MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.SC. - IN 
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.63 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.63
MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.SC. - IN 
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES DEGREE COURSE 
REGULATIONS
15th March, 1996
LEGAL NOTICE 38 of 1996.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Master of Science -
M.Sc. - in Agricultural Sciences Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Institute of Agriculture;
"the course" means the course leading to the Degree of Master of
Science - M.Sc. - in Agricultural Sciences;
"the Degree" means the Degree of Master of Science - M.Sc. - in
Agricultural Sciences;
"the Institute" means the Institute of Agriculture.
Applicability.
academic year 1994/95 or later.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
3. To be eligible for the award of the Degree, a candidate
must have:
( a ) been approved by the Board and registered as a regular
student of the University;
( b ) completed the course, obtained the required credits
and have been successful in the final examinations in
accordance with these regulations;
( c ) completed a dissertation on an approved topic to the
satisfaction of the Examining Board; and
( d ) satisfied all other requirements prescribed in these
regulations and in any other relevant regulations and
statutes of the University.
Registration.
be in possession of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
and Biology (normally at least Category IIB) from the University
of Malta or a degree in Chemistry and Biology from another
University recognised by Senate to be equivalent to the degree of
Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology (Category
IIB) of the University of Malta, or a degree in Biology or
Chemistry or Biochemistry of the University of Malta or another
University recognised by Senate to be equivalent to the Bachelor of
Science degree (Category IIB) of the University of Malta. If the
degree is in either Chemistry or Biology, the candidate may be
required to complete a course in Biology or Chemistry as the case
may require.
2 [ S.L.327.63
MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.SC. - IN 
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES DEGREE COURSE
(2) A candidate in possession of a degree from another
University as indicated in subregulation (1) shall, in addition to
satisfying the requirements of that subregulation, demonstrate
proficiency in both written and oral English.
Duration. 5. (1) The course shall extend over a period of two years of
full-time studies or, with the permission of the Board, three years
of part-time studies.
(2) A candidate who has been given permission by the Board
to register on a part-time basis shall be required to satisfy the
course-work in the first and second year and to devote the third
year to the dissertation.
(3) Extensions of up to one year may be approved by the Board
after a written request has been submitted to the Director of the
Institute.
(4) A candidate shall be required to register at the beginning of
each academic year.
Course of studies. 6. (1) The course of studies shall consist of study-units to
which not less than 14 credits shall be assigned, and the
dissertation.
(2) A catalogue of study-units in each module, with the credits
assigned to each, shall be published by the Board before the start of
each course.
Progress. 7. (1) Credits shall be assigned according to the following
grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C, D and F where F
indicates Fail.
(2) A candidate who fails to obtain a credit for a study-unit
shall be allowed to be re-tested once. In the re-assessment, the
candidate’s credit shall be graded either D or F.
Final 
examinations.
8. (1) The final examinations shall normally be held in June/
July of the second year and shall consist of five written papers.
(2) Examination papers shall be graded in descending order of
merit A, B, C, D and F, where F indicates Fail.
(3) A candidate who fails in not more than three of the
examination papers shall be allowed to re-take the examination/s
during the supplementary session normally held in September,
provided that the grade awarded in a supplementary examination
shall be either D or F.
(4) To satisfy the final examinations requirements a candidate
must be successful in each paper.
Dissertation. 9. (1) Within three months of first registration a candidate
shall submit to the Director of the Institute a title and an outline
proposal of a dissertation and the name of a member of the
Institute’s academic staff who has accepted to act as a supervisor,
for approval of the Board.
(2) Every dissertation presented for the Degree shall be work
of an original nature or an original appraisal of existing published
data and shall represent knowledge in an agricultural area,
preferably relating to local conditions.
MASTER OF SCIENCE - M.SC. - IN 
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES DEGREE COURSE [ S.L.327.63 3
(3) The dissertation shall be of such length as directed by the
Board but shall not normally be less than 30,000 words or more
than 35,000 words.
(4) The dissertation shall be presented in such a format and be
submitted in such number of copies as the Board may direct.
Examining Board.
external examiner from another University and another four
members of the academic staff. The Examining Board shall be
appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the Board.
(2) The Examining Board shall be responsible for the
assessment of the dissertation and the final examinations.
(3) The Examining Board shall require each candidate to
attend a  viva voce  examination.
(4) A candidate whose dissertation is found inadequate may be
required by the Examining Board to rewrite the dissertation in
whole or in part and re-submit it for examination after at least three
months.
Results.
consideration the credits obtained, the results of the written
examinations and the merits of the dissertation.
(2) The names of the candidates who qualify for the Degree
shall be published in alphabetical order and classified as follows:
Passed with Distinction, or
Passed.
