L.S. 327.485 Regolamenti għall-Grad ta’ Master of Dental Surgery - M.D.S

(1)The title of these regulations is the Master of Dental Surgery - M.D.S. - Degree Course Regulations.

(2)Citation and interpretation. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires - "the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Dental Surgery; "the course" means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master of Dental Surgery - M.D.S.; "the Degree" means the degree of Master of Dental Surgery M.D.S.; and "the Faculty" means the Faculty of Dental Surgery. 2. These regulations shall be applicable commencing in October 2021 or later, except for regulation 5 which shall be applicable as from 1st July, 2021 onwards. 3. To be eligible for the award of the Degree, students must: (

1. a)be registered as regular students in the Course in terms of the Admission Regulations of the University; Applicability. Amended by: L.N. 327 of 2014; L.N. 9 of 2020; L.N. 289 of 2021. Eligibility for Degree. (
2. b)satisfy the Special Course Requirements in accordance with regulation 4; (
3. c)complete the programme of study, qualify in the examinations and satisfy any other requirements as prescribed in these regulations; and (
4. d)satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other relevant statutes, regulations and bye-laws of the University. 4.

(1)Senate on the advice of the Board, may limit the number of students that may be admitted to the Course. In such circumstances, Senate shall make regulations for the selection of applicants for admission. Prior to the commencement of the Course, the Board shall announce the number of places available to Maltese and other EU/EEA nationals, to non-EU/EEA nationals, and to candidates applying in terms of paragraph

(4)of regulation 4.

(2)To apply for admission to the course applicants must, besides satisfying the requirements for admission as regular students in terms of the Admission Regulations, satisfy the following Special Course Requirements: (

1. a)passes in the Matriculation Examination at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in Biology and Chemistry; and (
2. b)a pass in the Matriculation Examination at Admission and special course requirements. Amended by: L.N. 327 of 2014; L.N. 289 of 2021; L.N. 326 of 2022; L.N. 121 of 2025. 2 [ S.L.327.485 MASTER OF DENTAL SURGERY - M.D.S.- DEGREE COURSE Intermediate Level at Grade C or better in Physics, provided that all passes in these Special Course Requirements have been obtained together in one session of examinations (i.e. one sitting) and are from one recognized examining board.

(3)For the purpose of sub-regulation

(2), a pass obtained in a session of examinations which is held after the results of a previous session were published shall be deemed to be a pass obtained in a session that is distinct from the previous one. This regulation shall also apply to the second session of the Matriculation Examination o ff e r e d b y t h e M AT S E C B o a r d o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a according to the provisions of the Matriculation Examination R e g u l a ti o n s a n d t h i s n o t wi t h s t a n di n g a n y o t he r r e g u l a ti o n governing the award of the Matriculation Certificate.

(4)Applicants in possession of the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) with at least Second Class (Honours) in Dental Hygiene or Dental Technology may also apply.

(5)(a) Maltese applicants who, in terms of paragraph

(5)of regulation 12 of the Admissions Regulations, 2016 are exempted from possessing a pass in Secondary Education Certificate in Maltese at Grade 5 or better are required to present the Medical Maltese Proficiency Certificate awarded by the University of Malta prior to commencement of the Course; and (b) non-Maltese applicants are required to present the Medical Maltese Proficiency Certificate awarded by the University of Malta, or a pass in the study-unit in Medical Maltese as part of the Certificate in Foundation Studies (Medical, Dental and Health Sciences) course, prior to commencement of the Course, provided that applicants presenting overseas qualifications and a pass in the Secondary Education Certificate examination in Maltese at Grade 5 or better shall be exempted from presenting the Medical Maltese Proficiency Certificate.”

(6)For courses commencing in October 2014 or later, prior to enrolling for the course, accepted applicants are also required to undergo an occupational health assessment as detailed in the Occupational Health Protocol approved by the Board, so as to ascertain that they are fit for the duties related to their proposed studies. Students who do not fulfil this requirement shall be barred from attending the clinical placements. Course duration. Amended by: L.N. 174 of 2023. 5.

(1)The course shall extend over a period of five years and shall be divided into two parts: the Pre-Clinical Part, of two years’ duration, that is, Years 1 and 2, and the Clinical Part, of three years’ duration, that is, Years 3, 4 and 5.

