MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - 
IN LINGUISTICS DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.198 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.198
MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - IN LINGUISTICS 
DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS
10th November, 2000
LEGAL NOTICE 232 of 2000.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Master of Arts -
M.A. - in Linguistics Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of Studies appointed by the Senate
to administer the course on behalf of the Faculty of Arts. The Board
shall be composed of the Rector as Chairman, three members
appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Arts and three members
appointed by the Board of the Institute of Linguistics;
"the course" means the course of studies leading to the Degree of
Master of Arts - M.A. - in Linguistics; and
"the Degree" means the Degree of Master of Arts - M.A. - in
Linguistics.
Applicability.
1999 or later.
Eligibility for 
admission.
3. Applicants may be admitted to the course if they possess
one of the following qualifications:
( a ) a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree with First or
Second Class in Linguistics or its equivalent from the
University of Malta or another university recognised
by the Senate for the purpose; or
( b ) an Honours Bachelor’s degree with First or Second
Class or its equivalent from the University of Malta or
another university recognised by the Senate for the
purpose in an area of study that includes a substantial
number of credits for study-units closely related and
relevant to Linguistics, provided that the Board may
require such applicants to follow the preparatory
course, pass the final synoptic examination and to
satisfy such additional requirements that the Board
may impose; or
( c ) a Bachelor’s degree with Category I or II or its
equivalent from the University of Malta or another
university recognised by the Senate for the purpose in
an area of study that includes a substantial number of
credits for study-units closely related and relevant to
Linguistics, provided that the Board may require such
applicants to follow the preparatory course and pass
the final synoptic examination and to satisfy such
additional requirements that the Board may impose.
Preparatory course.
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IN LINGUISTICS DEGREE COURSE
duration (or its equivalent in part-time study), students shall be
required to register for a number of study-units to which a total of
not less than twenty and not more than twenty-five credits shall be
assigned. The Board may stipulate that the credits should include a
dissertation to which five credits shall be assigned. The Board may
exempt students from some of the study-units if they or their
equivalent have already been completed successfully.
(2) At the end of the preparatory course, there shall be a final
synoptic examination consisting of two three-hour papers
(normally similar to all or part of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
examination in Linguistics, at the standard of at least Second Class
Honours). One of the papers may be chosen for its relevance to the
student’s area of study.
(3) The final result shall take into account the student’s
performance in the final synoptic examination as well as the credits
and grades obtained during the preparatory course. The final
synoptic examination shall carry fifty per cent of the weighting for
the grading of the final result, while the other fifty per cent shall be
calculated on the basis of the overall average of the credits obtained
during the preparatory course.
(4) The names of students shall be published in a list in
alphabetical order in two categories:
Passed and Qualified to join the Master of Arts - M.A. - in
Linguistics
Failed.
Registration for 
course.
5. (1) Before being admitted to the course, applicants must be
approved by the Board as possessing the training, knowledge and
capabilities required for the proposed line of study and research.
(2) Applications should include the provisional title of the
dissertation, and a comprehensive research proposal of about 500
words.
Duration of course. 6. (1) The course shall extend over not less than fifteen and
not more than eighteen months of full-time study after registration,
provided that the Board may specify a longer period of study
depending on the nature of the research to be undertaken. The
Board may, before the presentation of the dissertation, extend such
period for one further period not exceeding twelve months.
(2) Students may, by permission of the Board, register on a
part-time basis. Any period spent in part-time study or research
shall be considered equivalent to half the same period of full-time
study or research.
(3) Students, whether full-time or part-time, shall be required
to re-register for the course at the beginning of each academic year.
Course 
programme.
7. (1) The Board may require students to follow and
successfully complete study-units to which a maximum of five
credits shall be assigned. The content of each study-unit shall be
determined by the Board.
(2) Students shall be required to present a dissertation on the
MASTER OF ARTS - M.A. - 
IN LINGUISTICS DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.198 3
approved subject, normally of not more than 50,000 words. The
dissertation most be either a record of original work or an ordered
and critical expression of existing data with regard to a particular
subject. It must satisfy the Board as regards language and literary
presentation and must fulfil all specifications laid down in
regulation 9.
(3) No dissertation shall be accepted which is identical in
substance to a dissertation already submitted for a degree at the
University of Malta or any other university. Students, however,
shall not be precluded from incorporating such previous
dissertation work as may be necessary to the presentation and fuller
understanding of their exposition, provided that the nature and
extent of such incorporation are clearly indicated in the dissertation
itself.
Supervision of 
dissertation.
8. The Board shall appoint a supervisor for every student. The
supervisor shall require the student to report to him at least once
every three mouths or more often as he deems necessary. He may
refer to the Board a student whose work he considers unsatisfactory
and shall refer one substantial modification in the title or content of
the projected dissertation for the approval of the Board. No
dissertation may be submitted to the examiners without a
certificate, signed by the supervisor, of its conformity with these
regulations.
Presentation of 
dissertation.
9. (1) The dissertation shall meet the following
specifications:
( a ) Paper Size: International Standard Size A4 (11 3 / 4 " x
8 1 / 4 ");
( b ) Typing: Font size 12. Double-spacing for the main
text. Single spacing for footnotes. Single spacing may
also be used for long-quotations in the main text. Left
hand margin of 40 mm. Top and right-hand margin of
20 mm. A top margin of 80 mm. to be left on the first
page of every division; i.e. chapters, bibliography, etc.
Foot- or endnotes should appear at the bottom of the
relevant. page or after every chapter;
( c ) Pagination: The main text, including the introduction
(if any) and any appendices of the dissertation, shall
have Arabic numerals. The title page, dedication (if
any), preface, acknowledgements, table of contents,
etc., preceding the main text shall have Roman
numerals;
( d ) Binding: Three unbound copies of the dissertation
shall be submitted. After a successful defence, two
copies of the dissertation as approved by the Board of
Examiners shall be sewn and bound in cloth
(preferably black) with stiff boards and good quality
end-papers; with lettering (preferably in gold) on the
front and spine showing:
(i) the name of the student;
(ii) the title or short title of the dissertation;
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IN LINGUISTICS DEGREE COURSE
(iii) the degree for which the dissertation is
submitted; and
(iv) the year of submission.
Maps, diagrams, graphs, printed material, etc., should
be bound with the dissertation, but if this is not
possible they should be presented separately in special
folders or volumes and numbered. One bound copy of
the dissertation shall be retained in the University
Library and the other two copies shall be retained by
the Faculty of Arts and by the Institute of Linguistics;
and
( e ) Layout of title page: Title of dissertation and subtitle
(if any) followed by the name of the student, e.g. "A
dissertation presented to the Faculty of Arts in the
University of Malta for the degree of Master of Arts -
M.A. - in Linguistics", followed by month and year of
submission.
(2) The dissertation shall include a declaration signed by the
student that it is his own original work.
Examination of 
dissertation.
10. (1) Each dissertation shall be examined. by a Board of
Examiners appointed in terms of the University Examinations
Regulations. One of the examiners shall normally be an external
examiner from another university.
(2) Students shall normally be required to take a  viva voce
examination to defend their dissertation.
Re-submission of 
dissertation.
11. Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory may be
allowed by the Board, on the recommendation of the Board of
Examiners, to re-submit it in a revised form within a period of not
less than six and not more than eighteen months from the day on
which it is referred back to them.
Final result. 12. (1) The final result of students shall take into account the
merits of their dissertation and the oral defence thereof.
(2) The names of students who qualify for the award of the
Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order classified
as follows:
Passed with Distinction
Passed.
