DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 
M.D. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.135 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.135
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - M.D. - 
DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS
22nd May, 1998
LEGAL NOTICE 137 of 1998, as amended by Legal Notices 104 of 1999,
146 of 2000, 306 of 2001, and 17 and 200 of 2002.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Doctor of Medicine
and Surgery - M.D. - Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and
Surgery;
"the course" means the course leading to the Degree; and
"the Degree" means the Degree of Doctor of Medicine and
Surgery - M.D.
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 104 of 1999;
L.N. 146 of 2000;
L.N. 306 of 2001;
L.N. 17 of 2002;
L.N. 200 of 2002.
2. These regulations shall apply to courses commencing in
October 2002 or later.
Eligibility for 
Degree.
3. To be eligible for the award of the Degree, students must:
( a ) be registered as regular students in the course in terms
of the Admission Regulations of the University;
( b ) satisfy the special course requirements in accordance
with regulation 4;
( c ) complete the course of studies, qualify in the
examinations and satisfy any other requirements as
prescribed in these regulations; and
( d ) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other
relevant statutes. regulations and bye-laws of the
University.
Admission and 
special course 
requirements.
Amended by:
L.N. 104 of 1999;
L.N. 146 of 2000;
L.N. 306 of 2001;
L.N. 200 of 2002.
4. (1) Senate, on the advice of the Board, may limit the
number of students that may be admitted to the course. Senate shall
make regulations for the selection of applicants for admission.
(2) To apply for admission to the course candidates must,
besides satisfying the requirements for admission as regular
students in terms of the Admission Regulations, satisfy the
following special course requirements:
(i) passes in the Matriculation Certificate Examination at
Advanced Level at Grade B or better in Biology and
Chemistry; and
(ii) a pass in the Matriculation Certificate Examination at
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DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 
M.D. - DEGREE COURSE
Intermediate Level at Grade B or better in any one of
the following subjects: Accounting, Applied
Mathematics (Mechanics), Arabic, Computing,
Economics, Engineering Drawing, English, French,
Geography, German, Greek, History, Information
Technology, Italian, Latin, Maltese, Philosophy,
Physics, Pure Mathematics, Religious Knowledge,
Russian, Sociology and Spanish,
provided that all grades indicated have been obtained together in
one session of examinations (i.e. one sitting) and are from
recognised Examining Boards from the same country.
(3) For the purpose of subregulation (2), a pass obtained in a
session of examinations which is held after the results of a previous
session were published, shall be deemed to be a pass obtained in a
session that is distinct from the previous one. This regulation shall
also apply to the supplementary session of the Matriculation
Certificate Examination offered by the MATSEC Board of the
University of Malta according to the provisions of the
Matriculation Certificate Examination Regulations and this
notwithstanding any other regulation governing the award of the
Matriculation Certificate.
(4) Applicants in possession of one of the following degrees
obtained from the University of Malta may also apply:
(i) a Bachelor of Science with a classification of Category
II or better or a Bachelor of Science (Honours) with a
classification of Second Class Honours or better, in
both cases with Biology and Chemistry as principal
areas or a comparable degree; or
(ii) a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) with a
classification of Second Class Honours or better; or
(iii) a Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
All such degrees must not have been awarded at a date that
is more than three years prior to the date of commencement of the
course.
(5) Applicants in possession of other qualifications obtained
after having pursued studies overseas shall be considered by the
Admissions Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and
shall be admitted if it is ascertained that their qualifications are
comparable to the qualifications indicated in subregulations (2), (3)
and (4).
(6) Applicants for the course may be required to attend for an
interview. The Interviewing Board/s shall be composed of the Dean
or his delegate, three other members appointed by the Board, one of
whom shall be from outside the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery,
and another member appointed by Senate. Up to three such
Interviewing Boards shall be appointed for each intake of students
as determined by the Board.
Course duration. 5. (1) The course shall extend over a period of five years and
shall be divided into two parts: the Intermediate Course of two
years’ duration and the Final Course of three years’ duration.
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 
M.D. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.135 3
(2) Except with the permission of the Board, students must
follow the course from admission to the Intermediate Course up to
the final examination without interruption or repetition. Permission
to interrupt or to repeat a year shall normally not be given more
than once, except by permission of Senate granted for special
reasons.
