EDUCATION ACT (CAP. 327)

Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations, 1998

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 Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations, 1998.

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

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery;

"the Course" means the Course leading to the Degree; and

"the Degree" means the Degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery - M.D.

Applicability

2. These regulations shall be applicable to courses starting in October 1997 or later.

Eligibility for Degree

3. To be eligible for the award of the Degree, students must:

(a) be registered as regular students in the Course in terms of the Admission Regulations of the University;

(b) satisfy the Special Course Requirements in accordance with regulation 4;

(c) complete the course of studies, qualify in the examinations and satisfy any other requirements as prescribed in these regulations; and

(d) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other relevant statutes, regulations and bye-laws of the University.

Admission and Special Course Requirements

4. (1) Senate, on the advice of the Board, may limit the number of students that may be admitted to the Course. Senate shall make regulations for the selection of applicants for admission.

(2) To apply for admission to the Course candidates must, besides satisfying the requirements for admission as regular students in terms of the Admission Regulations, satisfy the following Special Course Requirements:

(a) passes in the Matriculation Certificate Examination at Advanced Level at Grade B or better in Biology and Chemistry;

and

(b) a pass in the Matriculation Certificate Examination at Intermediate Level at Grade B or better in any one of the following subjects: Accounting, Applied Mathematics (Mechanics), Arabic, Computing, Economics, Engineering Drawing, English, French, Geography, German, Greek, History, Information Technology, Italian, Latin, Maltese, Philosophy, Physics, Pure Mathematics, Religious Knowledge, Russian, Sociology and Spanish, provided that all grades indicated have been obtained together in one session of examinations (i.e. one sitting) and are from recognised Examining Boards from the same country.

(3) For the purpose of paragraph (2) of this regulation, a pass obtained in a session of examinations which is held after the results of a previous session were published, shall be deemed to be a pass obtained in a session that is distinct from the previous one. This regulation shall also apply to the supplementary session of the Matriculation Certificate Examination offered by the MATSEC Board of the University of Malta according to the provisions of the Matriculation Certificate Examination Regulations and this notwithstanding any other regulation governing the award of the Matriculation Certificate.

(4) Applicants in possession of one of the following degrees obtained from the University of Malta may also apply:

(i) a Bachelor of Science with a classification of Category II or better or a Bachelor of Science (Honours) with a classification of Second Class Honours or better, in both cases with Biology and Chemistry as principal areas or a comparable degree; or

(ii) a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) with a classification of Second Class Honours or better; or

(iii) a Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

(5) Applicants in possession of other qualifications obtained after having pursued studies overseas shall be considered by the Admissions Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and shall be admitted if it is ascertained that their qualifications are comparable to the qualifications indicated in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of this regulation.

(6) Applicants for the Course may be required to attend for an interview. The Interviewing Board/s shall be composed of the Dean or his delegate, three other members appointed by the Board, one of whom shall be from outside the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and another member appointed by Senate. Up to three such Interviewing Boards shall be appointed for each intake of students as determined by the Board.

Course Duration

5. (1) The Course shall extend over a period of five years and shall be divided into two parts: the Intermediate Course of two years' duration and the Final Course of three years' duration.

(2) Except with the permission of the Board, students must follow the Course from admission to the Intermediate Course up to the Final Examination without interruption or repetition. Permission to interrupt or to repeat a year shall normally not be given more than once, except by permission of Senate granted for special reasons.

Subjects of the Course

6. The subjects of the Intermediate Course shall be the following:

First Year

Anatomy and Cell Biology
Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Advanced Learning Skills
Behavioural Sciences

Second Year

Anatomy and Cell Biology
Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
General Pathology and Microbiology
General Pharmacology
Behavioural Sciences

7. The subjects of the Final Course shall be the following:

First Year

Pathology
Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology
Surgery
Family Medicine
Behavioural Sciences

Second Year

Pathology
Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology
Surgery (including Orthopaedics)
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Paediatrics
Public Health
Dermatology
Ophthalmology
ENT
Anaesthesia
Forensic Medicine
Family Medicine

Third Year

Medicine (including Paediatrics)
Surgery (including Orthopaedics)
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Psychiatry
Family Medicine
Behavioural Sciences

8. Practical and clinical work shall be carried out throughout the Course, including during the periods when the University is in recess.

