BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - B. SC. 
I.T. - AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY (HONOURS) - B. SC. I.T. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE _g S.L.327.94 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.94
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY - B. SC. I.T. - AND BACHELOR OF 
SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
(HONOURS) - B. SC. I.T. (HONS.) - DEGREE 
COURSE REGULATIONS
18th November, 1997
LEGAL NOTICE 191 of 1997, as amended by Legal Notices 169, 207
and 233 of 1998, 73 of 2000 and 91 of 2003.
Citation and 
interpretation.
Amended by:
L.N. 233 of 1998.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Bachelor of Science
in Information Technology - B.Sc. I.T. - and Bachelor of Science in
Information Technology (Honours) - B.Sc. I.T. (Hons.) - Degree
Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of Studies for Information
Technology appointed by Senate from members of the Departments
of Computer Information Systems, Computer Science and Artificial
Intelligence and Communications and Computer Engineering;
"the Degree" except where this text is used specifically in
relation to the ordinary B.Sc. I.T. degree referred to in these
regulations means the Degree of Bachelor of Science in
Information Technology (Honours) - B.Sc. I.T. (Hons.); and
"the course" means the course leading to the Degree.
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 169 of 1998;
L.N. 207 of 1998;
L.N. 233 of 1998;
L.N. 73 of 2000;
L.N. 91 of 2003.
2. These regulations shall be applicable from October 2002
onwards.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
3. To be eligible for the Degree a candidate must:
( a ) be registered as a regular student in the course in terms
of the Admission Regulations of the University;
( b ) complete the course of studies, qualify in the
examinations and satisfy any other requirements
prescribed in these regulations; and
( c ) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other
relevant statutes and regulations of the University.
Registration and 
special course 
requirements.
Amended by:
L.N. 91 of 2003.
4. (1) Subject to the provisions of subregulation (2), to be
registered as a regular student in the course a candidate must, in
addition to the general entry requirements specified in the
Admission Regulations of the University,
( a ) for courses starting in 1995 and 1996, be in possession
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - B. SC. 
I.T. - AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY (HONOURS) - B. SC. I.T. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
of two passes at Advanced Matriculation level at grade
C or better in -
(i) Pure Mathematics, and
(ii) another subject from the following list:
Computing
Applied mathematics
Economics
Chemistry
Philosophy
Information Technology
Biology
English
Music
Physics;
( b ) for courses starting in October 1997 or later, have
obtained a pass with Credit or Distinction in Pure
Mathematics and another subject included in the list
shown in paragraph ( a )(ii), or as approved by the
board, taken at Advanced Level as part of the
Matriculation Certificate Examination; or
( c ) in terms of regulation 6.3 of the Adnission Regulations
be in possession of:
(i) five passes in the Secondary Education
Certificate Examination including English
Language and Maltese; and
(ii) a pass in Systems of Knowledge at Intermediate
Matriculation Level; and
(iii) a pass at Advanced Level in Pure Mathematics at
Grade C or better in the Matriculation
Certificate Examination of the University or at a
corresponding level of other examinations
recognised by Senate for the purposes of the
Admission Regulations; and
(iv) either
( a ) a Higher Technician Diploma of the City
and Guilds of London Institute Course No.
8000 in Electrical Engineering; or
( b ) the Diploma in Industrial Electronics with
Credit of the Fellenberg Training Centre; or
( c ) the Advanced Diploma in Applied
Information Technology of the City and
Guilds of London Institute Course No.
7235; or
( d ) any other qualification from a recognised
Institute considered by the Board to be
equivalent to any of ( a ), ( b ) or ( c ).
(2) A candidate, who is a graduate of a University or has other
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - B. SC. 
I.T. - AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY (HONOURS) - B. SC. I.T. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE _g S.L.327.94 3
qualifications considered to be sufficient, may be exempted by the
university Admissions Board, on the advice of the board of Studies
Admissions Committee, from the whole or part of these special
course requirements.
Course structure.
Amended by:
L.N. 169 of 1998;
L.N. 207 of 1998.
5. (1) The course shall normally extend over a period of four
years of fulltime study, and shall be divided into two parts: Part
One and Part Two.
(2) In the first two years (Part One), a suite of units will be
offered covering Informatics, Computer Science, and Computer
Systems Engineering together with some complementary
compulsory units in miscellaneous subjects such as Mathematics,
Statistics, Operations Research, and Management. The aim of the
first year is to give a broad perspective of various concepts
information Technology and how they interrelate: the first year
units are referred to as Introductory Units. The second year refines
the spirit of the first by exposing students to foundation topics in
some detail. Second year units are referred to as Intermediate
Units.
