DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING [ S.L.327.562 1 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.562 DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING 1st November, 2016 LEGAL NOTICE 361 of 2016. 1.
(1)The title of these bye-laws is the Bye-Laws for the Degree of Master of Arts - M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.
(2)Citation and interpretation. In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires - "the Board" means the Board of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing; "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 - M.A.; "the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts - M.A.; "the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate in the relevant area of study - P.G. Cert.; and "the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards. S.L. 327.328 2. These bye-laws shall be commencing in October 2016 or later. courses Applicability. 3. The course shall be offered in any area of study that falls within the academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by Senate. Areas of study. 4.
(1)The course shall be open to applicants in possession of a Bachelor degree from this University or any other institution recognized by Senate in an area of study deemed relevant by the Board with at least Second Class Honours. Applicants in possession of a degree obtained with at least Category II shall also be admitted following successful completion of a preparatory programme as indicated in bye-law 5. Requirements for admission. applicable for
(2)The admission of applicants may be made conditional on the result of an interview conducted by an interviewing board appointed for the purpose.
(3)The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be composed of at least three members.
(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 and the number of available places at the time of the call 2 [ S.L.327.562 DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING for applications.
(5)When the number of places is so limited and the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants will 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 the interview.
(6)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. Preparatory programme. 5. Applicants not in possession of an Honours degree admitted under paragraph
(1)of bye-law 4 shall be required to complete a preparatory programme, comprising not less than 30 ECTS credits and not more than 60 ECTS credits as directed by the Board, depending on the number of credits already obtained in the chosen area of study, with an overall average mark of 55% or better, prior to their registration as regular students on the course. Course duration. 6. The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study. Programme of study. 7.
(1)The programme of study shall comprise study-units to which a total of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which not more than 30 ECTS credits are assigned to taught study-units and not less than 60 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.
(2)Students who obtain a total of 30 ECTS credits for taught study-units with an average mark of at least 50% and do not proceed with the course, or having proceeded do not successfully c o m pl e t e t he co ur s e , sha ll b e e li gi bl e fo r t he aw a rd of t he Postgraduate Certificate.
(3)Students shall be eligible for the award of the Degree if they obtain the 90 ECTS credits as outlined in the programme of study for the course with an average mark of at least 50%.
(4)The programme of study shall be published after approval by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the course. Assessment and progress. 8.
(1)The assessment of the taught study-units shall be completed by the end of the semester in which the teaching of the study-units are held.
(2)Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more than 10 ECTS credits for taught study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments 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. Dissertation. 9.
(1)Students shall be required to submit an individual DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEING [ S.L.327.562 3 dissertation of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.
(2)Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time during the course after approval of the research proposal. 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 provisional research proposal of approximately 300 words shall be submitted at the time of application. The title for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal outlining the proposed project and the main questions to be addressed shall be submitted to the Board of Studies for approval by not later than the end of the first semester. 10.
(1)The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each student, normally composed of three members as follows: the Dean of the Faculty, or his/her delegate as Chairman, and two other members, one of whom being the principal supervisor, provided that when the Dean of the Faculty is the supervisor, s/he shall not chair the panel. Panel of Supervision.
(2)The Panel of Supervision shall follow, as it deems fit, the progress of students throughout the course, provided that it meets at least twice a year to review such progress.
(3)Students shall be required to report to their supervisors at least once every two months, and in addition as often as the supervisor deems necessary.
(4)At the end of each semester of studies, supervisors shall be required to submit to the Panel of Supervision reports for the students under their supervision. Students shall seek approval from said Panel for any substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation.
(5)The Panel of Supervision shall periodically inform the Board, in writing, on the general performance of each student. Such reports may include a recommendation 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 may not terminate studies prematurely according to (
- 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 components of the programme of study, all credits being weighted equally. Classification of the Award. 12. The provisions of the foregoing bye-laws shall apply mutatis mutandis to courses followed on 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. Special provisions for part-time courses.