Progress Tests

9. (1) During the Course, Progress Tests shall be held in subjects the teaching of which extends over more than one academic year.

(2) Progress Tests shall be held as follows:

(a) in the Intermediate Course:

At the end of the First Year in:

Anatomy and Cell Biology
Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
During the First Year:
Behavioural Sciences

At the end of the Second Year in:

General Pathology and Microbiology
General
Pharmacology
During the Second Year:
Behavioural Sciences

(b) in the Final Course:

At the end of the First Year in:

Pathology
Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology
Surgery
During the First Year:
Behavioural Sciences

During the Second Year in:

Medicine (including Neurology)
Clinical Pharmacology
Surgery (including Orthopaedics)
Obstetrics and Gynaecology

During the Third Year in:

Behavioural Sciences

(3) Progress Tests shall be held in January and in May/June. A supplementary session shall be held in September.

(4) The results of the Progress Test in each subject shall be published according to the following grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C and D.

Students whose names do not appear on the list shall be considered to have failed the Progress Test in the subject concerned.

(5) Students shall not be allowed to proceed to the following year of the Course if the Board is not satisfied, as a result of the Progress Tests, that they have followed the year with profit.

(6) Students who fail in any Progress Test in the supplementary session are not allowed to proceed to the following year of the Course but may be allowed by the Board to repeat the year.

(7) Progress Tests for Behavioural Sciences shall take place at the end of each component of the subject. Assessment is by active participation, assignment and/or take-home test. Failure shall entail repetition of the component in the following year. In the case of failure in the re-assessment, students in the First Year of the Final Course shall not be allowed to proceed to the following year while students in the Third Year of the Final Course shall not be allowed to sit for the Final Examination. In both cases, the Board may allow students to repeat the year.

The Intermediate Examination

10. (1) The Intermediate Examination shall be held at the end of the second year of the Intermediate Course.

(2) There shall be a supplementary session of the Intermediate Examination in September for students who fail in any subject.

(3) The Intermediate Examination shall be held in Anatomy and Cell Biology, and in Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

(4) The examination in Anatomy and Cell Biology shall consist of two three-hour papers and a practical session. The examination in Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology shall consist of three three-hour papers and a library-project.

(5) Students may also be required to take a viva voce examination in these subjects.

(6) Before being allowed to sit for the Intermediate Examination, students must present to the Dean a certificate, signed by the heads of department concerned, showing that they have completed satisfactorily all assigned work in the subjects concerned.

Result

11. (1) The results of students in each subject of the Intermediate Examination shall be published in a list in alphabetical order according to the following grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C and D. Students whose names do not appear on the list shall be considered to have failed the examination in the subject concerned.

(2) The result of the examination in each subject shall take into account all parts of the examination in that subject.

(3) Students who do not pass the Intermediate Examination in the sessions prescribed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 10 shall be deemed to have failed the Intermediate Examination as a whole.

(4) Students who fail the Intermediate Examination are not allowed to proceed to the following year of the Course but may be allowed by the Board to repeat the second year of the Intermediate Course. Students shall not be allowed to repeat the Intermediate Examination in this manner more than once.

Admission to the Final Course

12. Before being admitted to the Final Course, students must pass the Intermediate Examination, or be exempted from it by the Senate, acting on the recommendation of the Board.

Subjects Tests in the Final Course

13. (1) During the Final Course, Subject Tests shall be held in each of the following subjects:

Public Health
Dermatology
Forensic Medicine
Ophthalmology
Paediatrics
ENT
Psychiatry
Anaesthesia.

A Subject Test in Family Medicine shall be held during the third year of the Final Course.

