MASTER OF ARTS IN DISABILITY STUDIES - M.A. [ S.L.327.444 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.444 BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN DISABILITY STUDIES - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING 1 Substituted by: L.N. 237 of 2019. 29th January, 2013 LEGAL NOTICE 47 of 2013, as amended by Legal Notice 371 of 2013, 288 of 2017 and 237 of 2019. 1.
(1)These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws for the degree of Master of Arts in Disability Studies - M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.
(2)In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires – Citation and interpretation. Amended by: L.N. 288 of
- L.N. 237 of
- “the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing; “the Course” means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Disability Studies – M.A.; “the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Disability Studies – M.A.; “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.; and “the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards,
- These bye-laws shall apply for courses commencing in October 2020 or later. Applicability. Amended by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N.288 of 2017; L.N. 237 of 2019 3.
(1)The course shall be open to applicants in possession of the following qualifications: Requirements for admission. Amended by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N. 237 of 2019. (
- a)any first cycle degree classified with at least Category II or Second Class Honours; or (
- b)a Diploma in Health Science from this University in any of the following areas of study: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Podiatry, or in any other area deemed relevant by the Board, together with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience; or (
- c)a professional qualification deemed by Senate to be comparable to the qualification indicated in subparagraph (
- b)of this bye-law, together with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience, provided that applicants admitted under sub-paragraphs (
- b)and (
- c)of this bye-law shall have successfully sat for an interview, during which they shall be required to provide 2 [ S.L.327.444 MASTER OF ARTS IN DISABILITY STUDIES - M.A. written and employer-corroborated evidence of clinical practice and other relevant qualifications obtained following completion of the diploma course; and provided that they shall have successfully completed the preparatory programme as specified in bye-law 4.”
(2)All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that they have the necessary aptitude and disposition to follow the course with profit.
(3)Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by means of a personal interview conducted by a board appointed for the purpose.
(4)Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, shall determine 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.
(5)When the number is so limited and the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall be selected according to the following criteria, which shall be weighted as follows: (
- a)qualification type and classification - 45%; (
- b)experience in the area of the proposed study - 15%; and (
- c)professional aptitude and disposition - 40%.
(6)The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be composed of at least three members. Preparatory programme. Added by: L.N. 371 of 2013. 4. Applicants admitted under bye-law 3
(1)(
- b)and (
- c)shall be required to complete a preparatory programme, comprising 35 credits as directed by the Board, prior to their registration as regular students on the course. Only those applicants who obtain an average of 65% or better in the preparatory programme shall be considered for admission to the course under bye-law 3
(1)(b) and (c). Course duration. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of
- The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study. Programme of study. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of
- The programme of study shall comprise study-units to which a total of 90 credits are assigned, of which 60 credits are assigned to taught study-units and 30 credits assigned to a dissertation study-unit. Added by: L.N.288 of
- Students who obtain a total of 30 credits assigned to 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 Certificate. MASTER OF ARTS IN DISABILITY STUDIES - M.A. [ S.L.327.444 3
- Students who obtain the 60 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 the Postgraduate Diploma. Postgraduate Diploma. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N.288 of
- The programme of study shall be published after approval by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the course. Publication of programme of study. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N.288 of
- 10.
(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. Assessment and progress. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N.288 of 2017; L.N. 237 of 2019.
(2)Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more than 20 credits, if following the full-time course, or not more than 10 credits if following the part-time course, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the September supplementary examination session.
(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 credit for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have failed the course.
(4)Students shall be allowed to proceed to the dissertation studyunit subject to obtaining the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught study-units with a minimum average mark of 65%. 11.
(1)Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of approximately 25,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board. Dissertation. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N.288 of 2017.
(2)Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the third semester of the 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 of the dissertation and a detailed research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval not later than six weeks before the end of the second semester. 12.
(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 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 Supervisor. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N.288 of 2017. 4 [ S.L.327.444 MASTER OF ARTS IN DISABILITY STUDIES - M.A. 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. Classification of the Awards. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N.288 of 2017. 13. 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 course programme, all credits being weighted equally. Special provisions for part-time courses. Re-numbered by: L.N. 371 of 2013; L.N.288 of 2017. 14. 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.