(3) By the end of the second year candidates must decide on a
specific stream: Informatics, Computer Science, or Computer
Systems Engineering. In the third and fourth years (Part Two) a
candidate shall be expected to concentrate on the specific stream
chosen as specified in subregulation (6). Part Two units are referred
to as Advanced units. Advanced units are three-credit units divided
into two parts: the first, worth one credit, is covered in the third
year (year 1 of Part Two), the second worth two credits, in the
fourth year (year 2 of Part Two).
(4) The Degree shall be qualified by the name of the stream
chosen at the end of the second year: Informatics, Computer
Science, or Computer Systems Engineering.
(5) The Departments of Computer Information Systems,
Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Communication
and Computer Engineering shall be responsible, respectively, for
the Informatics, Computer Science, and Computer Systems
Engineering streams.
(6) The course shall consist of study-units to which not less
than 103 credits shall be assigned as follows:
( a ) in the first year, 28 credits: 21 credits for Introductory
Units, 4 credits for complementary compulsory study-
units, and 3 optional credits, one of which may be an
extracurricular credit;
( b ) in the second year, 29 credits: 20 credits for
Intermediate Units, 6 credits for complementary
compulsory study-units, and 3 optional credits, one of
which may be an extracurricular credit;
( c ) in the third year, 24 credits: 12 of which are assigned
for particular tasks in the chosen stream, a minimum of
6 credits for the first part of Advanced units obtained
in the chosen stream, 6 credits obtained from amongst
4 _g S.L.327.94
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - B. SC. 
I.T. - AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY (HONOURS) - B. SC. I.T. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
the first part of Advanced Units of any stream; and
( d ) in the fourth year, 22 credits: 10 of which obtained for
an extensive project in the chosen stream as approved
by the respective department responsible, 8 or 10
credits for the second part of Advanced Units in the
chosen stream and the remaining 4 or 2 credits for the
second part of Advanced Units in any stream other
than the one chosen by the student on entry to Part
Two of the course.
(7) The Board shall draw up a catalogue of study-units for
each year of the course. The catalogue shall indicate the credits
assigned to each study-unit, which units are compulsory and which
units need pre-requisites. The Board shall publish the catalogue
prior to the commencement of each academic year.
(8) The Board may exempt a candidate from the requirement
of obtaining credits in a study-unit if he has obtained from the
University, or an institution recognised by Senate for the purpose, a
qualification the study for which is, in the opinion of the Board, at
least equivalent in content and standard to that required for the
study-unit concerned.
(9) A candidate may not complete the course earlier than four
years or later than five years from first registration, except in
special circumstances with the permission of Senate, acting on the
advice of the Board.
(10) Each year of the course shall comprise two semesters of
study. Candidates are also expected to spend a period of not less
than four weeks of work in the Information Technology industry as
advised by the Board which normally take place in the second year
in the last two weeks of June and the first two weeks of July.
Assessment and 
progress.
Amended by:
L.N. 169 of 1998;
L.N. 207 of 1998;
L.N. 233 of 1998;
L.N. 73 of 2000.
6. (1) Credits shall be assigned according to the following
grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C, D and F where F
indicates Fail. The grades shall take into account the candidate’s
performance in coursework, oral and written tests as deemed
appropriate by the Board on the advice of the respective department
responsible.
(2) Candidates who, in any year, fail study units to which more
than 8 credits are assigned, will not be allowed to proceed to the
next year of the course.
(3) A candidate who is not restricted from proceeding under
subregulation (2) and who fails to obtain the credit(s) for a study-
unit in the first session shall be allowed to be re-assessed in that
study-unit only once. In the reassessment the grade awarded cannot
exceed grade D.
(4) A candidate who, after re-assessment, fails in four or more
credits or fails to successfully complete any compulsory study-unit
shall not be allowed to proceed to the next year.
(5) Supplementary written tests shall be held only in
September.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - B. SC. 
I.T. - AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY (HONOURS) - B. SC. I.T. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE _g S.L.327.94 5
(6) A candidate who fails to satisfy the requirements to
proceed to the next year of the course shall be allowed to repeat the
study programme for the year, provided that he has not already
repeated a year during the course (except in extraordinary
circumstances with the approval of Senate).
(7) Candidates who are allowed to repeat a year may at the
discretion of the Board be exempted from being re-assessed in
study-units for which they have obtained a credit during the failed
year.
(8) In Part One candidates shall be tested in study-units
completed in a semester at the end of that semester.
