EDUCATION ACT (CAP. 327)

Master of Education - M.Ed. - Degree Course Regulations, 2006

In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 30 (5) and 31 (6) of the Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor of the University of Malta has promulgated the following regulations made by the Senate of the University of Malta by virtue of the powers conferred upon it by sections 31 and 35 of the said Act:

Citation and interpretation

1. (1) These regulations may be cited as the Master of Education - M.Ed. - Degree Course Regulations, 2006.

(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Education;

"the Board of Studies" means the Board of Studies appointed by Senate for the Course;

"the Course" means the course of studies leading to the Degree of Master of Education ­ M. Ed.;

"the Degree" means the Degree of Master of Education - M.Ed.; and

"the Faculty" means the Faculty of Education.

Applicability

2. These regulations shall be applicable to courses starting in October 2006 or later.

Qualifications for Admission

3. (1) Applicants for admission to the Course shall be holders of:

(a) a degree in Education with at least second class honours from the Faculty or an equivalent qualification; or

(b) a degree with at least Category II together with a recognised teaching qualification; or

(c) a recognised qualification, other than the qualifications mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (1) of this regulation, together with a diploma in Education of this or another university recognised by the Senate for this purpose, and a minimum of five years' teaching experience. Such applicants may be required to successfully complete a qualifying programme of not less than 30 ECTS credits assigned to study-units relevant to the area of specialisation of the Degree.

(2) Depending on the availability of resources, the Board shall determine the number of applicants that may be allowed to register. The Board shall announce the number of available places at the time of the call for applications.

Course Duration

4. (1) Students admitted to the Course shall be required to complete it in not less than twelve months of full-time study or their equivalent in part-time study.

(2) Students admitted to the Course subject to successful completion of a qualifying programme shall undertake one additional semester of study if the qualifying programme is on a full-time basis, or two semesters, if it is on a part-time basis.

Course Programme

5. (1) The Course may be offered in a number of areas of specialisation that shall be announced prior to the commencement of the Course.

(2) The Course shall consist of study-units, to which 90 ECTS credits are assigned, offered within one of the following options:

(a) Option A: study-units to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned and a dissertation study-unit, of approximately 35,000 words, to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned; or

(b) Option B: study-units to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned and a professional project study-unit or research paper study-unit, of approximately 12,000 words, to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned.

(3) The Board shall publish the programme of study for each area of specialisation following approval by Senate, at the commencement of each Course. Subject to changes that the Board may, with the approval of Senate, be constrained to make, students are bound to follow the study-units and obtain the credits as indicated in their programme of study.

Dissertation

6. (1) Dissertations shall be carried out under tutorial supervision. Supervisors shall submit a report on each student registered on a part-time basis under their supervision to the Board of Studies after each year of study.

(2) Supervisors may refer a student to the Board of Studies for appropriate action (i.e. a warning) in the case of unsatisfactory work or serious negligence. A second warning could signify referral to Senate for termination of their studies.

(3) The proposed title and outline of the dissertation shall be approved by the supervisor and submitted to the Board of Studies for final approval by the beginning of the second semester of full-time study or by the beginning of the third semester of part-time study.

(4) Any substantial modification to the title or content of the dissertation made after approval must be recommended by the supervisor and approved by the Board of Studies.

(5) The dissertation shall be submitted in its final form by a date prescribed by the Board of Studies and within the periods indicated regulation 4. In exceptional circumstances, Senate may grant a student a further year in which to complete the dissertation.

(6) Every dissertation presented for the Degree must fulfil all the specifications of the relevant guidelines as regards length, format and presentation.

(7) No dissertation shall be accepted which in full or in part has already been submitted for a degree at this or any other university.

(8) Three copies of the dissertation, presented in the approved style, must be submitted to the Faculty for examination. Students awarded the Degree shall be required to submit one copy of the dissertation to be retained in the University Library prior to the conferment of the Degree.

(9) Every dissertation shall be examined by a Board of Examiners, composed of the Dean or his/her delegate and at least two other members, appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the Board. One of the examiners shall normally be an external examiner from another university. The Board of Examiners shall pass or fail or refer the dissertation on the basis of the reports of all examiners, and on the strength of a viva voce defence of the dissertation, which shall be chaired by the Dean of the Faculty or his/her delegate and shall include the internal examiner.

(10) If the work submitted is considered unsatisfactory, the student shall be entitled to re-submit the dissertation once within a period established by the Board of Examiners.

Professional Project

7. (1) Professional projects shall be carried out under tutorial supervision. Supervisors shall submit a report on each part-time student under their supervision to the Board of Studies after each year of study.

(2) Supervisors may refer a student to the Board of Studies for appropriate action (i.e. a warning) in the case of unsatisfactory work or serious negligence. A second warning could signify referral to Senate for termination of their studies.

(3) The proposed title and outline of the professional project shall be approved by the supervisor and submitted to the Board of Studies for final approval by the beginning of the second semester of full-time study or by the beginning of the third semester of part-time study.

(4) Any substantial modification to the title or content of the professional
project made after approval must be recommended by the supervisor and approved by
the Board of Studies.

(5) Professional projects may be done individually or in a group. In the latter case, the group must include no more than three students each of whose work must be specified clearly in the proposal approved by the Board of Studies and presented as a self-standing individual report.

(6) A professional project shall be submitted in its final form by a date prescribed by the Board of Studies and within the periods indicated in regulation 4.

(7) Every professional project shall be examined by a Board of Examiners approved by the Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, comprising the supervisor, an examiner and the relevant head of department or his delegate.

(8) If the work submitted is considered unsatisfactory, the student shall be entitled to re-submit the professional project once, subject to the provisions of regulation 4. Any resubmission must be made within one year of the original submission date.

Research Paper

8. (1) The research paper shall be prepared under the guidance of an advisory tutor appointed by the Board of Studies and the subject must be directly related to the student's area of specialisation. A provisional title of the paper, together with a tentative synopsis must be submitted to the Board of Studies, countersigned by the advisory tutor, for its approval by the beginning of the second semester of full-time study, or by the beginning of the third semester of part-time study.

(2) Any substantial modification to the title or content of the research paper made after approval must be recommended by the advisory tutor and approved by the Board of Studies.

(3) The research paper shall be submitted in its final form by the date prescribed by the Board of Studies and within the periods indicated in regulation 4.

(4) Every research paper presented for the Degree must fulfil all specifications of the relevant guidelines as regards format and presentation. It shall be expected to be of publishable standard.

(5) Every research paper shall be examined by a Board of Examiners appointed by the Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, made up of not less than two examiners.

(6) If the work submitted is considered unsatisfactory, the student is entitled to re-submit the research paper once, subject to the provisions of regulation 4. Any resubmission must be made within one year of the original submission date.

Final Result

9. (1) The students' final result shall take into account their performance in the study-units and in the dissertation, professional project, or research paper as may be the case.

(2) Successful students shall qualify for the Degree and their names shall be published in a list in alphabetical order classified as follows:

Passed with Distinction
Passed.

Repeal

10. The Master of Education - M.Ed. - Degree Course Regulations, 1998, published as Legal Notice 13 of 1998, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from the 30th September 2006, provided that students registered for this course before the 1st October 2006 shall continue to be governed by the regulations that were in force at the time of their joining the course.