MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - IN ISLANDS AND 
SMALL STATES STUDIES DEGREE COURSE  [ S.L.327.194 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.194
MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - IN ISLANDS AND 
SMALL STATES STUDIES DEGREE COURSE 
REGULATIONS
15th September, 2000
LEGAL NOTICE 175 of 2000, as amended by Legal Notices 197 of 2002
and 172 of 2003.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Master of Arts -
M.A. - in Islands and Small States Studies Degree Course
Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires 
"the Board" means the Board of the Islands and Small States
Institute at the Foundation for International Studies of the
University of Malta;
"the course" means the course of studies leading to the Degree of
Master of Arts in Islands and Small States Studies; and
"the Degree" means the Degree of Master of Arts in Islands and
Small States Studies.
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
2. These regulations shall apply to courses starting in October
2002 or later.
Qualifications for 
admission.
3. (1) Applicants for admission to the course must be in
po.ssession of a Bachelor’s degree with at. least Second Class
Honours of the University of Malta or 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 applicants whose first degree is not in the
major area of study chosen by them shall be made after an
interview during which their ability to complete the course
successfully shall be tested.
Preparatory course.
Added by:
L.N. 172 of 2003.
4. (1) Applicants who do not satisfy the requirements of
regulation 3(1) but are in possession of a Bachelor’s degree with at
least Category II of the University of Malta or an equivalent
qualification from another university recognized by the Senate for
the purpose may be admitted to the course if they successfully
complete a preparatory course.
(2) During the preparatory course, students shall be required to
obtain not less than 20 credits for study units at Honours level, as
directed by the Board.
Course duration.
Amended by:
L.N. 172 of 2003.
5. The course shall normally extend over twelve months of
full-time study or two academic years of part-time study.
2 [ S.L.327.194
MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - IN ISLANDS AND 
SMALL STATES STUDIES DEGREE COURSE 
Exceptional 
circumstances.
Amended by:
L.N. 172 of 2003.
6. In exceptional circumstances, students may be allowed by
the Board to complete the course within a maximum period of
eighteen months of full-time study or three academic years of part-
time study after registration.
Course structure.
Amended by:
L.N. 172 of 2003.
7. The course shall have two components as follows:
( a ) a taught component, consisting of a number of study-
units, for which a minimum of 16 credits shall be
assigned; and
( b ) a research component, which shall lead to the
presentation of a dissertation, written under
supervision, for which 14 credits will be assigned.
Areas of study.
Amended by:
L.N. 172 of 2003.
8. During the taught component of the course, students shall
follow study-units to which at least 16 credos shall be assigned in
the following areas of study: Economics, Management, Education,
Environmental Studies, Public Policy and other areas as the Board
may stipulate, provided that the Board may limit the areas of study
offered. These study-units shall be designed so as to have a focus
on issues related to islands and small states.
Main area of study.
Amended by:
L.N. 172 of 2003.
9. Students shall choose one main area of study by following
study-units for which at least 12 credits are assigned in that area of
study.
"On Campus 
Tuition" and 
"Distance Tuition" 
modes.
Added by:
L.N. 197 of 2002.
Amended by:
L.N. 172 of 2003.
10. (1) The taught component of the course shall have two
modes, namely "On Campus Tuition" and "Distance Tuition".
(2) The "On Campus Tuition" mode shall consist of lectures,
seminars and tutorials for which students are expected to attend
regularly.
(3) The "Distance Tuition" mode shall consist of tuition by
means of postal deliveries, electronic communication and other
means of communication. This mode cannot be taken by students
ordinarily residing in Malta.
(4) A tutor shall be assigned for every student following the
course by "Distance Tuition" mode and the student concerned is
expected to keep regular contact with his tutor. The role of the tutor
shall be to assist the lecturers in delivering tuition, guide the
student under his charge and monitor the student’s progress.
(5) Students following the course by "Distance Tuition" mode
may be granted the possibility of sitting for the examinations at a
recognized educational institution, outside Maltese territory, if
adequate arrangements can be made with the office of the
Registrar.
Catalogue of 
study-units.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
11. The Board shall draw up a catalogue of study-units for
each area of study. The catalogue shall indicate the level, code,
title, description and type of each study-unit, the credits assigned to
each study-unit, which study-units are core, concurrent or pre-
requisites for other study-units, 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.
MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - IN ISLANDS AND 
SMALL STATES STUDIES DEGREE COURSE  [ S.L.327.194 3
Assessment and 
progress.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
12. 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: assignments (to which a percentage of the final grade for
the study-unit may be assigned) and written and/or oral
examinations.
Supplementary 
examination.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
13. Students who fail to obtain a pass for the written
examination or for the assignment or both of a study-unit may be
allowed to sit for a supplementary examination, or to re-submit the
assignment or both. Students may be allowed to repeat an
examination and to re-submit an assignment for a given study-unit
only once.
Qualification for 
Degree.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
14. In order to qualify for the Degree, students must obtain at
least 16 credits in the taught component of the course, of which 12
credits must be obtained in the major area of study.
Attendance.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
15. Students who, after due warning given in writing,
persistently fail to attend lectures and/or tutorials or otherwise do
not carry out their academic duties without adequate justification,
may be debarred by Senate, following a recommendation of the
Board, from continuing the course.
Dissertation.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
16. The dissertation, to be submitted by the end of the course,
shall be of approximately 30,000 words on an approved subject.
The dissertation shall be an original work in the sense that it. is
either a record of original research or an ordered and critical
expression of existing data with regard to a particular subject,
related to islands and small states studies, and approved by Board.
It shall be written, typed and bound in accordance with the criteria
established by the Board for this purpose. A  viva voce  examination
on the dissertation may also be held.
Pass mark.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
17. Students are required to obtain a pass for their dissertation
in order to qualify for the Degree.
Viva voce  
examination.
Added by:
L.N. 197 of 2002.
Amended by:
L.N. 172 of 2003.
18. Students following the course by "Distance Tuition" mode
shall be required to sit for a  viva voce  examination on their
dissertation at the University of Malta.
Final result.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
19. The final grade of each student shall take into account all
the grades obtained in the assessments of the taught and research
components of the course, which shall be weighted according to the
number of credits assigned to each.
Classification.
Amended by:
L.N. 197 of 2002;
L.N. 172 of 2003.
20. The names of students who qualify for the award of the
Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order classified
as follows:
Passed with Distinction
4 [ S.L.327.194
MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - IN ISLANDS AND 
SMALL STATES STUDIES DEGREE COURSE 
Passed.
