MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC. [ S.L. 327.612 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.612 MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC. - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY 27th November, 2018 LEGAL NOTICE 398 of 2018, as amended by Legal Notice 436 of 2021. 1.
(1)These regulations may be cited as the Master of Science in Surgical Skills - M.Sc. - Degree Course Regulations.
(2)In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires “the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery; “the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies responsible for the academic administration and organisation of the Course, which shall include members from each Partner Institution; “the Course” means the programme of study developed by the Partner Institutions leading to the degree of Master of Science in Surgical Skills - M.Sc.; “the Degree” means the degree of Master of Science in Surgical Skills - M.Sc.; “the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Surgical Skills - P.G.Cert.; “the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Surgical Skills - P.G.Dip.; “the Partner Institutions” means the institutions taking part in the teaching of the Master of Science in Surgical Skills, namely: University of Malta; and Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), Queen Mary University of London; “the Senate” means the Senate of the University of Malta; and “the University” means the University of Malta.
(3)This Degree is a joint degree of the University and this shall be taken to mean that the Course is taught by both the Partner Citation and Interpretation 1 2 [ S.L. 327.612 MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC. Institutions within the framework of a joint degree programme. The award shall only be awarded if the Partner Institutions declare the student to be eligible for the award. Applicability 2. These regulations shall apply to courses commencing in October 2018 or later. Areas of Specialisation. Added by: L.N. 436 of 2021. 3.
(1)The Course shall be offered in any area of specialisation that falls within the academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by Senate.
(2)Students shall be required to indicate their chosen area of specialisation during the first year of the Course. Entry Requirements. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of 2021. 4.
(1)The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of one of the following qualifications: (
- a)the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery; or (
- b)a qualification deemed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, to be equivalent to the qualification listed in sub-paragraph (a); or (
- c)an Allied Health Science degree with classification of Second Class Honours or better. a
(2)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 number of available places at the time of the call for applications.
(3)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.
(4)Interviews, when necessary, shall be conducted by a board composed of at least three members appointed by the Board for the purpose.
(5)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. MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC. [ S.L. 327.612 3
(6)All applicants must present a Police Conduct Certificate, which must not be issued earlier than six months from the date of application. 5.
(1)The Course shall extend over two years of parttime study, which shall include the summer periods. Course Duration. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of 2021.
(2)The Board of Studies may allow students to extend their studies by not more than six months, provided that in special circumstances, Senate, on the recommendation of the Board of Studies, may grant students a further extension of up to two years in order to enable them to complete their studies. 6.
(1)The programme of study shall consist of studyunits to which a total of 90 ECTS credits shall be assigned, and shall comprise 60 ECTS credits for taught study-units and 30 ECTS for the dissertation study-unit. Programme of Study. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of 2021.
(2)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%.
(3)Students who obtain the 60 ECTS 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 Course, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.
(4)Students who obtain 30 ECTS 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.
(5)The Board shall publish the programme prior to the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.
(6)All students shall be required to attend for lectures and clinical placements as indicated in the programme of study for the Course, at the venues indicated by the Board of Studies.
- The Board of Studies shall draw up a catalogue of all study-units. The catalogue shall indicate the level, code, title, description and type of each study-unit, the ECTS credits assigned to each study-unit, the methods of teaching and assessment, as well as the re-assessment opportunities for each study-unit. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of
- 4 [ S.L. 327.612 Assessment and Progress. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of
- MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC. 8
(1)The assessment of each study-unit shall be held on completion of the study-unit.
(2)Results for the assessment of the study-units and the dissertation shall be published as a percentage mark and grade as indicated below: Mark Range Grade 80% - 100% A 70% - 79% B 55% - 69% C 50% - 54% D 0% - 49% FAIL
(3)Students who fail in any of the taught study-units shall be allowed one re-assessment. The re-assessment shall be held at the supplementary examination session. If successful on re-assessment, the grade to be awarded shall be Grade D.
(4)Senate shall appoint a Board of Examiners for each studyunit in accordance with the provisions of the University Assessment Regulations. Dissertation. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of 2021. 9.
(1)Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of between 20,000 and 25,000 words, excluding references and appendices, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.
(2)Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the first and second year of the Course. Students shall submit for approval a title and a detailed research proposal by the deadline and in the format specified by the Board of Studies.
(3)Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for any substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation.
(4)Each dissertation shall include a declaration signed by the students that it is their own original work.
(5)Before graduating, students shall present an electronic version of the dissertation to each of the Partner Institutions, which shall include a signed declaration of authenticity. The electronic version must conform to the standards set by each of the Partner Institutions. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of 2021. 10.
(1)The Board of Studies shall appoint a supervisor for each student. Students shall be required to have regular contact with their supervisor. MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC. [ S.L. 327.612 5
(2)Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies progress reports for each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of study. 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 paragraph
(2)of regulation 4; and (
- ii)the Board of Studies may not terminate studies prematurely according to (
- b)until it has first given the student a chance to be heard.
(3)The role of the supervisor shall cease when the dissertation is submitted for examination but may be re-assumed, on the advice of the Board of Examiners, in order to provide guidance to students whose dissertation is referred back for significant correction pending final acceptance. 11.
(1)Each dissertation shall be examined by a Board of Examiners, composed of at least three members, one of whom shall normally be a local examiner from one of the Partner Institutions. The Board of Examiners may additionally also include an external examiner appointed from an institution external to the Partner Institutions. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of 2021.
(2)Students shall be required to take a viva voce examination to defend their dissertation and this may also be conducted using electronic means of communication, if so approved by the Board of Studies. 12.
(1)Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory may be allowed by the Board of Studies, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, to resubmit it in a revised form, within a period of up to six months from the day on which it is referred back to them. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of 2021.
(2)If a student fails in a dissertation, the maximum grade that can be awarded after re-assessment shall be Grade D. 13.
(1)The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification of the Postgraduate Diploma and 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 Awards. Renumbered: L.N. 436 of 2021. 6 [ S.L. 327.612 MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SURGICAL SKILLS - M.SC.
(2)The names of students who qualify for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma and the Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order classified as follows: Pass with Distinction Pass with Merit Pass
(3)The unclassified. Postgraduate Certificate shall be awarded
(4)The Award Classification Board shall consult the following guidelines when deciding upon the final classification of the Postgraduate Diploma and the Degree: Final Weighted Average Mark Classification Renumbered: L.N. 436 of
- 70 – 100% Pass with Distinction 60 – 69% Pass with Merit 50 – 59% Pass
- The three awards shall be awarded jointly by both Partner Institutions following agreement between both Partner Institutions.