BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

MASTER OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

AND CARE - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.759

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND

CARE - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

21st January, 2026

LEGAL NOTICE 15 of 2026.

(1)

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

the Degree of Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Care

- M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Education.

(2)

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

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

“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 Early Childhood Education and Care -

M.A.;

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

Childhood Education and Care - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care - P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Early Childhood Education and Care - P.G. Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2021.

These bye-laws shall apply to courses commencing in

October 2025 or later.

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in

possession of a Bachelor’s degree, pegged at Level 6 on the Malta

Qualifications Framework and obtained with at least Second Class

(Honours) or Category II classification, in an area of study related to

Education (with a specialisation in early childhood or primary

education), or any other area deemed relevant by the Board.

Applicants in possession a degree classified with Third Class

(Honours) or Category III may also be admitted provided they satisfy

MASTER OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

AND CARE - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

the Board that they are in possession of other qualifications, or

relevant work experience, obtained following their first cycle degree.

(2)

The Faculty 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 bye-law. The

admission of such applicants may be made subject to those

conditions that may be imposed to address any lacunae in the

applicants’ academic preparation. Conditions imposed may include

the satisfactory completion of a preparatory programme, or the

requirement to follow and pass supplementary study-units, up to a

maximum of 12 ECTS credits, in addition to the programme of study

specified in bye-law 5 of these bye-laws.

(3)

The admission of applicants may be made conditional on

the result of an interview conducted by an interviewing board

composed of at least three members, appointed by the Board for the

purpose.

The Course shall extend over a period of six semesters of

part-time study or the equivalent on a full-time basis.

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 are

assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

Students who successfully complete a prescribed set of

taught study-units totalling 30 ECTS credits 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 for 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.

The programme of study shall be published after approval

by Senate normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the Course.

(1)

Students shall be required to submit an individual

MASTER OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

AND CARE - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

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

final two semesters of the part-time Course or the final semester of

the full-time Course. 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 for the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board of Studies for

approval not later than the beginning of the fourth semester of the

part-time Course and not later than the second semester of the full-

time Course.

(1)

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 at the end of each

year of studies. 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 of Studies 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 the Degree shall be

based on the results obtained in all 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 relevant

Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the Course.