BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) -
B. SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.78 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.78
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) -
B. SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS
30th August, 1996
LEGAL NOTICE 166 of 1996, as amended by Legal Notices 263 of 1998,
38 and 187 of 1999, 15, 74 and 176 of 2000, and 54 and 146 of 2001.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Bachelor of Science
(Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons.) - Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Institute of Health Care;
"the course" means the course leading to the Degree;
"the Degree" means the Degree of Bachelor of Science
(Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons.).
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 263 of 1998;
L.N. 38 of 1999;
L.N. 187 of 1999;
L.N. 15 of 2000;
L.N. 74 of 2000;
L.N. 176 of 2000;
L.N. 54 of 2001;
L.N. 146 of 2001.
2. These regulations shall apply to courses starting in October
2002 or later.
Eligibility.
( a ) be registered as regular students in terms of the
Admission Regulations of the University;
( b ) satisfy the requirements of regulation 4;
( c ) complete the course of studies, qualify in the
examinations and comply with the other requirements
prescribed in these regulations; and
( d ) comply with any other requirements prescribed in any
other relevant statutes and regulations of the
University.
Registration.
Amended by:
L.N. 38 of 1999.
4. (1) In order to be able to register for the course, candidates
must, in addition to complying with the conditions for admission in
terms of the Admission Regulations of the University, satisfy the
Board that they have the aptitudes required for the exercise of the
duties related to the proposed studies. For this purpose they may be
required to attend an interview and be certified physically fit for
the aforesaid duties.
(2) Overseas candidates shall also be required to demonstrate
proficiency in both written and oral English.
(3) At the discretion of the Board, applicants in possession of a
Diploma in Health Science with Radiography as the area of study
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B. SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
may be allowed to join the third year of the Course with the same
area of study.
Special course 
requiements.
Added by:
L.N. 263 of 1998.
Amended by:
L.N. 74 of 2000;
L.N. 176 of 2000;
L.N. 54 of 2001;
L.N. 146 of 2001.
5. In addition to the requirements indicated in regulation 4
candidates must also satisfy the following special course
requirements if opting to take one of the following areas of study:
( a ) Environmental Health:
passes at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in
Biology and Chemistry; and
a pass at Intermediate Level in Physics;
( b ) Medical Laboratory Science:
passes at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in
Biology and Chemistry; and
a pass at Intermediate Level in Physics;
( c ) Physiotherapy:
for courses starting up to October 2000 :
a pass at Advanced Level in Biology
for courses starting in October 2001 :
a pass at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in
Biology
for courses starting in October 2002 :
a pass at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in
Biology
a pass at Intermediate Level in Physics;
( d ) Communication Therapy:
two passes at Grade C or better in Biology and in
either English or Maltese, at least one of which must
be at Advanced Level and one at Intermediate Level;
( e ) Occupational Therapy:
a pass at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in
Biology.
Course of studies.
Amended by:
L.N. 263 of 1998;
L.N. 38 of 1999;
L.N. 187 of 1999.
6. (1) The course shall extend over a period of four years.
Candidates may not take the final comprehensive examination later
than five years from first admission to the course except with the
permission of Senate.
(2) The course shall consist of a number of study-units to each
of which a specified number of credits shall be assigned.
(3) The course shall have two distinct, although
interdependent components, one theoretical, the other practical.
(4) Candidates shall opt to take one of the following areas of
study:
( a ) Communication Therapy
( b ) Environmental Health
( c ) Medical Laboratory Science
( d ) Physiotherapy
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) -
B. SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.78 3
( e ) Radiography
( f ) Occupational Therapy.
(5) To complete the course candidates must obtain the
following number of credits:
( a ) Communication Therapy Option
(i) 84 credits in Communication Therapy Theory
and subjects supportive to Communication
Therapy Science; and
(ii) 12 credits in Clinical Communication Therapy
Practice.
( b ) Environmental Health Option
(i) 87 credits in Environmental Health Theory and
subjects supportive to Environmental Health
Science; and
(ii) 20 credits in Environmental Health Practice.
( c ) Medical Laboratory Science Option
(i) 58 credits in Medical Laboratory Science Theory
and subjects supportive to Medical Laboratory
Science; and
(ii) 45 credits in Medical Laboratory Practice.
( d ) Physiotherapy Option
(i) 85 credits in Physiotherapy and subjects
supportive to Physiotherapy; and
(ii) 35 credits in Clinical Physiotherapy Practice.
