DIPLOMA IN PSYCHIATRIC NURSING 
- DIP.PSYCH.NURS. - COURSE [ S.L.327.49 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.49
DIPLOMA IN PSYCHIATRIC NURSING - 
DIP.PSYCH.NURS. - COURSE REGULATIONS
4th November, 1994
LEGAL NOTICE 150 of 1994.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Diploma in
Psychiatric Nursing - Dip.Psych.Nurs.- Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Institute of Health Care;
"the course" means the course leading to the Diploma in
Psychiatric Nursing - Dip. Psych. Nurs.;
"the Diploma" means the Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing -
Dip.Psych.Nurs.
Applicability.
later.
Eligibility for 
Diploma.
3. To be eligible for the award of the Diploma a candidate
must have:
( a ) been registered as a regular student of the University;
( b ) completed the course and been successful in the
relevant examinations in accordance with these
regulations; and
( c ) satisfied all other requirements laid down in these
regulations and in any other relevant regulations and
statutes of the University.
Registration.
course if he satisfies:
( a ) the requirements for admission as a regular student in
terms of the Admission Regulations of the University;
( b ) the Board that he has the necessary aptitude for
psychiatric nursing after, if the Board so requires,
attending an interview for this purpose;
( c ) the requirements for effective registration as a State
Registered Nurse in Malta; and
( d ) the Department of Health as to his medical fitness to
undertake nursing duties.
(2) Overseas students must also demonstrate proficiency in
both written and spoken English.
Duration of course.
spread over two years. A candidate may not take the Final
Comprehensive Examination earlier than twenty months or later
2 [ S.L.327.49
DIPLOMA IN PSYCHIATRIC NURSING 
- DIP.PSYCH.NURS. - COURSE
than three years from first admission to the course, except in
special circumstances and with the permission of Senate.
Course of studies. 6. (1) The course shall consist of:
( a ) study-units for which not less than 40 credits shall be
assigned and divided as follows:
29 credits in Nursing Theory
11 credits in Subjects Supportive to Nursing;
and
( b ) a supervised individual project.
(2) A catalogue of study-units, with the credits assigned to
each, shall be published before the start of each academic year.
(3) The Board shall decide which study-units a candidate may
take, and in what order, so as to complete the course.
Continuous 
assessment.
7. (1) In each semester of the course candidates shall be
tested in accordance with the criteria established by the Board, in
the study-units covered during that semester.
(2) The following grades shall be used in the assessment of
credits: A, B, C, D and F, in descending order of merit, with F
indicating failure.
(3) A candidate shall be allowed to resit the appropriate
assessments if he fails a credit. If successful in the resit, the
minimum pass grade shall be given. If unsuccessful, the candidate
shall be required to repeat the credit and be eligible, on successful
completion, only to the minimum pass grade.
(4) A candidate who in any one academic year (two
semesters)-
( a ) fails to obtain 80% of the total number of credits
assigned, or
( b ) fails to obtain 80% of credits in any one of the
following:
Nursing Theory
Subjects Supportive to Nursing
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.
Final 
Comprehensive 
Examination.
8. (1) A candidate shall be required to sit the Final
Comprehensive Examination after obtaining at least the minimum
number of credits specified in regulation 7(4).
(2) The Final Comprehensive Examination shall consist in the
following three comprehensive papers taken in the same session:
Paper I Primary Health Care
Paper II Mental Health: Theory and Practice of Nursing
Paper III Professional Development and Nursing
Management.
(3) A candidate may also be required to take a  viva voce
DIPLOMA IN PSYCHIATRIC NURSING 
- DIP.PSYCH.NURS. - COURSE [ S.L.327.49 3
examination.
(4) A candidate who fails in one or more papers of the Final
Comprehensive Examination shall be required to resit the paper or
papers on only one other occasion at a time specified by the Board
normally within four months of completion of the course.
(5) In special circumstances and with the permission of
Senate, a candidate may be allowed to resit the Final
Comprehensive Examination in its entirety within twelve months of
completing the course under such conditions as Senate, on the
advice of the Board, may determine.
Final grading.
clinical study-units, the project and the Final Comprehensive
Examination.
(2) The names of candidates who qualify for the award of the
Diploma shall be published in alphabetical order in the following
three classes:
Distinction
Credit
Pass
(3) A candidate who is allowed to resit part or all of the Final
Comprehensive Examination shall be eligible only for a Pass grade.
