BACHELOR OF ARTS - B.A. - AND BACHELOR OF ARTS 
(HONOURS) - B.A. (HONS) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.187 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.187
BACHELOR OF ARTS - B.A. - AND BACHELOR OF 
ARTS (HONOURS) - B.A. (HONS) - DEGREE 
COURSE REGULATIONS
4th April, 2000
LEGAL NOTICE 57 of 2000, as amended by Legal Notices 81 and 145 of
2000.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Bachelor of Arts -
B.A. - and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - B.A. (Hons) - Degree
Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Arts;
"the courses" means the courses of studies leading to the Degree
of Bachelor of Arts - B.A. - and to the Degree of Bachelor of Arts
(Honours) - B.A. (Hons);
"the Degree" means the Degree of Bachelor of Arts - B.A. - or
the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - B.A. (Hons) - as
appropriate; and
"the Faculty" means the Faculty of Arts.
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 81 of 2000;
L.N. 145 of 2000.
2. These regulations shall apply be applicable to courses
starting in October 2000 or later.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
3. To be eligible for the award of either Degree, students
must:
( a ) be registered as regular students in either course in
terms of the Admission Regulations of the University
and satisfy the special course requirements stipulated
in regulation 5;
( b ) complete the appropriate course of studies, obtain all
the crcdil.s indicated in regulation 11, pass the
synoptic examinations 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.
Admission and 
special course 
requirements.
4. (1) Applicants shall apply to register for either course on
the prescribed form and within the time specified by the Office of
the Registrar. Applicants shall be required to indicate their choice
of either the B.A. course or the B.A. (Hons) course.
(2) To be registered as regular students in either course,
applicants must, besides satisfying the general entry requirements
specified in the Admission Regulations of the University, satisfy
the special course requirements stipulated in regulation 5 as well as
2 [ S.L.327.187
BACHELOR OF ARTS - B.A. - AND BACHELOR OF ARTS 
(HONOURS) - B.A. (HONS) - DEGREE COURSE
the special course requirements of the faculty offering the area/s of
study in terms of regulation 6.3.2 of the Admission Regulations,
where applicable.
Pass at Advanced 
Level.
Amended by:
L.N. 145 of 2000.
5. (1) Applicants choosing to study any of the following
areas of study must be in possession of a pass at Advanced Level at
Grade C or better in the Matriculation Certificate Examination or
equivalent in the subject:
Economics, English, French, German Studies, History,
Italian, Maltese, or Music Studies.
(2) With effect from October 2000 applicants choosing to
study:
( a ) International Relations must be in possession of a pass
at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in History; and
( b ) Psychology must be in possession of a pass at
Intermediate Level at Grade C or better in Biology.
Areas of study.
Amended by:
L.N. 81 of 2000;
L.N. 145 of 2000.
6. (1) The following areas of study may be offered in both
courses:
Anthropology, Arabic, Archaeology, Art, Classics,
Contemporary Mediterranean Studies, English, French, Geography,
History, International Relations, Italian, Linguistics, Maltese,
Mediterranean Studies, Music Studies, Near Eastern Studies,
Philosophy, Social Studies, Sociology, Theatre Studies, and any
other area of study as recommended by the Board and approved by
Senate.
(2) The following areas of study may be offered only in the
B.A. course:
American Studies*, Communication Studies, Comparative
Religion, Economics, German Studies, Greek*, Hispanic Studies*,
Latin*, Psychology, and any other area of studies as recommended
by the Board and approved by Senate.
* offered only as a secondary area of study.
(3) The following areas of study may not be chosen together:
- Anthropology and Contemporary Mediterranean
Studies
- Geography and Contemporary Mediterranean Studies
- Near Eastern Studies with either Arabic or
Archaeology
- Social Studies and Sociology.
Before the commencement of either course, the Board may
indicate other combinations of areas of study which may not be
chosen together.
(4) The Board may, with the approval of Senate, allow
students to choose areas of study not included in subregulations (1)
and (2).
(5) Students choosing areas of study offered by other faculties
shall be subject to the regulations relating to those areas of study in
BACHELOR OF ARTS - B.A. - AND BACHELOR OF ARTS 
(HONOURS) - B.A. (HONS) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.187 3
the relevant course as far as special course requirements, study-
units and examinations are concerned.
(6) The areas of study listed in subregulations (1) and (2) and
combinations of areas of study shall be offered depending on the
availability of resources and the number of applicants who choose
them.
Duration of the 
courses.