(2)Except with the permission of the Board, students must follow the course without suspension or repetition. The Board may allow students to suspend or to repeat a year once in each of the two parts of the course.

(3)The Board may allow students an additional year of study, if MASTER OF DENTAL SURGERY - M.D.S.- DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.485 3 eligible in terms of these regulations. 6. The Board shall publish the programme of study, comprising all the study-units taught in each year of the course, their syllabus and method of assessment following the approval of Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the course. Subject to the approval of Senate, the Board may make any necessary changes to the programme of study as required. Publication of programme of study. 7.

(1)The programme of study for each year of the course shall comprise study-units to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned and may include practical, laboratory and clinical placements as detailed in the description for each study-unit on offer during the year. Programme of study.

(2)Practical, laboratory and clinical placements shall be carried out throughout the course, including during the periods when the University is in recess and may take place in the teaching clinics of the Faculty and/or in community or hospital settings as indicated by the Board before each placement. 8.

(1)During the Course, the result of each study-unit shall be published according to the following marks and grades in descending order of merit: Mark Range Grade 90% - 100% A+ 80% - 89% A 75% - 79% B+ 70% - 74% B 60% - 69% C+ 55% - 59% C 50% - 54% D+ 45% - 49% D 0% - 44% F. Mark scheme for the course. Amended by: L.N. 9 of 2020.

(2)Students who fail in a study-unit declared to be compensatable in the programme of study with a mark of not less than 35% shall be awarded the grade CP (Compensated Pass) if their Year Average Mark is at least 50%. Study-units passed by compensation shall not be re-assessed.

(3)In any academic year, students may not be awarded more than 8 ECTS credits through compensated passes. 9.

(1)The method of assessment for each study-unit shall be indicated in the study-unit description and published in the catalogue of study-units. The result of each study-unit shall take into account all components of the assessment of that study-unit.

(2)In any academic year, students who fail study-units to which not more than 16 ECTS credits are assigned, or two studyunits which between them are assigned not more than 20 ECTS credits, and who are not eligible to a compensated pass, shall be Assessment and progression in the course. Amended by: L.N. 174 of 2023. 4 [ S.L.327.485 MASTER OF DENTAL SURGERY - M.D.S.- DEGREE COURSE allowed a supplementary assessment in September of the same year.

(3)Students who after the supplementary session fail in studyunits to which 10 or less ECTS credits are assigned, after academic counselling by the Dean and/or the Head of Department concerned, may be given the option by the Board, to either: (

1. a)refer the failed study-unit/s to the following year to be done over and above the study-units indicated for that year; or (
2. b)refer the failed study-unit/s to an additional year of study, if (
3. i)the study-unit cannot be referred to the following year in terms of paragraph

(5)of this regulation, or (

1. ii)if they are in Year 5 of the Course. The possibility to refer study-units to an additional year of study shall be allowed once in each of the two parts of the Course; or (
2. c)repeat the year, if eligible in terms of these regulations.

(4)Students referred to in sub-regulation

(3)(a) who take up the option to refer failed study-units to the following year of the course shall be considered to have progressed conditionally and shall not be allowed to continue with the course if, after the supplementary session of that year, they fail again to obtain a pass in the referred study-unit/s.

(5)Study-units which students may be allowed to refer to the following year will be indicated in the programme of study.

(6)If a student is prevented for a reason considered valid by Senate from being assessed in referred study-units, the student shall be required to complete the previous year ’s requirements in an additional year of study, if eligible in terms of these regulations. Under no circumstances shall a student be allowed to progress to the following year if the requirements of the year previous to the current one have not been satisfied.

(7)Nothwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation

(3), in the case of assessments that can only be held once during an academic year and hence no supplementary session is possible, students who fail these assessments or are prevented for a reason considered valid by Senate from being assessed in these study-units shall be allowed to proceed to the following year of the course, provided that they pass such assessments in that year, or in an additional year of study, if eligible in terms of these regulations.

(8)Students who after the supplementary session fail in studyunits to which more than 10 ECTS credits are assigned shall not be allowed to proceed to the following year of the course, but shall be required to repeat the year if eligible in terms of these regulations.

