BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN NURSING/MID-
WIFERY STUDIES - B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.31 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.31
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN 
NURSING/MIDWIFERY STUDIES - B.SC. (HONS.) - 
DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS
3rd November, 1992
LEGAL NOTICE 104 of 1992, as amended by Legal Notice 39 of 1999.
Citation and 
interpretation.
Substituted by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Bachelor of Science
(Honours) in Nursing/Midwifery Studies - B.Sc. (Hons.) - Degree
Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the course" means the course leading to the Degree of Bachelor
of Science (Honours) in Nursing/Midwifery Studies - B.Sc.
(Hons.);
"the Degree" means the Degree of Bachelor of Science
(Honours) in Nursing/Midwifery Studies - B.Sc. (Hons.). 
Applicability.
later.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
Amended by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
3. To be eligible for the award of the Degree, a candidate
must have:
( a ) been registered as a regular student;
( b ) completed an appropriate course of studies;
( c ) been successful in the relevant examinations;
( d ) to be in possession of a statement of good conduct as
befits a person entitled to use the title "Nurse" or
"Midwife", which statement must be signed by the
Head of Nursing/Midwifery Studies; and
( e ) satisfied all other requirements laid down in these
regulations.
Special course 
requirements.
Amended by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
4. (1) Candidates may be registered as regular students in the
Institute of Health Care if they satisfy:
( a ) the general requirements for matriculation laid down
in the Admission Regulations;
( b ) the Institute of Health Care that they have the
necessary aptitude for nursing/midwifery, for which
purpose they may be required to attend an interview;
and
( c ) the Department of Health as to medical fitness to
undertake nursing/midwifery duties.
(2) Overseas students shall also be required to demonstrate
proficiency in both written and oral English.
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN NURSING/MID-
WIFERY STUDIES - B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
(3) Candidates in possession of a Diploma in Nursing may be
allowed to register in the third year of the course, provided that as
from May 1996 this provision shall also apply to holders of a
Diploma in Midwifery.
Duration of the 
course.
Substituted by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
5. (1) The course shall extend over a period of four years.
Candidates may not take the final comprehensive examination
earlier than three years or later than five years from first admission
to the course, except with the permission of Senate:
Provided that candidates admitted under regulation 4(3)
may not take the final comprehensive examination earlier than two
years or later than three years of full-time study or their equivalent
in part-time study, from first admission to the course except with
the permission of Senate.
(2) For candidates admitted under regulation 4(3) the course
shall extend over a period of two years full-time, or their equivalent
in part-time studies.
Course of studies.
Amended by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
6. (1) The course shall consist of a number of study-units to
each of which a specified number of credits shall be assigned. The
total number of credits shall meet the requirements laid down by
the European Commission on General Nurse/Midwife Education
(see Note 1).
(2) The course shall have two distinct although interdependent
components, one theoretical, the other clinical.
Theoretical 
component.
Amended by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
7. (1) The theoretical component of the course shall consist
of study units for which not less than 80 credits are assigned.
(2) A credit certificate shall be issued to candidates on the
successful completion of a study-unit. This certificate shall also
show a grade indicating the standard attained by the candidates in
the work undertaken throughout the study unit and in a test held at
the end of it. The grades shall be as follows:
A - work of exceptional quality
B - work of above average quality
C - work of average quality
D - work of below average quality
F - Fail.
No credit shall be given for an uncompleted study-unit.
(3) A candidate is allowed one re-sit if he fails a study unit. If
successful in the re-sit, the grade to be given is D. If unsuccessful,
the candidate shall be required to repeat the study-unit and be
eligible, on completion, only to the grade D.
(4) Candidates who in any one year -
( a ) fail to obtain 80% of the total number of credits
assigned, or
( b ) fail to obtain more than 80% of the credits in any of
the following:
Nursing/Midwifery Theory
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN NURSING/MID-
WIFERY STUDIES - B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.31 3
Biomedical Sciences
Behavioural Sciences
shall not be allowed to continue the course or to take
the final comprehensive examination except in special
circumstances and with the permission of Senate.
(5) The Board of the Institute of Health Care shall specify
which study-units a candidate may take, and in what order, so as to
complete the course.
(6) A catalogue of study-units, with the credits assigned to
each, shall be published before the start of each academic year. 
Clinical 
component.
Amended by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
8. (1) The clinical component of the course shall consist of
study-units in the form of clinical placements or guided field work.
At least 40 credits shall be assigned to this component.
(2) Students will be required to undergo clinical placements in
areas specified by the Board of the Institute of Health Care, in the
sequence established by it.
(3) A list of clinical placements with the credits assigned to
each shall be published before the start of each academic year.
(4) Students shall not be allowed to sit their final
comprehensive examination unless they have obtained at least 40
clinical credits in the areas of clinical practice (see Note 2) listed
hereunder with the minimum number of credits for each indicated:
(5) Students shall be assessed during clinical placements. An
overall grade shall be awarded at the end of each clinical year.
