MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA - LL.M. - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS UNDER

SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA -

LL.M.

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.652

MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND

SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA

- LL.M. - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS UNDER

THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS

28th July, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE 300 of 2020.

(1)

These regulations may be cited as the Master of

Laws in the Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at

Sea - LL.M. - Degree Course Regulations.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

-

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Laws;

“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 Laws in the

Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at Sea - LL.M.;

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

Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at Sea - LL.M.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma

in the Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at Sea - P.G.

Dip.;

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

teaching of the programme for the Master of Laws in the Prevention

and Suppression of International Crime at Sea, namely

University of Malta; and

University of Ferrara;

“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 Partner

Institutions within the framework of a joint degree programme. The

qualifications shall only be awarded if the Partner Institutions declare

SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA -

LL.M.

the student to be eligible for the award.

These regulations shall be applicable for courses

commencing in October 2020 or later.

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession

of a first cycle degree in Law or any other area of study which the

Board considers as appropriate, provided that the first cycle degree is

obtained with at least Second Class Honours or Category II, or an

equivalent qualification, from the University or from another higher

education institution recognized by Senate.

(2)

Applicants not in possession of a degree in Law shall also

be required to satisfy the Board that they are in possession of

professional experience in an environment related to crime at sea.

(3)

Depending on the availability of resources, the Senate, on

the recommendation of the Board of Studies, shall determine the

number of applicants that may be allowed to register on the Course.

The number of available places shall be announced at the time of the

call for applications.

(4)

If there are more eligible applicants than there are

available places, applications shall be evaluated on the basis of the

criteria as agreed by the Partner Institutions and published at the time

of the call for applications.

(1)

The Course shall extend over three semesters of

full-time study which shall include the summer period.

(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.

Applicants wishing to register for the Course shall apply

on the prescribed form by not later than the end of May prior to the

commencement of the Course. The Board may also extend this

deadline up to the end of June should the minimum number of

students not be reached.

(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 credits

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%.

SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA -

LL.M.

(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)

The Board shall publish the programme of study prior to

the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.

(5)

All students shall be required to attend at least 70% of all

lectures 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 taught study-unit shall be

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

study-unit is held.

(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

45% - 49%

E

0% - 44%

Fail

(3)

Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment

of not more than 20 ECTS credits for taught study-units shall be

given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the

September examination session. If successful on re-assessment, the

marks/grade to be awarded shall be 45%/E.

(4)

Students who fail in more than the number of credits

permitted under paragraph (3) of this regulation or students who after

re-assessment fail to obtain the credits for any study-unit, shall be

SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA -

LL.M.

deemed to have failed the Course.

(5)

If a student is prevented for a reason considered valid by

Senate from being assessed in a taught study-unit, the student may be

granted an additional year of study, unless the course is discontinued.

(1)

Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 15,000 - 20,000 words, excluding

references and appendices, in accordance with the guidelines issued

by the Board of Studies.

(2)

Dissertations shall normally be written in English.

However, the Board of Studies may allow students to write their

dissertation in any other language provided that the Board of Studies

has ascertained to the satisfaction of Senate, that the Partner

Institutions have the necessary expertise to supervise and examine the

work. In such cases, students shall be required to include a translation

of the abstract in English.

(3)

Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the third

semester of the Course.

(4)

Students shall submit for approval a title and a detailed

research proposal by the beginning of the second semester in the

format specified by the Board of Studies.

(5)

Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for

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

(6)

When submitting a dissertation, students are required to

submit separately a signed declaration that the dissertation is their

own original work.

(7)

Before graduating, students shall present an electronic

version of the dissertation to each Partner Institution. The electronic

version must conform to the standards set by each Partner Institution.

(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. 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

SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA -

LL.M.

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.

Each dissertation shall be examined by a Board of

Examiners, composed of two members, one chosen from the

University of Malta and one chosen from the University of Ferrara.

In addition, the Board of Studies may choose to appoint an external

examiner who has expertise in the area of study.

(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 six months from the day on which it is referred back to

them.

(2)

If a student fails in a dissertation, the maximum marks/

grade that can be awarded after re-assessment shall be 50%/D.

(1)

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.

(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 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

80 – 100%

Pass with Distinction

SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA -

LL.M.

70 – 79%

Pass with Merit

50 – 69%

Pass.

The two awards shall be awarded jointly by both Partner

Institutions following agreement between both Partner Institutions.