L.S. 327.654 Ordinamenti għall-grad ta’ Master of Arts in Social Work – M.A. - jew Master of Arts in Social Policy – M.A. - taħt il-patroċinju tal- Fa

(1)These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work - M.A. - or Master of Arts in Social Policy - 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 in Social Work - M.A. - or Master of Arts in Social Policy - M.A.; “the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work - M.A. - or Master of Arts in Social Policy - M.A.; “the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Social Work – P.G.Cert. - or the Postgraduate Certificate in Social Policy - P.G. Cert., as appropriate; “the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work – P.G.Dip. - or the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Policy - P.G. Dip., as appropriate; and “the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008. 2. These bye-laws shall be commencing in October 2020 or later. applicable for courses 3. The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of the following qualifications:

(1)For the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work (mainly taught or mainly by research): (

1. a)a Bachelor degree in Social Work with at least Second Class Honours or equivalent and a Applicability Requirements for Admission 2 [ S.L. 327.654 MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A. minimum of two years of social work practice; or (
2. b)the Diploma in Social Work or the Diploma in Applied Social Studies (Social Work) from this University and a minimum of five years of social work practice, provided that such applicants shall have successfully sat for an interview, during which they shall be required to provide written and employer-corroborated evidence of social work practice and other relevant qualifications obtained following completion of the diploma course. Such applicants shall further be required to complete a preparatory programme as specified in bye-law 6.

(2)For the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy (mainly taught): a Bachelor degree with at least Second Class Honours in Social Policy or in any other area of study which the Board deems to be relevant.

(3)For the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy (mainly by research): (

1. a)a Bachelor degree in Social Policy with at least Second Class Honours or equivalent; or (
2. b)a Bachelor degree in a related area with at least Second Class Honours or equivalent and a minimum of two years of practice in the area in which the student wishes to conduct research. 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 number of available places shall be announced at the time of the call for applications. 5. If there are more eligible applicants than the number of places available, applicants shall be selected after an interview by a board appointed for the purpose composed of at least three members. The board shall select applicants using the following criteria: Preparatory Programme (
3. a)degree type and class - 30%; (
4. b)experience in the area of the proposed study - 35%; and (
5. c)performance during an interview - 35%. 6. Applicants admitted under sub-paragraph (
6. b)of paragraph

(1)of bye-law 3 shall be required to complete a preparatory programme, comprising 45 ECTS credits as directed by the Board, and to obtain an overall average of 65% or better, prior to their MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A. [ S.L. 327.654 registration as regular students on the Course.

1. The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study. Course Duration
2. The programmes of study shall comprise study-units to which a total of 90 ECTS credits shall be assigned. Programmes of Study 9.

(1)Mainly taught programmes of study shall comprise taught study-units to which a total of 60 ECTS credits are assigned and a dissertation study-unit to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned.

(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 complete the taught study-units, shall be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate.

(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 dissertation, shall be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma. 10. Programmes of study mainly by research shall be of two types and shall comprise: (

1. a)in the case of the Social Work, taught study-units to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned and a dissertation study-unit to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned; or (
2. b)in the case of the Social Policy, taught study-unit/s to which 10 ECTS credits are assigned and a dissertation study-unit to which 80 ECTS credits are assigned. 11. The programmes of study shall be published after approval by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the Course. 12.

(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.

(2)Students registered on the mainly taught programmes who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more than 20 ECTS credits for taught study-units, if following the full-time Course, or not more than 10 ECTS credits if following the part-time Course, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments during the September supplementary examination session. Assessment and Progress 3 4 [ S.L. 327.654 MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A.

(3)Students who fail in more than the number of credits permitted under paragraph

(2)of this bye-law or students who after re-assessment fail to obtain the credits for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have failed the Course.

(4)Students registered on the mainly taught programmes shall be allowed to proceed to the dissertation study-unit subject to obtaining the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught study-units with an average mark of at least 60%.

(5)Students registered on the mainly by research programmes referred to in paragraphs (

1. a)and (
2. b)of bye-law 10 shall be allowed resits of not more than 10 ECTS credits and 5 ECTS credits respectively. Dissertations in Mainly Taught Programmes of Study 13.

(1)In mainly taught programmes of study, students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation (30 ECTS credits) of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2)A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the beginning of the second semester.

(3)Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the third semester of the Course after approval of the proposal. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period of study. 14.

(1)Students shall be required to have regular contact with their supervisor.

(2)Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports for each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of studies, whether the student is following the Course on a full-time or a part-time basis. Such reports may include a recommendation to either (

1. a)extend the period of study in order to enable the student to complete the dissertation; or (
2. b)terminate studies prematurely if the supervisor 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. MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A. [ S.L. 327.654 15.

(1)In mainly by research programmes of study structured as detailed in paragraph (a) of bye-law 10, students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation (60 ECTS credits) of approximately 20,000 to 30,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies. The dissertation must also satisfy the Board as regards content and presentation.

(2)A provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal shall be submitted to the Board of Studies before the end of the first semester. 16.

(1)In mainly by research programmes of study structured as detailed in paragraph (b) of bye-law 10, students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation (80 ECTS credits) of approximately 30,000 to 35,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies. The dissertation must also satisfy the Board as regards content and presentation.

(2)A provisional title for the dissertation and a research proposal of at least 300 words shall be submitted to the Board for approval at the time of applications. 17.

(1)Each student shall be assigned a supervisor by the Board who shall provide guidance and advice during the period of study, starting from the formulation of a detailed written proposal.

(2)Work on the dissertation may be undertaken at any time during the Course after approval of the proposal. 18.

(1)For programmes of study by research (as defined in bye-law 10), the Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each student, normally composed of three members as follows: the Head of Department, or delegate as Chair, and two other members, one of whom being the research supervisor, provided that when the Head of Department is the supervisor, the Head shall not chair the Panel.

(2)Panels of Supervision shall follow, as they deem fit, the progress of students throughout the Course, provided that they meet at least once a year to review such progress.

(3)Students shall be required to report to their supervisor 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 Panels of Supervision or Boards of Studies reports regarding the students under their supervision. Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for any substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation.

(5)Panels of Supervision or Boards of Studies as appropriate Dissertations in Mainly by Research Programmes of Study 5 6 [ S.L. 327.654 MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL WORK - M.A. - OR MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL POLICY - M.A. shall periodically inform the Board, in writing, on the general performance of each student. Such advice may include a recommendation to either (

1. a)extend the period of study in order to enable the student to complete the dissertation; or (
2. b)terminate studies prematurely if the supervisor deems this to be proper in the circumstances, provided that the conditions specified in subparagraphs (
3. i)and (
4. ii)of paragraph

(2)of bye-law 14 shall also apply in these cases. Classification of the Awards

1. The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification of the Postgraduate Diplomas and of the Degrees shall be based on the results obtained in all components of the programmes of study, all credits being weighted equally. Special Provisions for Part-Time Courses
2. The provisions of the foregoing bye-laws shall apply mutatis mutandis to courses followed on a 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.