a percentage mark and grade as

indicated below

Mark Range

Grade

80% - 100%

A

70% - 79%

B

55% - 69%

C

50% - 54%

D

0% - 49%

FAIL

(3)

Students who fail in any of the taught study-units shall be

allowed one re-assessment. The re-assessment shall be held at the

supplementary examination session. If successful on re-assessment,

the grade to be awarded shall be Grade D.

(4)

Senate shall appoint a Board of Examiners for each study-

unit in accordance with the provisions of the University Assessment

Regulations.

(1)

Il-valutazzjoni ta’ kull taqsima studju għandha ssir

meta jintemm it-tagħlim tat-taqsima studju.

(2)

Ir-riżultati għal valutazzjoni tat-taqsimiet studju u tad-

dissertazzjoni għandhom ikunu ppubblikati bħala marka perċentwali

u grad kif indikat hawn taħt

Marka

Grad

80% - 100%

A

70% - 79%

B

55% - 69%

C

50% - 54%

D

0% - 49%

WEHEL

(3)

L-istudenti li jeħlu fil-valutazzjoni ta’ kwalunkwe

taqsimiet studju mgħallma għandhom jingħataw opportunità waħda

biex joqogħdu għall-valutazzjoni mill-ġdid. Il-valutazzjoni mill-ġdid

għandha ssir fis-sessjoni tal-eżamijiet supplimentari. Jekk jgħaddu

fil-valutazzjoni mill-ġdid, il-grad li jingħata huwa Grad D.

(4)

Is-Senat għandu jaħtar il-Bord tal-Eżaminaturi għal kull

taqsima studju skont il-provvedimenti tar-Regolamenti tal-

Valutazzjoni tal-Università.

(1)

Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of between 20,000 and 25,000 words, excluding

references and appendices, in accordance with the guidelines issued

by the Board of Studies.

(2)

Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the

first and second year of the Course. Students shall submit for approval

a title and a detailed research proposal by the deadline and in the

format specified by the Board of Studies.

(3)

Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for

any substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation.

(4)

Each dissertation shall include a declaration signed by the

students that it is their own original work.

(5)

Before graduating, students shall present an electronic

version of the dissertation to each of the Partner Institutions, which

shall include a signed declaration of authenticity. The electronic

version must conform to the standards set by each of the Partner

Institutions.

(1)

The Board of Studies shall appoint a supervisor for

each student. 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. 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

paragraph (2) of regulation 4; and

(ii)

the Board of Studies may not terminate studies

prematurely according to (b) until it has first given

the student a chance to be heard.

(3)

The role of the supervisor shall cease when the

dissertation is submitted for examination but may be re-assumed, on

the advice of the Board of Examiners, in order to provide guidance to

students whose dissertation is referred back for significant correction

pending final acceptance.

(1)

Each dissertation shall be examined by a Board of

Examiners, composed of at least three members, one of whom shall

normally be a local examiner from one of the Partner Institutions.

The Board of Examiners may additionally also include an external

examiner appointed from an institution external to the Partner

Institutions.

(2)

Students shall be required to take a viva voce examination

to defend their dissertation and this may also be conducted using

electronic means of communication, if so approved by the Board of

Studies.

(1)

Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory

may be allowed by the Board of Studies, on the recommendation of

the Board of Examiners, to resubmit it in a revised form, within a

period of up to six months from the day on which it is referred back

to them.

(2)

If a student fails in a dissertation, the maximum grade that

can be awarded after re-assessment shall be Grade D.

(1)

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.

(2)

The names of students who qualify for the award of the

Postgraduate Diploma and the Degree shall be published in a list in

alphabetical order classified as follows

Pass with Distinction

Pass with Merit

Pass

(3)

The

Postgraduate

Certificate

shall

be

awarded

unclassified.

(4)

The Award Classification Board shall consult the

following guidelines when deciding upon the final classification of

the Postgraduate Diploma and the Degree

Final Weighted Average Mark Classification

70 – 100%

Pass with Distinction

60 – 69%

Pass with Merit

50 – 59%

Pass

The three awards shall be awarded jointly by both Partner

Institutions following agreement between both Partner Institutions.