[ S.L. 327.686 MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.686 MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS 21st June, 2022 LEGAL NOTICE 184 of 2022. 1.
(1)These regulations may be cited as the Master in Disability Studies Degree Course Regulations.
(2)In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires“the Admissions Committee” means the admissions committee composed of the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing or his delegate, and at least two other academic members appointed by the Board, which shall be set up for the purposes of the selection of applicants for the Programme, and which shall be responsible for submitting a recommendation to the Admissions Board of the University to such effect; “the Board” means the Board of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing; “the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies responsible for the academic administration and organisation of the Course, which shall include representatives from each Partner Institution; “the Course” means the programme of study developed by the Partner Institutions leading to the joint degree of Master in Disability Studies; “the Degree” means the joint degree of Master in Disability Studies; “the Partner Institutions” means the University of Malta and the University of Leeds; “the Partner University” means the University of Leeds; “the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Disability Studies – P.G. Cert.; “the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Disability Studies– P.G. Dip.; “the Senate” means the Senate of the University of Malta; and “the University” means the University of Malta. Citation and Interpretation. 1 2 [ S.L. 327.686 MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES
(3)This Degree is a joint Master degree of the University and this shall be taken to mean that the Course is taught in collaboration with the Partner University within the framework of a joint degree programme. The Degree shall only be awarded if both Partner Institutions declare the student to be eligible for the award. Applicability. 2. These regulations shall apply to courses commencing in September 2022 or later. Qualifications for Admission. 3.
(1)The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of the following qualifications: (
- a)a Bachelor degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits and obtained with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or equivalent; or (
- b)any first cycle degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits, classified with at least Category II or Second Class Honours and at least three years of relevant work experience.
(2)The Admissions Committee may, after thorough examination of documents submitted in support of the qualifications presented, and following an interview, recommend the admission of applicants applying for admission in terms of the University’s Policy for the Recognition and Accreditation of Prior Learning (RPL) who are in possession of other academic or professional qualifications and documented experience if these are deemed to be comparable to the qualifications referred to in paragraph
(1)of this regulation. The admission of such applicants may be made subject to those conditions, including financial conditions, that may be imposed to address any lacunae in the applicants’ academic preparation.
(3)All applicants shall be required to demonstrate that they have the necessary aptitude and disposition to follow the Course with profit.
(4)Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by means of a personal interview conducted by an interviewing board appointed for the purpose. The interviewing board shall be composed of at least three persons and be administered solely by the University. Interviews may be conducted by electronic means of communication with applicants.
(5)Applicants are required to demonstrate that their standard of English is satisfactory. The offer of a place on the Course may be made subject to the applicants obtaining such proficiency qualifications prior to the commencement of their studies.
(6)Proficiency in English may be certified by the following: IELTS obtained with at least 6.5 and a minimum 6.0 in each element, MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES [ S.L. 327.686 or comparable. English native speakers and students who have attended a Bachelor’s course in an English-speaking country shall not be required to submit this certification.
(7)Depending on the availability of resources, 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, and the criteria for selection, shall be announced at the time of the call for applications. 4.
(1)All applications must be made online via the University’s website (um.edu.mt) in accordance with the published instructions and before the deadlines stated on the website. Application and Registration.
(2)Applicants who are selected to join the Course shall be registered as students at both Partner Institutions. 5.
(1)The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-time study which shall be spread over one calendar year. Course Duration.
(2)The Board of Studies may allow students to extend their studies by not more than six months in order to complete the project, 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.
(3)If students following the Course supported by a scholarship require an extension, the scholarship shall not be extended. Such extensions may be given in terms of the applicable regulations of the Partner Institutions. 6.
(1)The programme of study shall consist of studyunits to which a total of 90 ECTS credits shall be assigned, comprising taught study-units assigned 60 ECTS credits and a project to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned. The Board shall publish the programme prior to the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate. Programme of Study.
(2)The programme of study shall be delivered through a blend of in person and online teaching. When lectures are delivered in person, all students shall be required to attend lectures at the University. 7. The Partner Institutions shall make publicly-available the details of the Programme, indicating the level, code, title, description and type of each study-unit, the ECTS credits assigned to each studyunit, the methods of teaching and assessment, as well as the reassessment opportunities for each study-unit. Catalogue of Study-Units. 3 4 [ S.L. 327.686 Assessment and Progress. MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES 8.
