BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A.

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.654

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS

IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER OF ARTS IN

SOCIAL POLICY - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING

28th July, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE 304 of 2020.

(1)

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

the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work - M.A. - or Master of

Arts in Social Policy - 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 Social Work - M.A. - or Master of Arts in

Social Policy - M.A.;

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

- M.A. - or Master of Arts in Social Policy - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Social Work – P.G.Cert. - or the Postgraduate

Certificate in Social Policy - P.G. Cert., as appropriate;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Social Work – P.G.Dip. - or the Postgraduate Diploma in Social

Policy - P.G. Dip., as appropriate; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2020 or later.

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of

the following qualifications

(1)

For the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work (mainly

taught or mainly by research)

(a)

a Bachelor degree in Social Work with at least

Second Class Honours or equivalent and a

MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A.

minimum of two years of social work practice; or

(b)

the Diploma in Social Work or the Diploma in

Applied Social Studies (Social Work) from this

University and a minimum of five years of social

work practice,

provided that such applicants shall have successfully sat for an

interview, during which they shall be required to provide written

and employer-corroborated evidence of social work practice and

other relevant qualifications obtained following completion of

the diploma course. Such applicants shall further be required to

complete a preparatory programme as specified in bye-law 6.

(2)

For the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy (mainly

taught): a Bachelor degree with at least Second Class Honours in

Social Policy or in any other area of study which the Board deems to

be relevant.

(3)

For the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy (mainly

by research)

(a)

a Bachelor degree in Social Policy with at least

Second Class Honours or equivalent; or

(b)

a Bachelor degree in a related area with at least

Second Class Honours or equivalent and a minimum

of two years of practice in the area in which the

student wishes to conduct research.

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.

If there are more eligible applicants than the number of

places available, applicants shall be selected after an interview by a

board appointed for the purpose composed of at least three members.

The board shall select applicants using the following criteria

(a)

degree type and class - 30%;

(b)

experience in the area of the proposed study - 35%;

and

(c)

performance during an interview - 35%.

Applicants admitted under sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph

(1) of bye-law 3 shall be required to complete a preparatory

programme, comprising 45 ECTS credits as directed by the Board,

and to obtain an overall average of 65% or better, prior to their

MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A.

registration as regular students on the Course.

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study or the equivalent in part-time study.

The programmes of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 ECTS credits shall be assigned.

(1)

Mainly taught programmes of study shall comprise

taught study-units to which a total of 60 ECTS credits are assigned

and a dissertation study-unit to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned.

(2)

Students who obtain a total of 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 taught study-units, shall be eligible for the award of a

Postgraduate Certificate.

(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 dissertation, shall be eligible for the award of a

Postgraduate Diploma.

Programmes of study mainly by research shall be of two

types and shall comprise

(a)

in the case of the Social Work, taught study-units to

which 30 ECTS credits are assigned and a

dissertation study-unit to which 60 ECTS credits

are assigned; or

(b)

in the case of the Social Policy, taught study-unit/s

to which 10 ECTS credits are assigned and a

dissertation study-unit to which 80 ECTS credits

are assigned.

The programmes of study shall be published 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 registered on the mainly taught programmes who

in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more than 20

ECTS credits for taught study-units, 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 re-sit the failed assessments

during the September supplementary examination session.

MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A.

(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.

(4)

Students registered on the mainly taught programmes

shall be allowed to proceed to the dissertation study-unit subject to

obtaining the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught study-units with

an average mark of at least 60%.

(5)

Students registered on the mainly by research

programmes referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of bye-law 10 shall

be allowed resits of not more than 10 ECTS credits and 5 ECTS

credits respectively.

(1)

In mainly taught programmes of study, students

shall be required to submit an individual dissertation (30 ECTS

credits) of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 words in accordance with

the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2)

A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the

beginning of the second semester.

(3)

Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the

third semester of the Course after approval of the proposal. Each

student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance and

advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(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 of

studies, whether the student is following the Course on a full-time or a

part-time basis. 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.

MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A.

(1)

In mainly by research programmes of study

structured as detailed in paragraph (a) of bye-law 10, students shall

be required to submit an individual dissertation (60 ECTS credits) of

approximately 20,000 to 30,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board of Studies. The dissertation must also

satisfy the Board as regards content and presentation.

(2)

A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board of Studies before

the end of the first semester.

(1)

In mainly by research programmes of study

structured as detailed in paragraph (b) of bye-law 10, students shall

be required to submit an individual dissertation (80 ECTS credits) of

approximately 30,000 to 35,000 words in accordance with the

guidelines issued by the Board of Studies. The dissertation must also

satisfy the Board as regards content and presentation.

(2)

A provisional title for the dissertation and a research

proposal of at least 300 words shall be submitted to the Board for

approval at the time of applications.

(1)

Each student shall be assigned a supervisor by the

Board who shall provide guidance and advice during the period of

study, starting from the formulation of a detailed written proposal.

(2)

Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time

during the Course after approval of the proposal.

(1)

For programmes of study by research (as defined in

bye-law 10), the Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each

student, normally composed of three members as follows: the Head

of Department, or delegate as Chair, and two other members, one of

whom being the research supervisor, provided that when the Head of

Department is the supervisor, the Head shall not chair the Panel.

(2)

Panels of Supervision shall follow, as they deem fit, the

progress of students throughout the Course, provided that they meet

at least once a year to review such progress.

(3)

Students shall be required to report to their supervisor at

least once every two months, and in addition as often as the

supervisor deems necessary.

(4)

At the end of each semester of studies supervisors shall be

required to submit to the Panels of Supervision or Boards of Studies

reports regarding the students under their supervision. Students shall

seek approval from the Board of Studies for any substantial

modification in the title or content of the dissertation.

(5)

Panels of Supervision or Boards of Studies as appropriate

MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A.

shall periodically inform the Board, in writing, on the general

performance of each student. Such advice 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 the conditions specified in sub-

paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2) of bye-law 14 shall also apply

in these cases.

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the

classification of the Postgraduate Diplomas and of the Degrees shall

be based on the results obtained in all components of the programmes

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.