L.S. 327.500 Ordinamenti għall-Grad ta’ Master of Architecture – M.Arch. - taħt il-patroċinju tal-Fakultà tal-Ambjent Mibni

(1)The title of these bye-laws is the Bye-Laws for the Degree of Master of Architecture - M.Arch. - under the auspices of the Faculty for the Built Environment.

(2)Citation and interpretation. In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires – "the Board" means the Board of the Faculty for the Built Environment; "the Course" means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master of Architecture - M.Arch.; "the Degree" means the degree of Master of Architecture M.Arch.; "the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in Architecture - P.G. Dip.; "the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008; and "the Schedule" means the list of thematic study-units and the credit value assigned to each, which applicants are expected to have covered as part of their first cycle degree programme. 2. These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in October 2020 or later. 3.

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

1. a)a first cycle degree in Built Environment Studies from this University, with at least at Second Class (Honours); or (
2. b)a qualification deemed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, to be comparable to the qualification listed in paragraph (
3. a)of this bye-law. The admission of applicants under this bye-law may be made conditional on the results of an assessment as the Board may deem appropriate.

(2)All applicants shall be required to submit a transcript of studies showing that during the first cycle degree they successfully completed the minimum number of credits in the relative thematic Applicability. Amended by: L.N. 76 of 2016; L.N. 8 of 2017; L.N. 328 of 2018; L.N. 21 of

1. Requirements for admission. Substituted by: L.N. 76 of
2. 2 [ S.L.327.500 DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE - M.Arch. UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT study-units, as indicated in the Schedule approved by the Board. Study-units which were awarded a Compensated Pass shall not be considered sufficient for this purpose, provided that, at the discretion of the Board, applicants who present Compensated Passes in up to 4 ECTS credits may be allowed to join the Course subject to any conditions which the Board may impose.

(3)Study-units which were successfully completed during exchange periods of study at other universities may be offered in lieu of study-units indicated in the Schedule, subject to confirmation by the Board that such study-units have a thematic content which is compatible with the relative Schedule, and that study-units so presented are at least at the same level as the studyunits they are replacing.

(4)Applicants who commenced the first cycle degree leading to the qualification specified in paragraph

(1)(a) of this bye-law in October 2011 or October 2012 who lack not more than 4 ECTS credits in study-units from the relevant thematic area may be allowed to follow and successfully complete supplementary studyunits to make up for this shortfall, in addition to the programme of study specified in bye-law 5.

(5)Applicants in possession of a qualification as indicated in paragraph

(1)of this bye-law who do not satisfy the requirements of paragraph

(2)of this bye-law and lack more than the number of credits indicated in paragraph

(4)of this bye-law may be allowed to follow and successfully complete a Preparatory Programme, comprising not less than 30 and not more than 60 ECTS credits, with an overall average mark of 55% or better, prior to their registration as regular students on the course. Under no circumstances, shall the Preparatory Programme be taken in order to improve a prior performance in the first cycle degree in Built Environment Studies. Course duration. 4. study. The course shall extend over four semesters of full-time Programmes of study. Amended by: L.N. 21 of 2021. 5.

(1)The programme of study shall comprise study-units to which a total of 120 ECTS credits are assigned, of which not less than 45 ECTS credits are assigned to the Final Project Workshop and Dissertation study-unit. It shall include study-units grouped by themes (two main themes each assigned 25 ECTS credits and one secondary theme assigned 10 ECTS credits), and 15 ECTS credits assigned to synoptic project-based workshops.

(2)The programme of study shall particularly address the topics of architectural design, history and theory of architecture, fine arts, urban design and planning, environmental performances, the construction process and costs, and structural behaviour.

(3)The programme of study shall be published after approval by Senate on the recommendation of the Board, normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the Course.

(4)Programmes shall be offered as follows: M.Arch. (Architectural Design), comprising main DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE - M.Arch. UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT [ S.L.327.500 3 thematic study-units in Architectural Design, and in Architectural Science and Technology, and secondary thematic study-units in Management Studies; M.Arch. (Architecture and Urban Design), comprising main thematic study-units in Architectural Design, and in Urban Design, and secondary thematic study-units in Management Studies; and M.Arch. (Architecture and Conservation Studies), comprising main thematic study-units in Architectural Design, and in Conservation Studies, and secondary thematic study-units in Management Studies.