(1)Senate shall appoint a Board of Examiners for each study-unit undertaken at the University, in accordance with the provisions of the University Assessment Regulations.
(2)The assessment of each study-unit shall be completed by the end of the semester in which the teaching of the study-unit is held.
(3)Results for the assessment of the study-units and the project shall be published as a percentage mark and grade as indicated below: Mark RangeGrade 80% - 100% A 70% - 79% B 55% - 69% C 50% - 54% D 45% - 49% E 0% - 44% F provided the minimum pass mark for the project shall be 50%.
(4)Students who fail in any of the taught study-units shall be allowed one re-assessment. The re-assessment shall be held at the next scheduled examination session (May or September) as the case may be. The maximum mark/grade that can be awarded after reassessment of taught study-units shall be 45%/Grade E.
(5)Students who fail in the project shall be allowed a reexamination in terms of paragraph
(2)of regulation 11 of these regulations. The maximum mark/grade that can be awarded after reexamination shall be 50%/Grade D.
(6)Students who obtain 30 ECTS for taught study-units and opt not to proceed with the Course, or having proceeded do not successfully complete the Course, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate.
(7)Students who obtain 60 ECTS for taught study-units and opt not to proceed with the Course, or having proceeded do not successfully complete the Course, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma. Project. 9.
(1)Students who are eligible, will proceed to the project study-unit, which they shall be required to carry out in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of Studies. MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES [ S.L. 327.686
(2)Work on the project shall be undertaken during the final semester of the Course. Students shall submit for approval a title and a detailed project proposal by the deadline and in the format specified by the Board of Studies.
(3)Students shall be required to familiarize themselves with, and adhere to the instructions and guidelines as set out in the Project Guidelines provided by the Board of Studies.
(4)Students shall seek approval from the Board of Studies for any substantial modification in the title or content of the project.
(5)Projects shall include a declaration signed by the students that it is their own original work. 10.
(1)The Board of Studies shall appoint a supervisor for each student and, where applicable, a co-supervisor or advisor, at least one of whom is a representative of one of the Partner Institutions.
(2)The supervisor and, where applicable, the co-supervisor or advisor, shall follow the progress of students, provided that this progress is reviewed at least once.
(3)Students shall be required to have regular contact with their supervisor and, where applicable, the co-supervisor or advisor.
(4)Supervisors shall periodically inform the Board of Studies, submitted in a format agreed by both Partner Institutions, on the general performance of 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 project; or (
- b)to 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 outlined in Regulation 5 of these regulations; 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. 11.
(1)Each project shall be examined by a Board of Examiners composed of at least three members, representing each of the Partner Institutions. The Board of Examiners may additionally also include an external examiner appointed from an institution external to the Partner Institutions.
(2)Students whose project is found unsatisfactory may be allowed by the Board of Studies, on the recommendation of the 5 6 [ S.L. 327.686 MASTER IN DISABILITY STUDIES Board of Examiners, to re-submit it in revised form within a period of up to six months from the day on which it is referred back to them. Joint Master Award of the Degree. 12.
(1)Students who successfully complete the 90 ECTS credits included in the programme of study for the Course shall be eligible for the award of the Degree.
(2)The overall evaluation of each student’s performance in the Course for the purpose of the classification of the Degree, the Postgraduate Certificate and the Postgraduate Diploma, shall be based on the results obtained, all credits awarded being weighted equally.
(3)The names of students who qualify for the award of the Degree or Postgraduate Diploma shall be classified as Pass with Distinction, Pass with Merit or Pass, in accordance with the following guidelines: Final Weighted Average MarkClassification 80% - 100% Pass with Distinction 70% - 79% Pass with Merit 50% - 69% Pass
(4)The unclassified. General Provision. Postgraduate Certificate shall be awarded 13. In matters not provided for by these regulations, the Board and the Board of Studies shall be guided by the provisions of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021, published as Legal Notice 371 of 2021, as applicable.