MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 
- M. SC. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.234 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.234
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSERVATION 
SCIENCE - M. SC. - DEGREE COURSE 
REGULATIONS
22nd July, 2003
LEGAL NOTICE 184 of 2003.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Master of Science
in Conservation Science - M.Sc. - Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Academic Board" means the Academic Board of the
Institute for Conservation and Restoration Studies of the Malta
Centre for Restoration;
"the Board of Studies" means the Board of Studies for the course
appointed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Academic
Board;
"the course" means the course of studies leading to the Degree of
Master of Science in Conservation Science - M.Sc.;
"the Degree" means the Degree of Master of Science in
Conservation Science - M.Sc.;
"the Institute" means the Institute for Conservation and
Restoration Studies of the Malta Centre for Restoration; and
"the Senate" means the Senate of the University of Malta.
Applicability.
2003 or later.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
3. 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 4;
( b ) complete the course of studies, obtain 120 credits,
including the credits for the compulsory study units
and for the dissertation, and satisfy any other
requirements prescribed in these regulations; and
( c ) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any
relevant statutes, regulations and bye-laws of the
University.
Qualifications for 
admission.
4. The course shall be open to applicants in possession of:
( a ) the degree of Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of
Science (Honours) with at least Second Class of the
University with a natural science as one of the areas of
study; or
( b ) a degree with at least Second Class acceptable to the
Board of Studies that ensures that applicants can
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MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 
- M. SC. - DEGREE COURSE
follow the course with profit;
and who are able to satisfy the Board of Studies that they have the
necessary aptitude to join the course, normally through an
interview.
Registration for the 
course.
5. The Board of Studies may limit the number of students that
may be admitted to the course depending on the availability of
resources. The number of students, established by Senate on the
recommendation of the Board of Studies, shall be announced before
the beginning of each course. Should there be more eligible
applicants than the maximum number of students, applicants shall
be selected by a board appointed for the purpose. The board shall
take into consideration the applicants’ qualifications and their
aptitude.
Prescribed form. 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. 7. Students shall be required to register before the beginning
of each year within the period stipulated by the Office of the
Registrar.
Course duration. 8. (1) The course shall extend over a period of two academic
years of full-time study.
(2) The Board of Studies may allow students to extend their
studies to complete their dissertation by not more than six months.
In special circumstances, Senate may allow students a further
extension of six months on the recommendation of the Board of
Studies.
(3) The Senate, acting on the advice of the Board of Studies,
may allow students, for good and sufficient reason, to suspend their
studies for a maximum period of twelve months or until such time
that the remaining study units of the course are on offer.
Credits. 9. Students must register for a number of study-units
(including the dissertation) to which a total of at least 60 credits per
academic year are assigned.
Course of studies. 10. The course of studies comprises:
( a ) a taught component, consisting of study-units to which
100 credits are assigned; and
( b ) a research component, consisting of the writing of a
dissertation to which 20 credits are assigned.
Catalogue of 
study-units.
11. The Board of Studies shall draw up a programme of studies
for the course and shall publish a catalogue of study units. The
catalogue shall indicate the code, title, description and type of each
study unit, the credits assigned to each study unit, which study
units are compulsory, concurrent or pre-requisites for other study
units, and the methods of teaching and assessment. The catalogue
shall include also guidelines on the conduct of seminars, the
production of the dissertation and its oral defence. The Board of
Studies shall publish the catalogue for the course prior to its
commencement, following the approval of Senate.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 
- M. SC. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.234 3
Progress and 
assessment.
12. Results for the assessment of the study units and the
dissertation shall be published as a percentage mark and grade as
indicated in the table below:
Both the percentage mark and the grade shall be recorded
in the students’ academic record. However, only the percentage
mark shall be used for the purpose of calculating the students’
progression from year 1 to year 2 and for the final classification of
the Degree.
Second year.
the second year of the course if they obtain at least 60 credits.
Supplementary 
assessments.
14. Students must obtain a pass grade for all practical study
units. Students who fail in any study unit (other than practicals)
pertaining to the taught component shall be allowed a
supplementary assessment. Such a supplementary assessment shall
normally have the same mode of assessment as the corresponding
first assessment. A supplementary assessment of a study unit shall
be held at the next scheduled examination session. In the case of
assignments that require re-submission, the supplementary
assessment shall be made by arrangement with the lecturer
concerned. In the supplementary assessment, the maximum mark
and grade that may be awarded shall be 45 or D. In the case of
failure in a supplementary assessment, students shall be required to
withdraw from the course.
