MASTER OF ARTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS 
AND DEMOCRATIZATION - M.A. - DEGREE COURSE  _g S.L.327.195 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.195
MASTER OF ARTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND 
DEMOCRATIZATION - M.A. - DEGREE COURSE 
REGULATIONS
15th September, 2000
LEGAL NOTICE 177 of 2000.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Master of Arts in
Human Rights and Democratization - M.A. - Degree Course
Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Faculty Board of Laws;
"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 Arts in Human Rights and Democratization - M.A.;
"the Degree" means the Degree of Master of Arts in Human
Rights and Democratization - M.A.;
"the participating universities" means the universities and
institutions participating in the teaching of this Degree in
agreement with the University;
"the Senate" means the Senate of the University; and
"the University" means the University of Malta.
Applicability.
2000 or later.
Board of Studies.
appointed by the Senate, on the recommendation of the Board,
following consultation with the participating universities.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
4. To be eligible for the award of the Degree, students must:
( a ) be registered as regular students in terms of the
Admission Regulations of the University and satisfy
the qualifications for admission laid down in
regulation 5;
( b ) complete the course of studies, qualify in the
examinations, be approved in the dissertation and
satisfy any other requirements prescribed in these
regulations; and
( c ) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other
relevant statutes, regulations and bye-laws of the
University.
Qualifications for 
admission.
5. Applicants for admission to the course, who must be fluent
in the English language, shall be in possession of the following
qualifications:
2 _g S.L.327.195
MASTER OF ARTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS 
AND DEMOCRATIZATION - M.A. - DEGREE COURSE 
( a ) a Bachelor’s degree in either law, or the social
sciences, or the political sciences, or international
relations or the humanities, with at least Second Class
Honours, and preferably with some experience in a
field related to the area of human rights; or
( b ) an equivalent qualification from the University of
Malta or another university recognized by the Senate
for the purpose.
Registration for the 
course.
6. Applicants wishing to register for the course shall apply on
the prescribed form and within the time specified by the Office of
the Registrar.
Registration for 
study-units.
7. On admission to the course, students shall be required to
register for the appropriate number of study-units, as indicated in
regulation 9( a ).
Course duration. 8. The course shall extend over one academic year of full-
time study and research. In special circumstances, the Board may
allow students a further period of up to six months of study.
Course of studies. 9. The course shall be offered in areas of study related to
Human Rights and Democratization as determined by the Board,
and shall consist of two components:
( a ) a taught component, extending over the first semester
of the course, and consisting of a number of study-
units, for which a minimum of 16 credits shall be
assigned, to be held at the University; and
( b ) a research component, extending over the second
semester of the course and leading to the presentation
of a dissertation, for which 14 credits shall be
assigned, which may be done at one of the
participating universities.
Catalogue of 
study-units.
10. The Board shall draw up a catalogue of study-units for
each area of study. The catalogue shall indicate the code, title, and
description of each study-unit, the credits assigned to each study-
unit, and the methods of teaching and assessment. The Board shall
publish the catalogue prior to the commencement of each course,
following the approval of Senate.
Assessment and 
progress.
11. Credits shall be assigned according to the following grades
in descending order of merit: A, B, C, and D. Failure shall be
indicated by F. Incomplete work due to justifiable reasons (illness,
approved absence, etc.) shall be indicated by I. In all other cases
the results of uncompleted study-units shall be indicated as F. The
grades awarded shall take into account the students’ performance in
one or more of the following elements, as deemed appropriate by
the Board of Studies: assignments and/or written examinations.
Re-assessment. 12. Students who fail in any study-unit with a mark of not less
than forty per cent (40%) of the assessment marks in that area of
study shall be re-assessed in any or all of the components of the
assessment. In such cases the maximum grade that can be awarded
is grade D.
The dissertation. 13. (1) Students shall present a written proposal for a
dissertation by not later than six weeks from the beginning of the
MASTER OF ARTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS 
AND DEMOCRATIZATION - M.A. - DEGREE COURSE  _g S.L.327.195 3
course.
(2) On approval of the dissertation proposal by the Board of
Studies, students shall be assigned a supervisor who shall be
appointed by the Board of Studies.
(3) The dissertation, which shall not. exceed 25,000 words,
shall be submit.ted by not later than the end of the second semester.
(4) The Board may, at its discretion, grant students an
extension of the submission date referred to in subregulation (3),
subject to the provisions of regulation 8.
(5) The dissertation shall be examined by a Board of
Examiners appointed by Senate, on the recommendation of the
Board.
(6) Students shall submit eight copies of the dissertation and
declare in writing that the dissertation is their own work and
conforms to the requirements referred to in subregulation (10).
(7) The Board of Examiners shall be convened by its Chairman
to discuss the dissertations. Students may be required to take a  viva
voce  examination in defence of their dissertation.
(8) The Board of Examiners may approve the dissertation. It
may require students to make corrections or to completely re-write
the dissertation within a stated time limit, subject to the provisions
of regulation 8, or may reject the dissertation altogether.
(9) Students whose dissertation is rejected or whose
corrections or re-writing are considered inadequate or who have not
submitted their dissertation within the prescribed time limit, shall
not be awarded the Degree.
(10) The dissertation shall be submitted in accordance with the
guidelines which shall be published by the Board of Studies from
time to time.
Award of the 
Degree.
14. The final grade of each student shall take into account all
the grades obtained in the study-units and the dissertation, which
shall be weighted according to the number of credits assigned to
each.
Classification.
Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order classified
as follows:
Passed with Distinction
Passed.
