L.S. 327.660 Ordinamenti għall-grad ta’ Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts taħt il-patroċinju tal-Fakultà tal-Midja u x-Xjenzi tal-Għarfien

(1)These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-laws for the degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts under the auspices of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences.

(2)Citation and Interpretation In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires: “the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences; “the Course” means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts; “the Degree” means the degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Digital Arts; and “the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards,

2. These bye-laws shall be commencing in October 2020 or later. applicable for courses Applicability
3. The Course shall be offered in any area of study which benefits from a project-based approach, including disciplines from the digital arts, media arts, visual arts, sound arts, graphic design, photography and interdisciplinary practice that falls within the academic responsibility of the Board, after approval by Senate. Areas of Study
4. either: Requirements for Admission

(1)The Course is open to applicants in possession of (

1. a)a Bachelor’s degree obtained with at least Second Class Honours or with placement in Category II from this or another university, in the Creative Arts and/or Media or any other area as deemed relevant by the Board, together with a substantial portfolio of recent works; or (
2. b)a professional qualification/qualifications and/or experience deemed by Senate, on the 2 [ S.L. 327.660 MASTER OF FINE ARTS (M.F.A.) IN DIGITAL ARTS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES recommendation of the Board, to satisfy in part the admission requirements to the Course, provided that applicants may be required to complete a preparatory programme as specified in bye-law 5, together with a substantial portfolio of recent works.

(2)All applicants who are not in possession of a first degree in the Creative Arts and/or Media shall be interviewed and evaluated by an interviewing board composed of at least three members. Applicants shall be asked to provide evidence of their professional experience in the Creative Arts and/or Media by means of a portfolio.

(3)All prospective applicants are required to establish contact with the Department in order to discuss their proposal prior to formal application. Preparatory Programme 5.

(1)All applicants may be required to follow a preparatory programme as specified by the Board.

(2)The preparatory programme shall comprise not less than 30 and not more than 60 ECTS credits as directed by the Board. Applicants shall be required to obtain an overall average mark of 55% or better in the preparatory programme 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.

(2)The programme of study will be undertaken primarily by studio-based or practice-based research. The detailed programme will vary depending on the theme of research, but shall normally include a project and/or a portfolio of original studio-based or practice-based or project-based work, as exhibited through a project and/or a portfolio of work and a written dissertation.

(3)The programme of study shall comprise taught study units to which 10 ECTS credits are assigned and a research component to which 80 ECTS credits are assigned, as approved by the Board, of which 15 ECTS credits are assigned to the dissertation.

(4)The programme of study shall be published by the Board 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 each taught study-unit shall be completed by the end of the semester in which the teaching of the MASTER OF FINE ARTS (M.F.A.) IN DIGITAL ARTS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES [ S.L. 327.660 3 study-unit is held.

(2)Students who fail in the assessment of the taught studyunits shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments at the September Supplementary Assessment Session. Students who after re-assessment fail to obtain credit for any study-unit, shall be required to withdraw from the Course. 9.

(1)Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of not less than 15,000 words, exclusive of notes, bibliography and appendices, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board. The Project and/or a Portfolio of Work and the Dissertation

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

(3)The provisional title for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval at the time of application.

1. The project and/or portfolio of work shall comprise studio-based or practice-based or project-based work related to the theme of research as approved by the Board.
2. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.
3. Students shall be required to sit for a viva voce examination focusing on the project and/or portfolio of work and the dissertation. 13.

(1)The Board shall appoint a Panel of Supervision for each student normally composed of three members as follows: Head of Department, or his or her delegate, as Chairman, and two other members, one of whom being the research supervisor, provided that when the Head of Department is the supervisor, he or she shall not chair the panel.

(2)The Panel of Supervision shall follow, as it deems fit, the progress of students in their work for the project and/or a portfolio of work and a written dissertation, 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 Panel of Supervision 4 [ S.L. 327.660 MASTER OF FINE ARTS (M.F.A.) IN DIGITAL ARTS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES under their supervision. Students shall seek approval from said Panel for any substantial modification in the title or content of the project and/or portfolio of work and the dissertation. The project and/or portfolio of work and the dissertation may not normally be submitted for examination without the approval of the supervisor.

(5)The Panel of Supervision shall periodically inform the Board, in writing, on the general performance of each student for the project and/or portfolio of work and the dissertation. Such advice may include recommendations to either (

1. a)extend the period of study in order to enable the student to complete the project and/or portfolio of work and 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. Classification of the Award 14. 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. Special Provisions for Part-Time Courses 15. 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 relevant Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the Course.