L.S. 327.708 Ordinamenti għall-Grad ta’ Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - għall-Grad ta’ Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - taħt il-patroċinju tal-Fakultà ta

(1)These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. -under the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering. Citation and Interpretation.

(2)In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires – “the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Engineering; “the Degree” means the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D.; “the Faculty” means the Faculty of Engineering; “FICS” means any Faculty, Institute, Centre or School; and “the Principal Regulations” means the Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. - Regulations, 2023. 2. These bye-laws shall be applicable from 1 October 2023 onwards. Applicability. 3.

(1)Applicants for the Degree offered by the Faculty shall be in possession of one of the following degrees obtained in the last fifteen years prior to registration: Requirements for Admission. (

1. a)a Master’s degree, in an area of study related to Engineering, Science, ICT or Mathematics; or (
2. b)a Bachelor Honours degree in an area of study related to Engineering, Science, ICT or Mathematics obtained at First Class Honours or Second Class Honours (Upper Division), provided that the Faculty Doctoral Committee: (
3. i)ascertains that applicants have a very strong background in the area of study related to the proposed area of research; and (
4. ii)submits a clearly motivated recommendation for acceptance to the Board for eventual consideration by the Doctoral Academic Committee and Senate; or 2 [ S.L. 327.708 DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY – PH.D. (
5. c)qualifications which the Board deems comparable to the degrees indicated in sub-paragraphs (
6. a)and (
7. b)of this bye-law.

(2)Applicants in possession of one of the degrees indicated in paragraph

(1)of this bye-law obtained more than fifteen years prior to their application may apply and are required to produce sufficient proof of their competence to carry out research at the required level. 4.

(1)Applicants may submit their application form, together with a comprehensive research proposal outlining the proposed project, including research sources and materials, at any time of the year, as detailed in the Principal Regulations.

(2)Applicants may also be asked to demonstrate competence in those skills required by the nature of the proposed research. Faculty Doctoral Committee.

1. The Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment of a Faculty Doctoral Committee composed as follows: The Dean of the Faculty or delegate as Chair, 4 heads of department or their delegates. All members of the Faculty Doctoral Committee must be resident academics. Taught StudyUnits.
2. When the Board deems it necessary, it may require students to successfully complete a number of study-units during the course of their studies, under those conditions that it may impose, after approval by Senate. Students shall successfully complete such study-units with an overall average mark of at least 60% before they apply to transfer their studies from the M.Phil. degree to the Ph.D. degree, in accordance with the provisions of the Principal Regulations. Transfer Assessment Board.
3. The Transfer Assessment Board shall be composed of an examining Chair, an internal examiner, and the Principal Supervisor. The Chair and the internal examiner shall normally be resident academics, provided that one of these shall normally be a Faculty member from a department different from where the student is registered, or from another FICS where this is necessary to provide the appropriate range of expertise for the assessment of the research carried out. Transfer of Registration from the M.Phil. Degree to the Ph.D. Degree.
4. After 12 months and not later than 24 months of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study have elapsed, students are required to submit a report on their research work, for consideration by the Transfer Assessment Board appointed by Senate.The Transfer Assessment Board would give favourable consideration to work published or accepted for publication in refereed technical journals or DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY – PH.D. [ S.L. 327.708 3 conferences.
5. The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and presentation of the transfer report. Transfer Report Presentation and Format. 10.

(1)The Board of Examiners for Ph.D. degrees shall include a Chair, who shall be a resident academic, a visiting external examiner, and two internal examiners who shall normally be resident academics. One of the internal examiners shall normally be a Faculty member from a department different from where the student is registered, or from another FICS where this is necessary to provide the appropriate range of expertise for the assessment of the research carried out. The Chair shall only act as a convenor. Board of Examiners for M.Phil. and Ph. D. Degrees.

(2)The Board of Examiners for M.Phil. degrees shall include a Chair, who shall be a resident academic, a visiting external examiner, and two internal examiners who shall normally be resident academics. One of the internal examiners shall normally be a Faculty member from a department different from where the student is registered, or from another FICS where this is necessary to provide the appropriate range of expertise for the assessment of the research carried out. The Chair shall only act as a convenor.

1. The Board shall approve and publish guidelines on the format and presentation of the thesis for the Degree. Thesis Presentation and Format.
2. On successful completion of their studies, students shall be required to submit to the Faculty two hard bound copies of the thesis and one copy in digital format within six weeks from the publication of their result. The Degree shall not be conferred on students who do not comply with the provisions of this bye-law.
3. The Bye-Laws of 2009 in terms of the Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. – Degree Regulations, 2008, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering, published as Legal Notice 313 of 2009, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from 1 October
4. Repeal.