(9)In a repeat year, students are required to follow and be assessed in all study-units of the programme of study for the year, even those they may have previously passed. Any mark/grade may be obtained in the repeat year and will replace the marks/grades obtained in the preceding year. MASTER OF DENTAL SURGERY - M.D.S.- DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.485

(10)The maximum mark/grade that may be awarded in a referred study-unit, irrespective of whether the subject is assessed in a normal or a supplementary session of examinations, is 45%, grade D. 10.

(1)Unless otherwise specified in the description of a study-unit, attendance for lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical, laboratory and clinical placements, and any other teaching session in whatever mode is obligatory. Following consultation with the Head of Department, lecturers may bar a student whose attendance in a study-unit is not satisfactory from being assessed in that studyunit. Attendance.

(2)Before being allowed to sit for any of the assessments specified in the programme of study, students must present to the Dean a certificate, signed by the heads of department concerned, showing that they have completed satisfactorily the schedule of clinical placements prescribed for the year.

(3)Students shall not be allowed to re-sit any study-unit unless they have satisfactorily followed such courses of studies and/or practical and/or clinical work as the Board may in each case determine. 11.

(1)The classification of the Degree shall be determined by the Degree Classification Board composed of the Dean as Chairman, the Heads of Department and the course coordinators involved in the teaching of the programme.

(2)The Final Weighted Average Mark for the classification of the Degree shall be based on the results obtained during the five years of the course, which shall be weighted as follows: First Year Weighted Average Mark 10% Second Year Weighted Average Mark 10% Third Year Weighted Average Mark 15% Fourth Year Weighted Average Mark 25% Fifth Year Weighted Average Mark 40%.

(3)The Degree Classification Board shall consult the following guidelines when deciding upon the final classification of the Degree: Final Weighted Average Mark Classification 80% - 100% Pass with Distinction 70% - 79% Pass with Merit 45% - 69% Pass.

(4)The Degree Classification Board, at its own discretion, may award the Degree with a higher classification than that indicated in sub-regulation

(3)to students whose Final Weighted Average Mark is up to three marks less than the minimum for the classification, provided that all students who obtain the same or a higher Final Weighted Average Mark within that classification shall be awarded the higher classification. In such cases, the Degree Classification Board is required to minute the decision and the Classification of the Award. 5 6 [ S.L.327.485 MASTER OF DENTAL SURGERY - M.D.S.- DEGREE COURSE justification for it.

(5)The Degree Classification Board, at its own discretion, may also award a Degree with a lower classification than that indicated in sub-regulation

(3), provided that all students who obtain the same or a lower Final Weighted Average mark within that classification shall be awarded the lower classification. In such cases, the Degree Classification Board is required to obtain the authorization of the Board that shall minute the decision and the justification for it. The students concerned may appeal to Senate against the decision within fifteen days of the publication of the classification. Consequences of withdrawal from the course. Substituted by: L.N. 327 of 2014; L.N. 289 of

2. When a student withdraws from a Course either by choice or because ineligible to proceed further in terms of these regulations, (a) if at least 60 credits have been obtained, the student shall be granted the Diploma in General Studies (Dip. Gen. St.); (b) if at least 120 credits have been obtained, the student shall be granted the Higher Diploma in General Studies (H.Dip. Gen. St.); (c) if at least 180 credits have been obtained in the Course and in accordance with the definition of a Bachelor degree as stipulated in paragraph

(4)of regulation 3 of the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, the student may request to be awarded the degree of Bachelor in General Studies (B.Gen. St.); and (d) in all instances, students who are granted an award in terms of this regulation after withdrawing from the Course because ineligible to proceed further, shall not be entitled to be re-admitted to continue their studies in the Course. Final Weighted Average Mark. General provision. S.L. 327.236

1. The Final Weighted Average Mark for the degree of Bachelor in General Studies (B.Gen.St.) shall be based on the results obtained, all study-units being weighted equally and shall be classified as follows: Average Mark Classification 80% - 100% Category I 70% - 79% Category IIA 55% - 69% Category IIB 45% - 54% Category III.
2. In matters not provided for by these regulations, the Board shall be guided by the provisions of the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, as applicable.