( a ) Nursing Clinical Practice Minimum credits
General and Specialist Medicine 6
General and Specialist Surgery 6
Child Care and Paediatrics 3
Maternity Care 3
Mental Health and Psychiatry 3
Care of the Elderly 3
Community Nursing (Home) 2
( b ) Midwifery Clinical Practice Minimum credits
Ante Natal Care 3
Intra Natal Care 3
Post Natal Care 3
Community Care 3
Care of the New Born 3
Child Care and Paediatric Nursing 3
Medical Nursing 3
Surgical/Gynaecological Nursing 3
Critical Care 3
Mental Health 3
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN NURSING/MID-
WIFERY STUDIES - B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
Students who are unsuccessful may retake the assessment during
the period of allocation, provided that at least one week has passed
since the first assessment.
(6) A credit certificate shall be issued to a candidate on the
successful completion of a clinical placement. The certificate shall
state the number of credits awarded.
(7) Students who fail to achieve a pass grade in the overall
clinical assessment in any one year shall not be allowed to take the
final comprehensive examination, except in special circumstances
and with the permission of Senate, and shall be required to repeat
that year.
Completion of the 
course.
Substituted by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
9. (1)  To complete the course candidates admitted under
regulation 4(1) must obtain the following number of credits:
( a ) 80 credits in Nursing/Midwifery Theory and in
subjects supportive to Nursing/Midwifery; and
( b ) 40 credits in Clinical Nursing/Midwifery Practice.
(2) To complete the course candidates admitted under
regulation 4(3) must obtain the following:
( a ) 40 credits in Nursing Theory and subjects supportive
to Nursing;
( b ) 6 credits in Clinical Nursing Practice; and
( c ) other theoretical or clinical practice credits as required
to complete a course in accordance with European
Commission directives on General Nursing Education:
Provided that as from May 1996 the following shall be
required:
( a ) 40 credits in Nursing/Midwifery theory and practice;
and
( b ) 20 credits in subjects supportive to Nursing/
Midwifery.
(3) The Board of the Institute of Health Care may exempt
candidates from the requirement of obtaining a credit certificate for
a particular study-unit if they have obtained from the University, or
an institution recognised by the Senate for the purpose, a
qualification the study for which is, in the opinion of the Board,
equivalent in content and standard to that required for the credit
certificate concerned. Candidates may be exempted from up to one-
fifth of the theoretical component. Registered nurses not in
possession of a Diploma in Nursing may be exempted from up to:
( a ) one-third of the theoretical module; and ( b ) three-quarters of the
credits related to clinical practice, for admission to the final
comprehensive examination, provided that as from May 1996,
registered midwives not in possession of a Diploma in Midwifery
may also be exempted from the above.
Final 
comprehensive 
examination.
Amended by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
10. (1) Candidates shall be required to sit for the final
comprehensive examination after obtaining at least the minimum
number of credits specified in regulations 8 and 9.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN NURSING/MID-
WIFERY STUDIES - B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.31 5
(2) ( a ) At the end of the course, candidates admitted under
regulation 4(1) shall be required to take the final
comprehensive examination which shall comprise the
following:
Paper I Primary Health Care
Paper II Nursing Theory and Practice
Paper III Nursing Theory and Practice
Paper IV Nursing Theory/ Research
Paper V Professional Development
Special Project:  A dissertation of not less than 10,000
words on an approved subject
Tests in Clinical Nursing Practice,
provided that as from May 1996 the examination shall
comprise:
Paper I Primary Health Care
Paper II Nursing/Midwifery Theory and Practice
Paper III Nursing/Midwifery Theory and Practice
Paper IV Nursing/Midwifery Theory/ Research
Paper V Professional Development
Special Project:  A dissertation of not less than 10,000
words on an approved subject
Tests in Clinical Nursing/Midwifery Practice.
( b ) Candidates admitted under regulation 4(3) shall be
exempted from Papers II and III, as well as from the
Tests in Clinical Nursing Practice, provided that as
from May 1996 the above provision shall also apply to
the Tests in Clinical Midwifery Practice.
(3) A candidate may also be required to take a  viva voce
examination.
(4) In each year there will be only one session of the final
comprehensive examination, normally held in May/June.
(5) The overall evaluation of the candidate for the Degree will
take into account his performance at the final comprehensive
examination as well as the credit certificates and grades obtained
during the course.
(6) A candidate who fails in only one paper shall be allowed a
re-sit in that paper. A candidate who fails more than one paper shall
be required to re-sit the whole examination on only one other
occasion normally to be held in September of the same year. A
candidate may be allowed to repeat the final year before re-sitting
the final comprehensive examination in its entirety in special
circumstances and with the permission of Senate.
Publication of 
results.
Amended by:
L.N. 39 of 1999.
11. (1) The names of candidates who are judged by the
examiners to qualify for the award of the Honours Degree shall be
published in a list in alphabetical order in one of the following
6 [ S.L.327.31
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN NURSING/MID-
WIFERY STUDIES - B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
categories: First Class, Second Class (Upper Division), Second
Class (Lower Division) and Third Class, according to the merit
which the candidate is deemed to have obtained overall in the
assessments throughout the Course, including the final
comprehensive examination.
(2) A list shall also be published of candidates who, though not
judged as being worthy of Honours, are considered by the
examiners to be of sufficient merit to be awarded a Pass and such
candidates shall qualify for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in
Nursing/Midwife - B.Sc.
(3) Candidates whose names are not published in either of the
two lists mentioned in this regulation shall be considered as Failed.
Explanatory Notes
(1) ( a ) European Commission Directive 77/453/EEC
( b ) European Commission Directive 80/115/EEC
(2) As laid down by the European Commission.
