MASTER OF ARTS (DIPLOMATIC STUDIES) - 
M.A. (DIP. ST.) - DEGREE COURSE _g S.L.327.42 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.42
MASTER OF ARTS (DIPLOMATIC STUDIES) - 
M.A. (DIP. ST.) - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS
7th September, 1993
LEGAL NOTICE 119 of 1993, as amended by Legal Notice 224 of 1998.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Master of Arts
(Diplomatic Studies) - M.A. (Dip.St.) - Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the course" means the course leading to the Degree of Master of
Arts (Diplomatic Studies) - M.A. (Dip.St.);
"the Degree" means the Degree of Master of Arts (Diplomatic
Studies) - M.A. (Dip.St.).
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 224 of 1998.
2. These regulations shall be applicable from March 1996
onwards.
Qualifications for 
admission.
3. (1) Candidates for admission to the course must be holders
of a Bachelor’s degree with at least second class honours of the
University of Malta or of a first degree recognized by Senate as
equivalent to the Bachelor’s degree of the University of Malta with
at least second class honours.
(2) The admission of candidates whose first degree is not in
law, economics, history or political science may be made
conditional on the result of an interview during which that
candidate’s ability to complete the proposed studies successfully is
tested.
Course duration.
Substituted by:
L.N. 224 of 1998.
4. The duration of the course shall be not less than twelve
months of full-time study.
Coursework.
Amended by:
L.N. 224 of 1998.
5. (1) Candidates for the Degree must obtain sixteen credits
and write a dissertation. Given the pluridisciplinary nature of the
course, candidates shall be required to follow a total of eight study-
units, to each of which two credits are assigned, in the following
modules:
International Law
International Economics
International Relations
International History.
(2) A candidate may choose to major in one field. He will
nevertheless have to attend at least one course in each of the other
fields. A candidate who has no previous academic knowledge in
2 _g S.L.327.42
MASTER OF ARTS (DIPLOMATIC STUDIES) - 
M.A. (DIP. ST.) - DEGREE COURSE
any field shall attend the introductory course in that field during the
first semester.
(3) All candidates shall also attend the seminar on research
methods and writing.
Assessment of 
coursework and 
final examinations.
Substituted by:
L.N. 224 of 1998.
6. (1) Study-units shall be assessed and awarded credit
according to the following grades: A, B. C, and D, A being the
highest grade, or F which indicates Fail.
(2) A candidate who fails in not more than two study-units
(four credits) throughout the course shall be allowed to be re-
assessed. In the reassessment, the maximum grade that may be
awarded is Grade D.
(3) Candidates who obtain sixteen credits shall be eligible to
sit for the Final Examinations, consisting of four written papers:
one paper in each of the four modules listed in regulation 5(1).
(4) Examination papers shall be graded A, B. C, and D, A
being the highest grade, or F which indicates Fail.
(5) A candidate who fails in not more than one of the written
papers shall be allowed to sit for the failed paper in a
supplementary session, normally in September.
Dissertation.
Substituted by:
L.N. 224 of 1998.
7. (1) The dissertation is a compulsory element of the course.
It may not exceed 40,000 words and shall deal with a subject
falling within one or more of the fields mentioned in regulation
5(1).
(2) The candidate shall present a dissertation proposal not later
than six months from the beginning of the course. The dissertation
topic must be approved by the Academy’s Board of Studies which
shall assign a supervisor for the candidate. The dissertation must be
submitted for examination not later than twelve months from the
commencement of the course.
(3) The Academy’s Board of Studies may, in its discretion,
grant a candidate who can provide valid grounds, an extension of
not more than three months to the submission deadline referred to
in subregulation (2).
(4) The dissertation shall be examined by a Board of
Examiners appointed by the Senate upon the recommendation of
the Academy’s Board of Studies.
(5) The candidate shall submit three copies of the dissertation
which must be countersigned by the supervisor, who thereby
testifies that the dissertation is the candidate’s own work and
conforms to the requirements stated in subregulation (1).
(6) The Board of Examiners shall be convened by its Chairman
to discuss the dissertation. It may also hear, if it deems necessary,
the candidate in defence of the dissertation.
(7) The Board of Examiners may approve the dissertation and,
subject to regulation 8(1), recommend the award of the Degree. It
may require the candidate to make corrections or to completely re-
write the dissertation within a stated time limit. It may reject the
dissertation altogether.
MASTER OF ARTS (DIPLOMATIC STUDIES) - 
M.A. (DIP. ST.) - DEGREE COURSE _g S.L.327.42 3
(8) A candidate whose dissertation is rejected or whose
corrections or re-writing are considered inadequate or have not
been submitted within the required time limit shall not be awarded
the Degree.
Award of the 
Degree.
Substituted by:
L.N. 224 of 1998.
8. (1) A candidate who is successful in the Final
Examinations and whose dissertation is approved shall be awarded
the Degree. For the purpose of the degree classification, credit
grades shall account for 30% of the weighting, the Final
Examinations grades for 40% of the weighting and the dissertation
grade the other 30%.
(2) The names of successful candidates shall be published in a
list in alphabetical order classified as follows:
Passed with Distinction
Passed.