Subjects of the 
course.
6. The subjects of the Intermediate Course shall be the
following:
First Year
Anatomy and Cell Biology
Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Second Year
Anatomy and Cell Biology
Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Second Year - Second Semester
General Pathology and Microbiology
General Pharmacology
Behavioural Sciences.
Final Course 
subjects.
Substituted by:
L.N. 17 of 2002.
7. The subjects of the Final Course shall be the following:
First Year
Pathology
Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology
Surgery (including Orthopaedics)
Family Medicine
Second Year
Pathology
Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology
Surgery (including Orthopaedics)
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Paediatrics
Public Health
Dermatology
Ophthalmology
ENT
Anaesthesia 
Forensic Medicine
Family Medicine
Third Year
Medicine (including Paediatrics)
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DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 
M.D. - DEGREE COURSE
Surgery (including Orthopaedics)
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Psychiatry
Family Medicine.
Practical and 
clinical work.
8. Practical and clinical work shall be carried out throughout
the course, including during the periods when the University is in
recess.
Progress tests.
Amended by:
L.N. 17 of 2002.
9. (1) During the course, progress tests shall be held in
subjects the teaching of which extends over more than one
academic year. 
(2) Progress tests shall be held as follows:
( a ) including the Intermediate Course:
at the end of the First Year in:
Anatomy and Cell Biology
Physiology Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
at the tend of the Second Year in:
General  Pathology and Microbiology
General Pharmacology
Behavioural Sciences
( b ) in the Final Course:
at the end of the First Year in:
Pathology
Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology
Surgery
during the Second Year in: 
Medicine (including Neurology)
Clinical Pharmacology
Surgery (including Orthopaedics)
Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
(3) Progress tests shall be held in January and in May/June. A
supplementary session shall be held in September.
(4) The results of the progress test in each subject shall be
published according to the following grades in descending order of
merit: A, B, C and D. Students whose names do not appear on the
list shall be considered to have failed the progress test in the
subject concerned.
(5) Students shall not be allowed to proceed to the following
year of the course if the Board is not satisfied, as a result of the
progress tests, that they have followed the year with profit.
(6) Students who fail in any progress test in the supplementary
session are not allowed to proceed to the following year of the
course but may be allowed by the Board to repeat the year.
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 
M.D. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.135 5
The intermediate 
examination.
10. (1) The intermediate examination shall be held at the end
of the second year of the intermediate course.
(2) There shall be a supplementary session of the intermediate
examination in September for students who fail in any subject.
(3) The intermediate examination shall be held in Anatomy
and Cell Biology and in Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology.
(4) The examination in Anatomy and Cell Biology shall
consist of two three-hour papers and a practical session. The
examination in Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
shall consist of three three-hour papers and a library-project.
(5) Students may also be required to take a  viva voce
examination in these subjects.
(6) Before being allowed to sit for the intermediate
examination, students must present  to the Dean a certificate,
signed by the heads of department concerned showing that the!
have completed satisfactorily all assigned work in the subjects
concerned.
Result.
intermediate examination shall be published in a list in alphabetical
order according to the following grades in class ending order of
merit A, B, C and D. Students whose names do not appear on the
list shall be considered to have failed the examination in the subject
concerned.
(2) The result of the examination in each subject shall take into
account all parts of the examination in that subject.
(3) Students who do not pass the intermediate examination in
the sessions prescribed in regulation 10(1) and (2) shall be deemed
to have failed the intermediate examination as a whole.
(4) Students who fail the intermediate examination are not
allowed to proceed to the following year of the course but may be
allowed by the Board to repeat the second year of the Intermediate
Course. Students shall not be allowed to repeat the intermediate
examination in this manner more than once.
Admission to the 
Final Course.
12. Before being admitted to the Final Course, students must
pass the intermediate examination, or be exempted from it by the
Senate, acting on the recommendation of the Board.
Subjects tests in 
the Final Course.
Amended by:
L.N. 17 of 2002.
13. (1) During the Final Course, subject tests shall be held in
each of the following subjects:
Public Health Dermatology
Forensic Medicine Ophthalmology
Paediatrics ENT
Psychiatry Anaesthesia.
A subject test in Family Medicine shall be held during the
third year of the Final Course.
