L.S. 327.455 Ordinamenti għall-Grad ta’ Master of Science - M.Sc. - taħt il-patroċinju tal-Fakultà tax-Xjenzi tas-Saħħa

(1)The title of these bye-laws is the Bye-Laws for the Degree of Master of Science - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

(2)Citation and interpretation. In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires - "the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences; "the course" means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master of Science - M.Sc.; "the Degree" means the degree of Master of Science - M.Sc.; "the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate in the relevant area of study; "the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in the relevant area of study; and "the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards. S.L. 327.328

1. These bye-laws shall be commencing in October 2021 or later. courses Applicability. Amended by: L.N. 355 of 2014; L.N. 321 of 2015; L.N. 189 of 2016; L.N. 377 of 2018; L.N. 311 of 2019; L.N. 251 of
3. Applicants may be required to provide evidence of work experience following registration with the relevant regulatory council in the proposed area of study or area of specialisation, if applicable. The minimum number of years of experience required shall be indicated at the time of the call for applications, provided that for the Health Systems Management and Leadership area of study, applicants must have at least three years’ work experience in the Health Services sector, whilst for the Physiotherapy area of study, applicants must be clinically active for at least 5 hours per week in the second semester of the Course in order to complete the relevant clinical placement study-unit. Areas of study. Substituted by: L.N. 377 of 2018; L.N. 348 of
4. 4.

(1)applicable for The course shall be open to applicants in possession of: (

1. a)a Bachelor’s degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours in an area of study deemed suitable by the Board; or (
2. b)a degree from the University of Malta or another Requirements for admission. Amended by: L.N. 355 of 2014; L.N. 321 of 2015; L.N. 189 of 2016; L.N. 290 of 2024. 2 [ S.L.327.455 DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES university which the Board considers as comparable to the degree indicated in sub-paragraph (
3. a)of this byelaw.

(2)Applicants may be required to provide evidence of being in possession of the licence to practise in the register of the profession concerned, as kept by the relevant regulatory council.

(3)Applicants may be required to provide evidence of work experience following registration with the relevant regulatory council in the proposed area of study or area of specialisation, if applicable. The minimum number of years of experience required shall be indicated at the time of the call for applications.

(4)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 Board shall announce the areas of study/areas of specialisation and the number of available places at the time of the call for applications.

(5)When the number of places is so limited and the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall be selected using the following criteria, the weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call for applications: (a) degree type and class; (b) experience in the area of the proposed study; and (c) performance during an interview, if deemed necessary.

(6)Interviews, if necessary, shall be conducted by a board composed of at least three members appointed for the purpose.

(7)For the purpose of selection, applicants who fully satisfy the entry requirements by 31st August preceding the commencement of the course shall be considered first.

(8)During the first year of the Course, accepted students may be required to undergo an occupational health assessment so as to ascertain that they are fit for the duties related to their proposed studies. Students who do not fulfil this requirement may be barred from progressing with their studies. Failure to disclose information about a physical or mental health problem that could affect patient safety is considered to be a serious breach of the University Suitability to Practise Regulations. Course duration.

1. The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study. Programme of study.
2. Applicants shall be required to indicate their choice of area of study/area of specialisation at the time of applying for admission to the course. Study-units.
3. The programme of study for each area of study/area of specialisation 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 are assigned to a dissertation study-unit. Postgraduate Certificate.
4. Students who obtain the 30 credits assigned to any taught study-units covered during the first and second semesters with an average mark of at least 50% and do not proceed with the course, or DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES [ S.L.327.455 3 having proceeded do not successfully complete the course, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate.
5. 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.
6. 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 pogramme of study. 11.

(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. Amended by: L.N. 251 of 2021.

(2)Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more than 20 credits for taught study-units, 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. When it is not practicable or possible for the failed study-unit to be re-assessed during the current year, students shall not have the right to a supplementary assessment, but shall be required to refer the study-unit to the following year to be completed over and above the study-units for that year; or if this is not possible to re-do the study-unit during an additional year, which shall not be taken into account for the purpose of course duration.

(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 required to withdraw from the course. 12.

(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.

(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 for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the beginning of the second semester. 13.

(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 (

1. a)extend the period of study in order to enable the student to complete the dissertation; or (
2. b)terminate studies prematurely if the supervisor deems this to be proper in the circumstances, provided that: Supervisor. 4 [ S.L.327.455 DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.Sc. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES (
3. i)the extension of the study period referred to in (
4. a)shall be in accordance with the provisions of Principal Regulations; and (
5. ii)the Board may not terminate studies prematurely according to (
6. b)until it has first given the student a chance to be heard. Classification of the Awards. 14. 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 programme of study, all credits being weighted equally. Special provisions for part-time courses. 15. 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.