MASTER OF ARTS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES - 
M.A. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.95 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.95
MASTER OF ARTS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES - 
M.A. - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS
18th November, 1997
LEGAL NOTICE 193 of 1997, as amended by Legal Notice 233 of 2000.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Master of Arts in
Financial Services - M.A. - Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Laws;
"the course" means the course leading to the degree of Master of
Arts in Financial Services - M.A.;
"the Degree" means, as the case may require, the Degree of
Master of Arts in Financial Services - M.A.
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 233 of 2000.
2. These regulations shall be applicable to courses starting in
October 2001 or later.
Board of Studies.
appointed by Senate and shall normally be composed of members
proposed by the Faculty Board of Laws and the Faculty Board of
Economics, Management and Accountancy and two students
elected by and from among the students in the Course.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
4. To be eligible for the award of the Degree a candidate
must-
( a ) be registered as a regular student in terms of the
Admission Regulations of the University;
( b ) satisfy the special course requirements for admission
to the course;
( c ) complete the course of studies, qualify in the
examinations and comply with any other requirements
prescribed in these regulations; and
( d ) comply with any other requirements prescribed in any
other relevant statutes and regulations of the
University.
Special course 
requirements.
Amended by:
L.N. 233 of 2000.
5. (1) Candidates for admission to the course shall be in
possession of one of the following qualifications:
( a ) the LL.D. Degree or the Diploma of Notary Public; or
( b ) a Bachelor’s degree with at least second class honours
in Accountancy or Banking and Finance; or
( c ) professional qualifications in Accountancy or
Accountancy and Auditing recognised by the
University for the purpose or any other recognised
professional qualifications which are considered to be
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MASTER OF ARTS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES - 
M.A. - DEGREE COURSE
equivalent to a first degree of the University of Malta,
together with a minimum of seven years experience in
a senior position in a field related to the area of
financial services; or
( d ) equivalent qualifications in a related area from the
University of Malta or another University recognised
by the University of Malta for the purpose.
(2) The admission of candidates may be made conditional on
the results of an interview and, in the case of candidates who are
not in possession of the LL.D or the B.A. (Hons) in Accountancy or
the B.A. (Hons) in Banking and Finance, the Board may impose
additional requirements including the requirement to follow a
preparatory programme of studies and to pass a qualifying
examination prior to registration for the course.
Course duration. 6. The course shall extend over one academic year of full-
time study followed by a period of not more than six months during
which candidates shall be required to complete a dissertation,
provided that a candidate may choose, with the permission of the
board. to study for the degree on a part-time basis, in which case
any period spent in part-time study shall be deemed to be
equivalent to half the period required in fulltime study.
Course of studies. 7. (1) In order to complete the course candidates must obtain
not less than twelve credits. At least eight credits must be in "core"
subjects, three credits must be chosen from a list of elective study-
units in the law area and one credit must be chosen from a list of
elective study-units in the finance area. In addition, candidates
must complete, and be approved in, a dissertion as prescribed in
regulation 9.
(2) A catalogue of study-units comprising the "core" subjects
and electives, with the credits assigned to each, shall be published
before the start of each academic year. A candidate may not
register for more than fourteen credits.
Assessments and 
examinations.
8. (1) Each study-unit shall be assessed through course work
and/or by assessment tests. 
(2) Comprehensive examinations consisting of four papers of
three hours duration each shall be held at the end of the first year,
and in the case of part-time candidate, at the end of the second year.
(3) Credits for the coursework assessment or test of each
study-unit and the grade for the examination papers shall be
assigned according to the grades A, B, C, D or F in descending
order of merit, F indicating Fail.
(4) A candidate who fails in the coursework assessment or test
of one or more study-units together totalling not more than four
credits shall be allowed to resubmit the coursework or re-sit the
assessment test for the study-unit/s failed once only, normally
within three months from the publication of the result of the
coursework assessment or test. In such cases the maximum grade
that can be awarded shall be D. A candidate who fails to obtain a
minimum of eight credits at the first sitting shall be considered to
have definitely failed but may be allowed to recommence the
MASTER OF ARTS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES - 
M.A. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.95 3
course once only.
(5) A candidate who fails in not more than two of the four
examination papers referred to in subregulation (2) shall be allowed
to re-sit the papers/s failed once only. In such case the maximum
grade that can be awarded shall be D. A candidate who fails in
more than two examination papers at the first sitting or any paper in
the resit shall be considered to have definitely failed but may be
allowed to recommence the course once only.
Dissertation.
course.
(2) The dissertation shall be of not more than 25,000 words in
length on a subject proposed by the candidate and approved by the
Board. It should provide evidence of independent research and
constitute an original contribution to the subject.
(3) The candidate must present a written proposal for a
dissertation topic not later than six months from the beginning of
the course. Part-time candidates shall present their proposal not
later than six months from the beginning of the second year of the
course.
(4) On approval of the dissertation proposal the candidate shall
be assigned a supervisor who shall be appointed by the Board.
(5) The dissertation must be submitted not later than six
months after the taking of the final examinations referred to in
regulation 8. Part-time candidates shall submit their dissertation
not later than twelve months after the final examinations in the
second year of their course.
(6) The board may in its discretion grant a candidate an
extension of the submission date referred to in the preceding
subregulation up to a maximum of six months.
(7) The dissertation shall be examined by a Board of
Examiners appointed by the Board.
(8) Each candidate shall submit 8 copies of the dissertation
and declare in w rising that the dissertation is his own work and
conforms to the requirements stated in subregulation (2).
(9) The Board of Examiners shall be convened by its Chairman
to discuss the dissertation. A candidate may also be required to take
a  viva voce  examination in defence of his dissertation.
(10) The Board of Examiners may approve the dissertation. It
may require the candidate to make corrections or to completely re-
write the dissertation within a stated time limit. It may reject the
dissertation altogether.
(11) A candidate whose dissertation is rejected or whose
corrections or rewriting are considered inadequate or have not been
submitted within the prescribed time limit shall not be awarded the
Degree.
Classification and 
award of the 
Degree.
10. (1) The award of the degree shall be classified as a Pass
with Distinction or Pass depending on the overall results obtained.
For classification purposes the performance of the candidate in the
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M.A. - DEGREE COURSE
credits shall account for 20% of the final weighting. The
performance of the candidate in the examinations shall account for
50% of the final weighting while the performance of the candidate
in the dissertation shall account for the remaining 30%.
(2) The names of the successful candidates shall be published
on the notice board of the University, in alphabetical order as well
as in the order of classification obtained.