(9) A candidate shall be allowed to proceed to Part Two if he
has obtained a minimum of 53 of the 57 credits prescribed in
regulation 5(6)( a ) and ( b ), including all the compulsory credits.
Moreover, the candidate must have completed to the satisfaction of
the Board at least four weeks of work in the I.T. industry as advised
by the Board.
(10) In the first year of Part Two (the third year), candidates
shall:
( a ) obtain the twelve credits allocated to assigned
practical tasks intended to bring together practical
skills in some chosen stream. Grades shall be assigned
according to the quality of a written report
documenting the attempt at fulfilling the tasks, the
quality of any implemented artefacts or results
obtained and candidate’s performance in an oral test
related to the subject-matter covered by the tasks;
( b ) obtain a minimum of 8 of the 12 credits assigned to
study-units according to performance in written tests.
Study-units completed in a semester shall be tested at
the end of that semester.
(11) A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in the
practical tasks may, at the discretion of the Board, be re-examined
through a  viva voce . If successful, the maximum grade that can be
awarded shall be grade D. If unsuccessful, the candidate will fail
the degree irrespective of performance in written papers unless he
still has the option to repeat the year and chooses to do so.
(12) ( a ) A candidate who fails in more than four credits of the
third year study-units and who has not yet used the
option of the repeat year shall not be allowed re-sits
and shall not be allowed to proceed to year IV.
( b ) A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in more
than four credits but less than seven credits of the third
year study-units, and who has already used the option
of the repeat year, shall be examined through a  viva
voce  examination. If successful, the maximum grade
that can be awarded shall be grade D. If the candidate
has satisfied subregulation (11) and is successful in the
viva voce  examination, he shall be awarded the B.Sc.
6 _g S.L.327.94
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - B. SC. 
I.T. - AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY (HONOURS) - B. SC. I.T. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
I.T degree and shall be classified in Category III.
(13) The performance of a candidate who meets the
requirements laid down in subregulation (10) shall be determined
by the average performance in the credits covered in the first three
years. Candidates shall be classified in descending order of merit in
categories I, IIA, IIB, III and Fail, as determined for each stream.
Candidates classified IIB or better shall be eligible to proceed to
the fourth year of the course. A list of candidates who are so
eligible shall be published. If interested in proceeding to the fourth
year, these candidates should register their interest within three
days from the publication of the list.
(14) Third year candidates who are not eligible or who do not
wish to proceed to the fourth year shall be awarded a B.Sc. I.T.
degree which shall be classified in the categories as listed in
subregulation (13).
(15) In the second year of Part Two (the fourth year), candidates
shall:
( a ) obtain the ten credits allocated to the project in their
chosen stream and grades shall be assigned according
to the quality of a written project report and the quality
of any implemented artefacts or results;
( b ) pass in six two-hour examination papers, one for each
Advanced Unit they have chosen and each Advanced
Unit assumes that the candidate has covered a certain
number of pre-requisite Introductory and Intermediate
Units, therefore the examination papers in the fourth
year shall be synoptic in the sense that they will
assume knowledge of related material covered in Part
One and the first year of Part Two.
(16) A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in the
project may, at the discretion of the Board, be allowed to re-submit
the project or to complete some other appropriate task by not later
than the end of September of that year. If successful the maximum
grade that can be awarded shall be grade D.
(17) A candidate who fails in not more than two written
examinations may be re-examined through a  viva voce . If a
candidate fails to satisfy the examiners in the  viva voce  or if a
candidate has failed in more than two written examinations, then he
may repeat the year if he still has that option.
(18) Any candidate who fails to satisfy the provisions of
subregulation (15) despite the provisions of subregulations (16) and
(17), and who has previously exhausted the option to repeat a year
shall not be awarded an Honours degree. In this case, the candidate
shall be awarded a B.Sc. I.T. degree in the category obtained in the
third year as listed in subregulation (13).
(19) For the purposes of B.Sc. I.T. (Hons.) Degree
classification, the final year synoptic examinations and project
shall have a 60% weighting and the performance in the first three
years shall have a 40% weighting.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - B. SC. 
I.T. - AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY (HONOURS) - B. SC. I.T. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE _g S.L.327.94 7
Results and award 
of Degree.
Amended by:
L.N. 169 of 1998.
7. (1) The Degree shall be awarded to candidates who:
( a ) have obtained not less than 95 credits throughout the
course;
( b ) have successfully completed all the study-units
indicated as compulsory by the Board; and
( c ) have satisfied examination requirements.
(2) The names of all candidates who qualify for the award of
the Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order in one
of the classifications:
First Class Honours
Second Class Honours (Upper Division)
Second Class Honours (Lower Division)
Third Class Honours.
