BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) - B.SC. (HONS) - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.688

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF

SCIENCE (HONOURS) - B.SC. (HONS) - UNDER

THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY

11th November, 2022

LEGAL NOTICE 277 of 2022, as amended by Legal Notice 274 of 2024.

(1)

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

the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons), under

the auspices of the Faculty of Information and Communication

Technology.

(2)

In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires –

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Information and

Communication Technology;

"the Course" means the programme of study leading to the

degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons);

"the Certificate" means the Certificate in Computing;

"the Degree" means the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours)

- B.Sc. (Hons);

"the Diploma" means the Diploma in Computing;

"the Higher Diploma" means the Higher Diploma in Computing;

and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Undergraduate Awards, 2019.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2022 or later.

(1)

The degree shall be awarded in any one of the

following areas of study

(a)

Computing Science;

(b)

Computer Engineering;

(c)

Microelectronics and Embedded Systems.

(2)

The areas of study offered in any particular year shall be

published by the Board at the time of the call for applications.

(1)

To be registered as regular students in the Course

applicants shall

either (a) satisfy the special course requirements listed in

paragraphs (2) and (3) of this bye-law;

or (b) as from October 2023 onwards, be in possession of the

Certificate in ICT Foundation Studies from this University.

(2)

(a)

Applicants for the Computing Science area of

study applying in terms of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) of this

bye-law shall satisfy the general entry requirements for admission as

specified in the Admissions Regulations of the University and be in

possession of

(i)

passes at Advanced Matriculation Level at

Grade C or better in Pure Mathematics and

in any other subject; and

(ii)

a pass at Intermediate Matriculation Level in

any subject (excluding the subjects presented

at Advanced Level).

(b)

If applicants have other qualifications considered to

be sufficient, they may be exempted by the

University Admissions Board, on the advice of the

Faculty Admissions Committee, from the whole or

part of these special course requirements.

(3)

Applicants for the Computer Engineering and

Microelectronics and Embedded Systems areas of study applying

in terms of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) of this bye-law shall

either (a) satisfy the general entry requirements as specified in

the Admissions Regulations of the University and be in possession

of

(i)

passes at Advanced Matriculation Level at Grade C

or better in Pure Mathematics and in any other

subject; and

(ii)

a pass at Intermediate Matriculation Level in

Physics, if not presented at Advanced Level;

or (b) be in possession of

(i)

passes in the Secondary Education Certificate

Examination

including

English

Language,

Mathematics and Maltese; and

(ii) the MCAST-BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND)

in an area deemed to be relevant to the Course by

the Board;

(c)

be in possession of the Certificate in Engineering

or

Sciences from the University.

The Course shall extend over a period of three years of

full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study.

(1)

Applicants shall be required to indicate their choice

of area of study at the time of application for admission.

(2)

The Course shall consist of study-units to which 180

ECTS credits shall be assigned.

(3)

The Board shall publish the programme of study for each

area of study before the commencement of the Course, following the

approval of Senate. Subject to changes that the Board may, with the

approval of Senate, be constrained to make, students are bound to

follow the study-units and obtain the credits as indicated in the

programme of study of the area of study they are following for the

Degree.

Students who successfully complete study-units to which

30 ECTS credits are assigned and opt not to proceed with the Course

or, having proceeded, do not successfully complete the Course, shall

be entitled to the Certificate.

Students who successfully complete study-units to which

60 ECTS credits are assigned and opt not to proceed with the Course

or, having proceeded, do not successfully complete the Course, shall

be entitled to the Diploma.

Students who successfully complete study-units to which

120 ECTS credits are assigned and opt not to proceed with the

Course or, having proceeded, do not successfully complete the

Course, shall be entitled to the Higher Diploma.

(1)

The Final Weighted Average mark for the

classification of the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) offered

on a full-time basis shall be based on the results obtained in the three

years of the Course and shall be weighted as follows

First Year Average Mark 20%

Second Year Average Mark 40%

Third Year Average Mark 40%.

(2)

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the classification of

the Diploma and Higher Diploma shall be based on the results

obtained in all the study-units, with all credits awarded 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 Course may be offered on a flexible part-time basis

with the following special provisions in terms of the provisions

outlined in the General Regulations for University Undergraduate

Awards, applicable with the necessary changes needed (mutatis

mutandis) owing to the part-time nature of the course

(a)

During each academic year, students shall be

allowed to register for a number of study-units as

agreed with the Course Coordinator, to which not

less than 12 ECTS credits are assigned, provided

that registration for the study-units included in the

programme of study for each course year (60 ECTS

credits) is spread over not more than 3 academic

years.

(b)

In order to progress regularly from one course year

to the next, the 60 ECTS credits of each course year

must be completed in not more than 3 academic

years.

(c)

Students who are absent for the assessment of a

study-unit, or fail in the assessment of a study-unit,

shall, if eligible, be required to take the assessment

of any number of such incomplete study-units at

the September assessment session or at the next

available opportunity.

(d) If necessary, students may be allowed to refer the

assessment of the study-unit to the next academic

year, provided that not more than 12 ECTS credits

may be referred from one course year to the next.

(e)

The assessment of study-units that may be referred

to the next academic year shall be considered as

additional to the minimum number of credits (12

ECTS) that students are obliged to register for

during any academic year.

(f)

Students who, after having registered for all the

study-units comprising the programme of a course

year, and after the September session lack more

than 12 ECTS credits to complete the programme

for the course year, may be allowed, if eligible and

after academic advice, to refer them to the next

academic year during which they shall not be

allowed to register for any other study-units. If

such an academic year is needed in addition to the

maximum period of three years referred to in (b), it

shall be considered as an additional year.

(g)

Students who, after having registered for all the

study-units comprising the programme of the final

year, may, if necessary and if eligible, refer any

incomplete study-units to an additional academic

year.

(h)

An additional year, whether required in terms of

paragraphs (f) or (g) may be granted once only

throughout the Course, unless in special

circumstances and with the approval of Senate.

(i)

Students registered on the flexible part-time

programme must obtain the approval of the Course

Coordinator before they are registered on the study-

units they wish to follow in any academic year.

(j)

Subject to approval by the Board, students

registered on the Course may be allowed to change

the mode of attendance from full-time to flexible

part-time or vice-versa at the beginning of the

second year of the regular programme of study.

Changes in mode of attendance in any subsequent

year of the Course may be considered by the Board,

if the course programme permits.

(k)

Notwithstanding the provisions in the General

Regulations for Undergraduate Courses, owing to

the nature of the course when offered on a flexible

part-time basis that allows for a longer duration

than normal, students registered on such a flexible

part-time course programme shall not be entitled to

ever repeat a course year in its entirety, nor to an

extension year after each course year.

The Bye-Laws of 2013 in terms of the General

Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 for the

Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) – B.Sc. (Hons) – under the

auspices of the Faculty of Information and Communication

Technology, published as Legal Notice 194 of 2013, shall be deemed

to cease to be in force as from 1 st October 2022, provided that

students registered for this course before 1 st October 2022 shall

continue to be governed by the bye-laws that were in force at the time

of their joining the course.