7. (1) The courses shall extend over a period of three years of
full-time studies or five years of part-time studies. The Board may
allow students to complete a full-time course in not more than four
years, and a part-time course in not more than seven years from the
date of first admission, under those conditions it may impose. The
part-time course shall lead to the Bachelor of Arts and shall be
offered only in the evening.
(2) In special circumstances, Senate may allow a further
extension of one year, on the recommendation of the Board.
(3) The Senate, acting on the advice of the Board, may allow
students, for a good and sufficient reason, to suspend their studies
for a maximum of twelve months.
Registration for 
courses and for 
study-units.
8. (1) Students shall be required to register before the
beginning of each academic year and to register for study-units
before the beginning of each semester within the period stipulated
by the Office of the Registrar.
(2) Students shall be awarded a grade for a study-unit only if
they have registered for it on the Study-Unit Registration Form. At
the beginning of each semester, students may add or drop a study-
unit on the prescribed form and within the period stipulated by the
Office of the Registrar.
(3) Students are expected to inform the Registrar in writing if
they resign from the course, indicating the date of their resignation.
Courses of studies.
credits shall be assigned and shall be structured as follows:
( a ) Year One shall be common for students admitted to
either course and shall consist of study-units at Level 1
and Level 2 in two principal areas of study;
( b ) Years Two and Three of the B.A. course shall consist
of study-units at Level 2 and Level 3 in two principal
areas of study;
( c ) Years Two and Three of the B.A. (Hons) course shall
consist of study-units at Level 2 and Level 3 in one
principal area of study;
( d ) Compulsory study-units in History of Mediterranean
Civilisation which must be obtained during Years One
and Two; and
( e ) Optional study-units in any area of study approved by
the University, including the principal areas of study
already chosen, which must be obtained during Year
Two and Year Three.
Catalogue of 
study-units.
10. The Board shall draw up a catalogue of study-units for
4 [ S.L.327.187
BACHELOR OF ARTS - B.A. - AND BACHELOR OF ARTS 
(HONOURS) - B.A. (HONS) - DEGREE COURSE
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 compulsory, concurrent or
pre-requisites for other study-units, the methods of teaching and
assessment, and which study-units are offered for full-time and/or
part-time courses. The Board shall publish the catalogue prior to
the commencement of each course, following the approval of
Senate.
Progress and 
assessment.
11. (1) In each year of both courses students must obtain the
following credits:
( a ) in Year One: 10 credits in each of the two principal
areas of study, and 6 credits in History of
Mediterranean Civilisation;
( b ) in Year Two of the:
- B.A. course: 10 credits in each of the two
principal areas of study, and 6 credits in History
of Mediterranean Civilisation;
- B.A. (Hons) course: 20 credits in the principal
area of study, and 6 credits in History of
Mediterranean Civilisation;
( c ) in Year Three of the:
- B.A. course: 11 credits in each of the two
principal areas of study (which may include a
dissertation to which 7 credits are assigned in
one of the areas of study);
- B.A. (Hons) course: 22 credits in the principal
area of study (which may include a dissertation
to which 7 credits are assigned); and
( d ) during Year Two and Year Three of both courses:
optional study units, to which at least 2 credits are
assigned in any area of studies approved by the
University, including the principal areas already
chosen.
(2) Students must obtain the following credits for study-units
at Level 3 in the:
( a ) B.A. course: at least 8 credits in each of the principal
areas of study; and
( b ) B.A. (Hons) course: at least 24 credits in the principal
area of study.
Registration for 
study-units.
12. (1) In each year students shall be required to register for
study-units for which not less than the number of credits indicated
in regulation 11 and not more than 30 credits are assigned.
(2) The Board may allow students to change one principal area
of study during Year One of the course, provided they satisfy all
the requirements laid down in these regulations.
(3) The Board may allow students admitted to the B.A. course
to choose two secondary areas of study instead of one of the
principal areas of study. In such cases, the requirements for each
BACHELOR OF ARTS - B.A. - AND BACHELOR OF ARTS 
(HONOURS) - B.A. (HONS) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.187 5
secondary area of study shall be half the requirements for a
principal area of study stipulated in these regulations.
Missing credits.
who do not satisfy all the requirements stipulated in regulation
11(1)( a ) or ( b ) may be allowed by the Board to proceed to the
following year, provided they have obtained not less than 22
credits. The missing credits must. be obtained during the successive
year.