( e ) Radiography Option
(i) 80 credits in Theoretical Radiography and
subjects supportive to Radiography; and
(ii) 40 credits in Clinical Radiography Practice,
provided that students admitted in terms of regulation
4(3) must obtain the following number of credits:
(i) 30 credits in Theoretical Radiography and
subjects supportive to Radiography; and
(ii) 11 credits in Clinical Radiography Practice.
( f ) Occupational Therapy option
(i) 87 credits in Occupational Therapy Theory and
subjects supportive to Occupational Therapy
Science; and
(ii) 24 credits in Clinical Occupational Therapy
Practice.
(6) The Board may exempt candidates from the requirement of
obtaining a credit certificate for a particular study-unit if they have
obtained from the University, or an institution recognised by
Senate for the purpose, a qualification of study which, in the
opinion of the Board, is equivalent in content and standard to that
required for the credit certificate concerned.
(7) Registered practitioners with three years practical
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B. SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
experience may be exempted by the Board from up to:
( a ) one-third of the theoretical modules; and
( b ) three-quarters of the credits related to practical
experience for admission to the final comprehensive
examination.
Theoretical 
component.
Amended by:
L.N. 263 of 1998;
L.N. 38 of 1999;
L.N. 187 of 1999;
L.N. 74 of 2000.
7. (1) The theoretical component of the course shall consist
of study-units for which not less than the following credits are
assigned:
( a ) Communication Therapy 84 credits
( b ) Environmental Health 87 credits
( c ) Medical Laboratory Science 58 credits
( d ) Physiotherapy 85 credits
( e ) Radiography 80 credits,
provided that for students admitted in terms of
regulation 4(3) the theoretical component shall consist
of study-units for which not less than 30 credits are
assigned
( f ) Occupational Therapy 87 credits.
(2) A credit certificate shall be issued to candidates on the
successful completion of a study-unit. This certificate shall show a
grade indicating the standard attained by the candidates in the word
undertaken throughout the study-unit and in a test held at the end of
it. The grades shall be as follows:
A Excellent
B Very Good
C Good
D Pass
F Fail.
No credit shall be given for an uncompleted study-unit.
(3) Candidates shall be allowed one resit if they fail a credit. If
successful in the resit, the grade to be given shall be D. If
unsuccessful, candidates shall be required to repeat the study-unit
and be eligible, on successful completion, only to a Grade D.
(4) Candidates who in any one academic year fail to obtain
80% of the total number of credits assigned to the study-units
prescribed for that year shall not be allowed to continue the course
or to take the final comprehensive examination except in special
circumstances and with the permission of Senate, provided that:
(i) in the Physiotherapy option, the same will apply if
candidates fail to obtain at least 80% of credits in:
Physiotherapy Theory
Physiotherapy Skills
Applied Sciences
Clinical Sciences;
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) -
B. SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.78 5
(ii) in the Radiography option, the same will apply if
candidates fail to obtain at least 80% of credits in:
Radiographic Technology
Biomedical Sciences
Behavioural Sciences
Physical and Computing Sciences
(iii) in the Occupational Therapy option, the same will
apply if candidates fail to obtain at least 80% of credits
in:
General Studies
Applied Sciences
Occupational Therapy Skills
Fieldwork.
(5) The Board shall specify which study-units candidates may
take, and in what order, so as to complete the course.
(6) A catalogue of study-units, with the credits assigned to
each, shall be published before the start of each academic year.
Practical 
component.
Amended by:
L.N. 263 of 1998;
L.N. 38 of 1999;
L.N. 187 of 1999.
8. (1) The practical component of the course shall consist of
study-units in the form of placements or guided fieldwork or any
other analogous exercise, for which credits shall be assigned as
follows:
( a ) Communication Therapy 12 credits
( b ) Environmental Health 20 credits
( c ) Medical Laboratory Science 45 credits
( d ) Physiotherapy 35 credits
( e ) Radiography 40 credits,
provided that for students admitted in terms of
regulation 4(3) the practical component shall consist
of study-units for which 11 credits shall be assigned
( f ) Occupational Therapy 24 credits.
(2) Candidates shall be required to undergo practical
placements in areas specified by the Board in the sequence
established by it.
(3) A list of practical placements with the credits assigned to
each shall be published before the start of each academic year.
(4) Candidates shall not be allowed to sit for the final
comprehensive examination unless they have obtained at least the
following practical credits.
