MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.686

MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES DEGREE

COURSE REGULATIONS

21st June, 2022

LEGAL NOTICE 184 of 2022.

(1)

These regulations may be cited as the Master in

Disability Studies Degree Course Regulations.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise

requires-

“the Admissions Committee” means the admissions committee

composed of the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing or his

delegate, and at least two other academic members appointed by the

Board, which shall be set up for the purposes of the selection of

applicants for the Programme, and which shall be responsible for

submitting a recommendation to the Admissions Board of the

University to such effect;

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for Social

Wellbeing;

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

for the academic administration and organisation of the Course,

which shall include representatives from each Partner Institution;

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

Partner Institutions leading to the joint degree of Master in Disability

Studies;

“the Degree” means the joint degree of Master in Disability

Studies;

“the Partner Institutions” means the University of Malta and the

University of Leeds;

“the Partner University” means the University of Leeds;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Disability Studies – P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Disability Studies– P.G. Dip.;

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

“the University” means the University of Malta.

(3)

This Degree is a joint Master degree of the University and

this shall be taken to mean that the Course is taught in collaboration

with the Partner University within the framework of a joint degree

programme. The Degree shall only be awarded if both Partner

Institutions declare the student to be eligible for the award.

These regulations shall apply to courses commencing in

September 2022 or later.

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in

possession of the following qualifications

(a)

a Bachelor degree comprising at least 180 ECTS

credits and obtained with at least Second Class

Honours Upper Division or equivalent; or

(b)

any first cycle degree comprising at least 180

ECTS credits, classified with at least Category II or

Second Class Honours and at least three years of

relevant work experience.

(2)

The Admissions Committee may, after thorough

examination of documents submitted in support of the qualifications

presented, and following an interview, recommend the admission of

applicants applying for admission in terms of the University’s Policy

for the Recognition and Accreditation of Prior Learning (RPL) who

are in possession of other academic or professional qualifications and

documented experience if these are deemed to be comparable to the

qualifications referred to in paragraph (1) of this regulation. The

admission of such applicants may be made subject to those

conditions, including financial conditions, that may be imposed to

address any lacunae in the applicants’ academic preparation.

(3)

All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that they

have the necessary aptitude and disposition to follow the Course with

profit.

(4)

Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by

means of a personal interview conducted by an interviewing board

appointed for the purpose. The interviewing board shall be composed

of at least three persons and be administered solely by the University.

Interviews may be conducted by electronic means of communication

with applicants.

(5)

Applicants are required to demonstrate that their standard

of English is satisfactory. The offer of a place on the Course may be

made subject to the applicants obtaining such proficiency

qualifications prior to the commencement of their studies.

(6)

Proficiency in English may be certified by the following

IELTS obtained with at least 6.5 and a minimum 6.0 in each element,

or comparable. English native speakers and students who have

attended a Bachelor’s course in an English-speaking country shall

not be required to submit this certification.

(7)

Depending on the availability of resources, 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, and the criteria for selection, shall be

announced at the time of the call for applications.

(1)

All applications must be made online via the

University’s website (um.edu.mt) in accordance with the published

instructions and before the deadlines stated on the website.

(2)

Applicants who are selected to join the Course shall be

registered as students at both Partner Institutions.

(1)

The Course shall extend over three semesters of

full-time study which shall be spread over one calendar year.

(2)

The Board of Studies may allow students to extend their

studies by not more than six months in order to complete the project,

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.

(3)

If students following the Course supported by a

scholarship require an extension, the scholarship shall not be

extended. Such extensions may be given in terms of the applicable

regulations of the Partner Institutions.

(1)

The programme of study shall consist of study-

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

comprising taught study-units assigned 60 ECTS credits and a

project to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned. The Board shall

publish the programme prior to the commencement of the Course,

following the approval of Senate.

(2)

The programme of study shall be delivered through a

blend of in person and online teaching. When lectures are delivered

in person, all students shall be required to attend lectures at the

University.

The Partner Institutions shall make publicly-available the

details of the Programme, indicating 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)

Senate shall appoint a Board of Examiners for each

study-unit undertaken at the University, in accordance with the

provisions of the University Assessment Regulations.

(2)

The assessment of each study-unit shall be completed by

the end of the semester in which the teaching of the study-unit is

held.

(3)

Results for the assessment of the study-units and the

project shall be published as a percentage mark and grade as

indicated below

Mark RangeGrade

80% - 100%

A

70% - 79%

B

55% - 69%

C

50% - 54%

D

45% - 49%

E

0% - 44%

F

provided the minimum pass mark for the project shall be 50%.

(4)

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

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

next scheduled examination session (May or September) as the case

may be. The maximum mark/grade that can be awarded after re-

assessment of taught study-units shall be 45%/Grade E.

(5)

Students who fail in the project shall be allowed a re-

examination in terms of paragraph (2) of regulation 11 of these

regulations. The maximum mark/grade that can be awarded after re-

examination shall be 50%/Grade D.

(6)

Students who obtain 30 ECTS for taught study-units and

opt not to proceed with the Course, or having proceeded do not

successfully complete the Course, shall be eligible for the award of

the Postgraduate Certificate.

(7)

Students who obtain 60 ECTS for taught study-units and

opt not to proceed with the Course, or having proceeded do not

successfully complete the Course, shall be eligible for the award of

the Postgraduate Diploma.

(1)

Students who are eligible, will proceed to the

project study-unit, which they shall be required to carry out in

accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.

(2)

Work on the project shall be undertaken during the final

semester of the Course. Students shall submit for approval a title and

a detailed project proposal by the deadline and in the format

specified by the Board of Studies.

(3)

Students shall be required to familiarize themselves with,

and adhere to the instructions and guidelines as set out in the Project

Guidelines provided by the Board of Studies.

(4)

Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for

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

(5)

Projects shall include a declaration signed by the students

that it is their own original work.

(1)

The Board of Studies shall appoint a supervisor for

each student and, where applicable, a co-supervisor or advisor, at

least one of whom is a representative of one of the Partner

Institutions.

(2)

The supervisor and, where applicable, the co-supervisor

or advisor, shall follow the progress of students, provided that this

progress is reviewed at least once.

(3)

Students shall be required to have regular contact with

their supervisor and, where applicable, the co-supervisor or advisor.

(4)

Supervisors shall periodically inform the Board of

Studies, submitted in a format agreed by both Partner Institutions, on

the general performance of 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 project;

or (b) to 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 outlined

in Regulation 5 of these regulations; 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.

(1)

Each project shall be examined by a Board of

Examiners composed of at least three members, representing each 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 whose project is found unsatisfactory may be

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

Board of Examiners, to re-submit it in revised form within a period

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

(1)

Students who successfully complete the 90 ECTS

credits included in the programme of study for the Course shall be

eligible for the award of the Degree.

(2)

The overall evaluation of each student’s performance in

the Course for the purpose of the classification of the Degree, the

Postgraduate Certificate and the Postgraduate Diploma, shall be

based on the results obtained, all credits awarded being weighted

equally.

(3)

The names of students who qualify for the award of the

Degree or Postgraduate Diploma shall be classified as Pass with

Distinction, Pass with Merit or Pass, in accordance with the

following guidelines

Final Weighted Average MarkClassification

80% - 100%

Pass with Distinction

70% - 79%

Pass with Merit

50% - 69%

Pass

(4)

The

Postgraduate

Certificate

shall

be

awarded

unclassified.

In matters not provided for by these regulations, the Board

and the Board of Studies shall be guided by the provisions of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021,

published as Legal Notice 371 of 2021, as applicable.