(5)Students who obtain 60 ECTS credits assigned to taught studyunits 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. Added by: L.N. 328 of 2018. 6.

(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. 8 of 2017.

(2)(

1. i)Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more than 20 ECTS credits shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the September supplementary examination session, provided that if a student fails in two-thirds or more of the assignments associated with the Design Workshops held in the first year of studies, corresponding to work undertaken over a significant portion of the academic year, the Board may decide that a re-assessment during the following September supplementary session is not a viable option for the student, and may require that the student re-submits the failed assignments during an additional year, before being admitted to the second year of studies; and (
2. ii)Students in the second year of the course shall only be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments of taught study-units assigned not more than 20 ECTS credits during the September supplementary examination session.

(3)Students who fail 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. 7. Students shall be required to complete the Final Project Wo r k s h o p a n d w r i t e a d i s s e r t a t i o n i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e guidelines issued by the Board. Final Project Workshop. 8.

(1)The Final Project Workshop has the same status as a dissertation as defined in the General Regulations for University P o s t g r a d u a t e Aw a r d s . T h e a ss e s sm e n t o f t h e F i n a l P r o j e ct Workshop shall accordingly be as defined in the Procedures for Work on the Final Project Workshop. Amended by: L.N. 8 of 2017. S.L. 327.328 4 [ S.L.327.500 DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE - M.Arch. UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Boards of Examiners of Master’s dissertations (assigned less than 60 ECTS credits), approved by Senate.

(2)The Board of Examiners for the Final Project Workshop shall be composed of at least seven members, comprising the Dean as Chairman and including members of staff with expertise in the disciplines relevant to the theme of the Final Project Workshop, as approved by Senate.

(3)Work on the Final Project Workshop shall be undertaken during the third and fourth semesters of the course. Students shall be assigned a number of supervisors who shall provide guidance and advice, in conformity with the main themes of the Final Project Workshop.

(4)The Final Project Workshop shall comprise a synoptic design project, presented by each student via drawings, written documents, audio-visual material and an oral presentation.

(5)The theme for the Final Project Workshop shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the deadline indicated by the Board. Students may undertake similar themes for the Final Project Workshop, provided that they shall be required to submit for assessment individual project proposals. Dissertation. Amended by: L.N. 8 of 2017; L.N. 328 of 2018. 9.

(1)The dissertation shall be of approximately 15,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(2)A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the deadline indicated by the Board.

(3)The assessment of the dissertation shall include an oral examination. The process of assessment of the dissertation shall be as defined in the Procedures for Boards of Examiners of Master Dissertations (assigned less than 60 ECTS credits), approved by Senate.

(4)The Board of Examiners shall be composed of at least four members, including the Chairman and the supervisor, as approved by Senate, provided that in cases where the Head of Department is also the supervisor, he shall not chair but another member shall be appointed as chairman; in cases where the Board deems it appropriate, a chairman other than the Head of Department may be appointed. Supervisor. 10.

(1)Students shall be required to have regular contact with their supervisors, not less than once a month.

(2)Students shall be required to make an interim presentation to the relative Board of Examiners, mid-way through the programme of both the Dissertation and Final Project Workshop, so that it may be ascertained that each student is making satisfactory progress. Following such interim presentations, a progress report shall be drawn up, which may include recommendations to either (

1. a)extend the period of study in order to enable the student to DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE - M.Arch. UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT [ S.L.327.500 complete the work properly; or (
2. b)terminate studies prematurely if the Board deems this to be proper in the circumstances, provided that: (
3. i)the extension of the study period referred to in (
4. a)shall be in accordance with the provisions of the 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. 11. The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification of the Degree shall be based on the results obtained in all the components of the programme of study, all credits being weighted equally. Classification of the Award. 12. The Award Classification Board shall be composed of at least seven members of staff, including the Dean, or delegate, as chairman, appointed by the Board. The classification procedures shall otherwise conform to the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards. Classification Board. Added by: L.N. 8 of 2017. S.L. 327.328 13. A Visiting External Examiner shall be appointed to review the taught component of the course as well as the Final Project Workshop and dissertation, in accordance with the applicable procedures. Visiting External Examiner. Added by: L.N. 8 of 2017. 5