Re-assessment.
unit if they have already been awarded credit/s for it.
Transfer of credits.
obtained for study units in a course of studies at the University of
Malta or at an educational institution recognized for the purpose by
the Senate, provided such study-units are comparable in content
and level to the ones offered in the course. Not more than one-third
of the number of credits required for the award of the Degree may
be transferred.
Proposal for 
dissertation.
17. By the end of November of the second academic year,
students must submit a 300-word proposal for their dissertation and
a supporting statement by a member of the Institute who has agreed
to supervise the work.
Title and research 
proposal.
18. The Board of Studies shall be responsible for the approval
of the title and research proposal.
Dissertation.
( a ) be work of an advanced or original nature in the
students’ area of study;
( b ) satisfy the Board of Examiners as regards content and
Mark Range Grade
80% - 100% A
70% - 79% B
55% - 69% C
45% - 54% D
0 - 44% F
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MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 
- M. SC. - DEGREE COURSE
presentation;
( c ) be between 20,000 and 25,000 words long;
( d ) fulfil the requirements stipulated in the relevant
guidelines as regards format; and
( e ) be graded according to the scheme outlined in
regulation 12.
Copies. 20. Students shall present four bound copies of the dissertation
to the Institute, one of which shall be retained in the University
Library and another in the Library of the Malta Centre for
Restoration.
Final date for 
presentation.
21. The dissertation must be presented by the last Friday in
June of the final year of the course.
Original work. 22. No dissertation shall be accepted which is identical in
substance to a document already submitted for a degree in the
University of Malta or any other university or to any other
published material. Students shall, however, not be precluded from
incorporating such previous work as may be necessary to the
presentation and a fuller understanding of their exposition,
provided that the nature and extent of such incorporation are
clearly indicated in the dissertation itself.
Supervision of 
dissertation.
23. (1) The Board of Studies shall appoint a panel of
supervision for each student, normally composed of three members
as follows: the Head of Department/Coordinator as chairman, and
two other members, one of whom being the research supervisor,
provided that when the Head of Department/Coordinator is the
supervisor, he shall not chair the panel.
(2) The panel of supervision shall follow the students’ work on
their dissertation, provided that it meets at least once to review
such progress.
(3) Students shall be required to report to their supervisor at
least once every month and in addition as often as the supervisor
deems necessary.
(4) Supervisors shall be required to submit regular reports on
students to the panel of supervision. Students shall seek approval
from the Board of Studies for any substantial modification in the
title or content of the dissertation. The dissertation may not
normally be submitted to a Board of Examiners without the
approval of the supervisor.
(5) The panel of supervision may advise the Board of Studies
in writing on the performance of a student. Such advice may
recommend an extension of the study period in order to enable the
student to complete the dissertation provided that the extension of
the study period referred to shall be according to regulation 8(2).
Examination of 
study-units and 
dissertation.
24. (1) A Board of Examiners shall be appointed for each
study-unit and shall normally be composed of three members as
follows: the Head of Department/Coordinator as chairman, the
lecturer concerned and one other member.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 
- M. SC. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.234 5
(2) The Board of Examiners appointed for the dissertation shall
normally be composed of three members as follows: the Head of
Department/Coordinator as chairman, and two other members, one
of whom being the research supervisor, provided that when the
Head of Department/Coordinator is the supervisor, he shall not
chair the Board. The other member of the Board of Examiners shall
be an external examiner.
(3) The Board of Examiners for the dissertation shall require
students to defend the dissertation orally before them. The external
examiner need not be present for the oral defence provided that
three members shall conduct the  viva .
Unsatisfactory 
dissertation.
25. Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory may
either fail or be required by the Board of Examiners to re-write the
document in whole or in part and re-submit it for examination.
Students may re-submit the dissertation not earlier than two months
and not later than six months from the notification of the decision
by the Board of Examiners for the dissertation.
Final result.
of the course which shall be weighted according to the number of
credits assigned to each component.
(2) The names of students who qualify for the award of the
Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order and
classified as follows:
Passed with Distinction
Passed.