(2) Students in Year Three who do not satisfy all the
requirements stipulated in regulation 11(1)( c ) but obtain not less
than 14 credits may be allowed by the Board to extend their studies
by one year if permitted in terms of regulation 7(1), provided that
during this additional year such students shall be required to obtain
not less than 16 credits (including the missing credits of Year
Three).
(3) Students in Year Three who obtain less than 14 credits
shall not be allowed to continue the course, unless in special
circumstances, on the recommendation of the Board and with the
permission of Senate.
Pre-requisites.
do not have the pre-requisites or without registering also for its
concurrent study-unit/s, except with the permission of the Board.
Assignment of 
credits.
15. (1) 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: coursework, fieldwork, practical, written
and/or oral assessments.
(2) Students who fail in any study-unit shall be allowed a
supplementary assessment. Such a supplementary assessment
should 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
(May or September) as the case may be. In the case of assignments,
the supplementary assessment shall be made by arrangement with
the lecturer concerned. In the supplementary assessment, the
maximum grade that may be awarded shall be grade D.
(3) If unsuccessful in the supplementary assessment, students
may retake the study-unit again once only. When students fail a re-
taken study-unit, they shall be allowed a final supplementary
assessment. In the case of study-units which are re-taken, the
maximum grade that may be awarded in the assessment and the
final supplementary assessment shall be grade D.
(4) Students shall not be allowed t.o be re-assessed for a study-
unit if they have already been awarded credit for it.
Transfer of credits.
for study-units in a course of studies at the University of Malta or
6 [ S.L.327.187
BACHELOR OF ARTS - B.A. - AND BACHELOR OF ARTS 
(HONOURS) - B.A. (HONS) - DEGREE COURSE
at a university recognised for the purpose by the Senate, provided
such study-units are comparable in content and level to the ones
offered in the courses. Not more than one-third of the minimum
number of credits required for the award of the Degree may be
transferred.
Transfer between 
courses.
17. Students who, at the end of Year One, have obtained the
credits required for that year, may be allowed by the Board to
transfer their studies to Year Two of either the B.A. course or the
B.A. (Hons) course (choosing one principal area of study from
those already taken in Year One) as the case may be.
Synoptic 
examinations.
18. Students shall be eligible to sit for the synoptic
examinations if, by the end of Year Three, they have registered for,
and completed, study-units to which a minimum of 76 credits are
assigned and have obtained at least 62 credits.
Papers in synoptic 
examinations.
19. (1) Synoptic examinations shall normally be held in June
and shall consist of the following:
( a ) two three-hour written papers in each principal area of
study of the B.A. course; and
( b ) four three-hour written papers in the principal area of
study of the B.A. (Hons) course.
(2) A  viva voce  examination may also be held.
Supplementary 
session of the 
synoptic 
examinations.
20. (1) Students who fail in any paper of the synoptic
examinations in any area of study shall be required to sit for the
failed paper/s in the September supplementary session of the
synoptic examinations. If successful, the maximum grade that may
be awarded shall be grade D.
(2) In the case of failure in the supplementary session of the
synoptic examinations, students shall be required to re-sit all the
papers in the Failed area/s in June of the following year, with the
possibility of re-sitting any failed paper/s in the September
supplementary session of the synoptic examinations. If successful,
the maximum grade that may be awarded shall be grade D. If
unsuccessful, such students shall be considered to have failed the
course.
Final result. 21. (1) The final result shall take into consideration the
students' performance in the study-units and in the synoptic
examinations according to the following weighting:
Study-Units 50%
Synoptic Examinations 50%.
(2) For the purpose of subregulation (1) the weighting for the
study-units shall be calculated on the basis of an overall average of
the credits obtained. If more than 76 credits are obtained, the best
76 credits (including the credits for all the compulsory study-units)
shall be taken into account.
(3) The names of students who have qualified for the award of
the Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order as
follows:
( a ) for the B.A. Degree: Category I, IIA, IIB and III; and
BACHELOR OF ARTS - B.A. - AND BACHELOR OF ARTS 
(HONOURS) - B.A. (HONS) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.187 7
( b ) for the B.A. (Hons) Degree:
First Class Honours
Second Class Honours (Upper Division)
Second Class Honours (Lower Division)
Third Class Honours
Pass.
Special provisions 
for part-time 
courses - 
registration.
22. (1) The Board may, from time to time, offer the course
leading to the Bachelor of Arts on a part-time basis in the evening
in areas of study which shall be indicated before the
commencement of each course.
(2) The provisions of the foregoing regulations shall apply
mutatis mutandis  to courses offered on a part-time basis.