(2) A supplementary session shall be held for those students who fail a Subject Test.

(3) The names of students who have passed the Subject Tests in each of the subjects specified in paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be published in a list in alphabetical order according to the following grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C and D. Students whose names do not appear on the list shall be considered to have failed the Subject Test concerned.

(4) The result of each subject shall also take into account the work of the student in the subject during the Course.

(5) Students shall not be allowed to proceed to the following year of the Course if they have not passed each Subject Test prescribed for the year.

(6) Students who fail in any Subject Test in the supplementary session may be allowed by the Board to repeat the year.

Examination in Pathology

14. (1) There shall be an examination in Pathology, in June, at the end of the second year of the Final Course.

(2) There shall be a supplementary session of the examination in Pathology in September for students who fail.

(3) The examination shall consist of two three-hour papers and a practical session.

(4) Students may also be required to take a viva voce examination.

(5) Before being allowed to sit for the examination, students must present to the Dean a certificate, signed by the Head of Department of Pathology, showing that they have completed satisfactorily the schedule of practical work in the subject.

Result

15. (1) The names of students who have passed the examination in Pathology shall be published in a list in alphabetical order according to the following grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C and D. Exceptional performance shall be indicated on the list. Students whose names do not appear on the list shall be considered to have failed the examination.

(2) The result shall take into account all parts of the examination in the subject.

(3) Students who do not pass the examination in Pathology in the sessions prescribed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 14 shall not be allowed to proceed to the third year of the Final Course. Such students may be allowed by the Board to repeat the year at the next opportunity.

The Final Examination

16. (1) The Final Examination shall be held in June of the third year of the Final Course.

(2) There shall be a supplementary session of the Final Examination in September for students referred in one subject only. Students who fail in more than one subject shall be required to resit the failed examinations in the May/June session of the following year.

(3) The Final Examination shall be held in the following subjects:

Medicine (including Paediatrics)
Surgery
Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

(4) The examination in each of the subjects prescribed in paragraph (3) of this regulation shall consist of two three-hour papers and a clinical session.

(5) Students may also be required to take a viva voce examination in these subjects.

(6) Before being allowed to sit for the Final Examination, students must present to the Dean a certificate, signed by the heads of department concerned, showing that they have completed satisfactorily the schedule of clinical work prescribed for the Course.

Result

17. (1) The names of students who have passed in each subject of the Final Examination shall be published in a list in alphabetical order according to the following grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C and D.

(2) The names of students who have passed the Final Examination at the first session shall be published in another list in alphabetical order in the following two categories:

Passed with Distinction
Passed.

Exceptional performance in a subject shall be indicated on the list.

(3) The names of students who are successful in the examination sessions as prescribed in paragraph (2) of regulation 16 shall be published in a simple Pass List in alphabetical order.

(4) The result of the Final Examination shall take into account all parts of the examination in the three subjects specified in paragraph (3) of regulation 16, the result of the examination in Pathology, as well as the work done by the students during the Final Course.

Reference and Re-admission

18. (1) A list shall also be published indicating the names of the students who are referred in any subject/s as well as the subject/s in which they have been referred.

(2) Students who are referred in a subject/s may sit for the supplementary session in that subject/s as prescribed in paragraph (2) of regulation 16. If successful, their names shall be included in the list of those who have passed the Final Examination. If they fail, they shall be deemed to have failed the Final Examination as a whole.

19. Students shall not be allowed to re-sit the Final Examination, in whole or in part, unless they have satisfactorily followed such courses of studies and/or practical and/or clinical work as the Board may in each case determine.

20. Students who do not pass the Final Examination in two sessions as prescribed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 16 may be allowed by the Board to re-join the third year of the Final Course at the next occasion and to sit for the Final Examination again at the end of that course under such conditions as the Board may in each case determine. Such students may not qualify for a `Passed with Distinction'.

21. Students shall not be re-admitted to the Final Examination in terms of regulation 20 more than once.