MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA LL.M. [ S.L. 327.652 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.652 MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA - LL.M. - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF LAWS 28th July, 2020 LEGAL NOTICE 300 of 2020. 1.
(1)These regulations may be cited as the Master of Laws in the Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at Sea - LL.M. - Degree Course Regulations.
(2)In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires “the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Laws; “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 Laws in the Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at Sea - LL.M.; “the Degree” means the degree of Master of Laws in the Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at Sea - LL.M.; “the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in the Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at Sea - P.G. Dip.; “the Partner Institutions” means the institutions taking part in the teaching of the programme for the Master of Laws in the Prevention and Suppression of International Crime at Sea, namely: University of Malta; and University of Ferrara; “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 Partner Institutions within the framework of a joint degree programme. The qualifications shall only be awarded if the Partner Institutions declare Citation and Interpretation 1 2 [ S.L. 327.652 MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA LL.M. the student to be eligible for the award. Applicability 2. These regulations shall be applicable for courses commencing in October 2020 or later. Requirements for Admission 3.
(1)The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of a first cycle degree in Law or any other area of study which the Board considers as appropriate, provided that the first cycle degree is obtained with at least Second Class Honours or Category II, or an equivalent qualification, from the University or from another higher education institution recognized by Senate.
(2)Applicants not in possession of a degree in Law shall also be required to satisfy the Board that they are in possession of professional experience in an environment related to crime at sea.
(3)Depending on the availability of resources, the Senate, on the recommendation of the Board of Studies, shall determine the number of applicants that may be allowed to register on the Course. The number of available places shall be announced at the time of the call for applications.
(4)If there are more eligible applicants than there are available places, applications shall be evaluated on the basis of the criteria as agreed by the Partner Institutions and published at the time of the call for applications. Course Duration 4.
(1)The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study which shall include the summer period.
(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. Registration for the Course 5. Applicants wishing to register for the Course shall apply on the prescribed form by not later than the end of May prior to the commencement of the Course. The Board may also extend this deadline up to the end of June should the minimum number of students not be reached. Programme of Study 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 credits for the dissertation study-unit.
(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%. MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA LL.M. [ S.L. 327.652
(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)The Board shall publish the programme of study prior to the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.
(5)All students shall be required to attend at least 70% of all lectures as indicated in the programme of study for the Course, at the venues indicated by the Board of Studies. 7. 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. Catalogue of Study-Units 8.
(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
(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 45% - 49% E 0% - 44% Fail
(3)Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more than 20 ECTS credits for taught study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the September examination session. If successful on re-assessment, the marks/grade to be awarded shall be 45%/E.
(4)Students who fail in more than the number of credits permitted under paragraph
(3)of this regulation or students who after re-assessment fail to obtain the credits for any study-unit, shall be 3 4 [ S.L. 327.652 MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA LL.M. deemed to have failed the Course.
(5)If a student is prevented for a reason considered valid by Senate from being assessed in a taught study-unit, the student may be granted an additional year of study, unless the course is discontinued. Dissertation 9.
(1)Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of approximately 15,000 - 20,000 words, excluding references and appendices, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies.
(2)Dissertations shall normally be written in English. However, the Board of Studies may allow students to write their dissertation in any other language provided that the Board of Studies has ascertained to the satisfaction of Senate, that the Partner Institutions have the necessary expertise to supervise and examine the work. In such cases, students shall be required to include a translation of the abstract in English.
(3)Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the third semester of the Course.
(4)Students shall submit for approval a title and a detailed research proposal by the beginning of the second semester in the format specified by the Board of Studies.
(5)Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for any substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation.
(6)When submitting a dissertation, students are required to submit separately a signed declaration that the dissertation is their own original work.
(7)Before graduating, students shall present an electronic version of the dissertation to each Partner Institution. The electronic version must conform to the standards set by each Partner Institution. 10.
(1)The Board of Studies shall appoint a supervisor for each student. Students shall be required to have regular contact with their supervisor.
(2)Supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies progress reports for each student under their supervision. 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 MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA LL.M. [ S.L. 327.652 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. Each dissertation shall be examined by a Board of Examiners, composed of two members, one chosen from the University of Malta and one chosen from the University of Ferrara. In addition, the Board of Studies may choose to appoint an external examiner who has expertise in the area of study. 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 six months from the day on which it is referred back to them.
(2)If a student fails in a dissertation, the maximum marks/ grade that can be awarded after re-assessment shall be 50%/D. 13.
(1)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.
(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 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 80 – 100% Pass with Distinction Classification of the Awards 5 6 [ S.L. 327.652 MASTER OF LAWS IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIME AT SEA LL.M. 70 – 79% Pass with Merit 50 – 69% Pass. 14. The two awards shall be awarded jointly by both Partner Institutions following agreement between both Partner Institutions.