(2) A supplementary session shall be held for those students
who fail a subject test.
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DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 
M.D. - DEGREE COURSE
(3) The names of students who have passed the Subject Tests
in each of the subjects specified in subregulation (1) shall be
published in a list in alphabetical order according to the following
grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C and D. Students whose
names do not appear on the list shall be considered to have failed
the subject test concerned.
(4) The result of each subject shall also take into account the
work of the student in the subject during the course.
(5) Students shall not be allowed to proceed to the following
year of the course if they have not passed each subject test
prescribed for the year.
(6) Students who fail in any subject test in the supplementary
session may be allowed by the Board to repeat the year.
Examination in 
Pathology.
14. (1) There shall be an examination in Pathology, in June, at
the end of the second year of the Final Course.
(2) There shall be a supplementary session of the examination
in Pathology in September for students who fail.
(3) The examination shall consist of two three-hour papers and
a practical session.
(4) Students  also be required to take a  viva voce  examination.
(5) Before being allowed to sit for the examination, students
must present to the Dean a certificate, signed by the Head of
Department of Pathology, showing that they have completed
satisfactorily the schedule of practical practical work in the subject.
Result. 15. (1) The names of students who have passed the
examination in Pathology shall be published in a list in alphabetical
order according to the following grades in descending order of
merit: A, B, C and D. Exceptional performance shall be indicated
on the list. Students whose names do not appear on the list shall be
considered to have failed the examination.
(2) The result shall take into account all parts of the
examination in the subject.
(3) Students who do not pass the examination in Pathology in
the sessions proscribed in regulation 14(1) and (2) shall not be
allowed to proceed to the third year of the Final Course. Such
students may be allowed by the Board to repeat the year at the next
opportunity.
The final 
examination.
16. (1) The final examination shall be held in during of the
third year of the Final Course.
(2) There shall be a supplementary session of the final
examination in September for students referred in one subject only,
and in the following January for students who fail in more than one
subject.
(3) The final examination shall be held in the following
subjects:
Medicine (including Paediatrics)
Surgery
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 
M.D. - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.135 7
Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
(4) The examination in each of the subjects prescribed in
subregulation (3) shall consist of two three-hour papers and a
clinical session.
(5) Students may also be required to take a  viva voce
examination in these subjects.
(6) Before being allowed to sit for the final examination,
students must present to the Dean a certificate, signed by the heads
of department concerned, showing that they have completed
satisfactorily the schedule of clinical work prescribed for the
course.
Result.
subject of the final examination shall be published in a list in
alphabetical order according to the following grades in descending
order of merit: A, B, C and D.
(2) The names of students who have passed the final
examination at the first session shall be published in another list in
alphabetical order in the following two categories:
Passed with Distinction
Passed.
Exceptional performance in a subject shall be indicated on
the list.
(3) The names of students who are successful in the
examination sessions parts prescribed in regulation 16(2) shall be
published in a simple Pass List in alphabetical order.
(4) The result of the final examination shall take into account
all parts of the examination in the three subjects specified in
regulation 16(3), the result of the examination in Pathology, as well
as the work done by the students during the Final Course.
Reference and re-
admission.
18. (1) A list shall also be published indicating the names of
the students who are referred in and subject/s as well as the subject/
s in which they have be referred.
(2) Students who are referred in a subject/s may sit for the
supplementary session in that subject/s as prescribed in regulation
16(2). If successful. their names shall be included in the list of
those who have passed the final examination. If they fail, they shall
be deemed to have failed the final examination as a whole.
Conditions for re-
sit.
19. Students shall not be allowed to re-sit the final
examination, in whole or in part, unless they have satisfactorily
followed such courses of studies and/or practical and/or clinical
work as the Board may in each case determine  
Re-admission.
sessions as prescribed in regulation 16(1) and (2) may be allowed
by the Board to re-join the third year of the Final Course at the next
occasion and to sit for the final examination again at the end of that
course under such conditions as the Board may in each case
determine. Such students may not qualify for a "Passed with
Distinction".
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DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 
M.D. - DEGREE COURSE
Re-admission may 
only take place 
once.
21. Students shall not be re-admitted to the final examination
in terms of regulation 20 more than once.
