BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY FAMILY STUDIES - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

MASTER OF ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY FAMILY

STUDIES - M.A.

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.631

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY FAMILY STUDIES -

M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY

FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

13th August, 2019

LEGAL NOTICE 199 of 2019, as amended by Legal Notice 172 of 2021.

(1)

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

the degree of Master of Arts in Contemporary Family Studies - 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 in Contemporary Family Studies - M.A.;

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

Contemporary Family Studies - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Contemporary Family Studies - P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Contemporary Family Studies - 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 2021 or later.

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of a

Bachelor’s degree from this University, or another higher education

institution recognized by Senate for the purpose, obtained with at least

Second Class Honours or Category II, in an area of study deemed

relevant by the Board.

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study 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

MASTER OF ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY FAMILY

STUDIES - M.A.

assigned to a dissertation study-unit.

Students who successfully complete a prescribed set of

study-units totalling 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 complete 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.

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%.

The programme of study shall be published by the Board

of Studies 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 in any academic year fail in the assessment

of not more than 20 ECTS credits, if following the Course full-time,

or not more than 10 ECTS credits if following the Course part-time,

shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessment during

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 credit for any study-unit, shall be deemed

to have failed the Course.

(1)

Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 20,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

(2)

Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the

third semester of 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 of the dissertation and a research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board of Studies for approval by

the beginning of the second semester.

(1)

Students shall be required to have regular contact

MASTER OF ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY FAMILY

STUDIES - M.A.

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

study. Such reports may include recommendations 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 relevant 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.

The Bye-Laws of 2014 in terms of the General

Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the

Degree of Master in Family Studies under the auspices of the Faculty

for Social Wellbeing, published as Legal Notice 283 of 2012, shall be

deemed to cease to be in force as from the 1st October 2019,

provided that students registered for this course before the 1st

October 2019 shall continue to be governed by the bye-laws that

were in force at the time of their joining the course.