( a ) Communication Therapy 12 credits
( b ) Environmental Health 20 credits
( c ) Medical Laboratory Science 45 credits
( d ) Physiotherapy 35 credits
( e ) Radiography 40 credits,
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provided that students admitted in terms of regulation
4(3) shall be required to obtain 11 credits
( f ) Occupational Therapy 24 credits.
(5) Candidates shall be assessed during placements. An overall
grade shall be awarded at the end of each practical year. Candidates
who are unsuccessful may be reassessed during the assigned period
provided that as least one week has passed since the first
assessment.
(6) A credit certificate shall be issued to candidates on the
successful completion of a practical placement. The certificate
shall state the number of credits awarded.
(7) Candidates who fail to achieve a pass grade in any one year
shall not be allowed to continue the course or to take the final
comprehensive examination, except in special circumstances and
with the permission of Senate.
Final 
comprehensive 
examination.
Amended by:
L.N. 263 of 1998;
L.N. 38 of 1999;
L.N. 187 of 1999;
L.N. 15 of 2000.
9. (1) At the end of the course candidates shall be required to
take a final comprehensive examination as follows:
( a ) Communication Therapy
( b ) Environmental Health
Paper I Language Pathology and
Communication Therapy I
Paper II Language Pathology and
Communication Therapy II
Paper III Clinical Linguistics
Paper IV Applied Neurology
Paper V Applied Psychology
Special Project A dissertation of not less than
10,000 words on an approved
subject (6 credits)
Practical examination
Paper I Occupational Health
Paper II Public Health
Paper III Food Science, Technology and
Hygiene
Special Project A dissertation of not less than
10,000 words on an approved
subject,
provided that for students in possession of a Diploma in
Environmental Health registered as Health Inspectors
with a minimum of three years’ experience admitted
under regulation 8(1) of the Admission Regulations, the
final comprehensive examination shall be as follows:
Paper I Environmental Health I
Paper II Environmental Health II
Paper III Food Science, Technology and
Hygiene
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B. SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.78 7
( c ) Medical Laboratory Science
( d ) Physiotherapy
( e ) Radiography
Special Project A dissertation of not less than
10,000 words on an approved
subject
Paper I Theory of Medical Laboratory
Science I
Paper II Theory of Medical Laboratory
Science II
Paper III Theory of Medical Laboratory
Science III
Paper IV Theory of Medical Laboratory
Science IV
Special Project A dissertation of not less than
10,000 words on an approved
subject
Paper I Theory of Physiotherapy
Paper II Patient Management and Total
Care
Practical examinations Patient Assessment, Treatment
and  viva voce  examination
Special Project A dissertation of not less than
10,000 words on an approved
subject
Paper I Principles and Practice of
Radiography I - Applied
Imaging
Paper II Principles and Practice of
Radiography II - Imaging
Physics
Paper III Radiography Professional
Development I Research
Methods and Quality
Assurance
Paper IV Radiography Professional
Development II -
Developments in Imaging
Special Project A dissertation of not less than
10,000 words on an approved
subject
Clinical examination,
provided that students admitted in terms of regulation
4(3) may be exempted from sitting for Paper II and for
the clinical examination
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( f ) Occupational Therapy
(2) Candidates may also be required to take a  viva voce
examination.
(3) In each year there shall be one session of the final
comprehensive examination normally held in June and a
supplementary session normally held in September.
(4) The overall evaluation of candidates for the Degree shall
take into account their performance at the final comprehensive
examination as well as the credit certificates and grades obtained
during the course.
(5) Candidates who fail in only one paper shall be allowed a
resit in that paper. Candidates who fail in more than one paper shall
be required to resit the whole examination on only one other
occasion normally in September of the same year. Candidates may
be allowed to repeat the final year before resisting the final
comprehensive examination in its entirety, in special circumstances
and with the permission of Senate.
Results. 10. (1) The result shall show the names of successful
candidates in alphabetical order under the following categories:
First Class Honours, Second Class Honours (Upper Division),
Second Class Honours (Lower Division), Third Class Honours and
Pass.
(2) A Pass degree shall be awarded to such candidates who,
though not judged as being worthy of Honours, are considered by
the Degree Classification Board, acting on the advice of the
examiners, to be of sufficient merit to be awarded the degree of
Bachelor of Science - B.Sc. 
Paper I Theory and Practice of
Occupational Therapy in
Physical Dysfunction
Paper II Theory and Practice of
Occupational Therapy in
Psychosocial Dysfunction
Paper III Professional Issues
Special Project A dissertation of not less than
10,000 words on an approved
subject.
