BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) - 
B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE ġ S.L.327.118 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.118
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) - B.SC. 
(HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE REGULATIONS
24th February, 1998
LEGAL NOTICE 69 of 1998, as amended by Legal Notices 102 and 181
of 1998, 43 of 2000, 140 of 2001, 301 of 2002 and 169 of 2003.
Citation and 
interpretation.
Amended by:
L.N. 102 of 1998.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Bachelor of Science
(Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons) - Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Science;
"the course" means the course leading to the Degree of Bachelor
of Science (Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons);
"the Degree" means the Degree of Bachelor of Science
(Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons); and
"the study-unit" means a study-unit which may be made up of a
combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, field-
work and private study to which one or more credits shall be
assigned; a one-credit study-unit shall require approximately fifty
hours of study, of which fourteen shall normally be student/staff
contact.
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 102 of 1998;
L.N. 181 of 1998;
L.N. 43 of 2000;
L.N. 140 of 2001; 
L.N. 301 of 2002.;
L.N. 169 of 2003
2. These regulations shall be applicable from 13th December
2002 onwards.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
Amended by:
L.N. 102 of 1998.
3. To be eligible for the Degree a student must:
( a ) be registered as a regular student in the course in terms
of the Admissions Regulations of the University;
( b ) complete the course of studies, qualify in the
examinations and satisfy any other requirements as
prescribed in these regulations;
( c ) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other
relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University.
Registration and 
special course 
requirements.
Amended by:
L.N. 102 of 1998;
L.N. 181 of 1998.
4. (1) To be registered as a regular student in the course a
candidate must, besides satisfying the general entry requirements
specified in the Admissions Regulations of the University, satisfy
the following special course requirements:
for courses starting in October 1999 or later:
Principal Area in Part II Passes in the Matriculation
Certificate Examination in:
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) - 
B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
Biology Biology (Advanced, grade C)
and Chemistry (Intermediate,
grade C)
Chemistry Chemistry (Advanced, grade C)
and Physics (Intermediate grade
C)
Computer Science either Computing (Advanced,
grade C) and Pure Mathematics
(Intermediate, grade C),
or Pure Mathematics
(Advanced, grade C)
and Computing (Intermediate,
grade C)
Informatics either Pure Mathematics
(Advanced, grade C),
or Computing or Information
Technology (Advanced, grade
C) and Pure Mathematics
(Intermediate, grade C)
Mathematics Pure Mathematics (Advanced,
grade C)
Statistics and Operations Pure Mathematics (Advanced,
Research grade C)
or Applied Mathematics
(Advanced, grade C)
or Computing or Information
Technology (Advanced, grade
C) and Pure Mathematics
(Advanced, grade D)
or Computing or Information
Technology (Advanced, grade
C) and Applied Mathematics
(Advanced, grade D)
Physics either Physics (Advanced, grade
C) and Pure Mathematics
(Intermediate, grade C)
or Pure Mathematics 
(Advanced, grade C) and
Physics (Intermediate, grade C).
(2) A candidate, who is a graduate of a University or has other
qualifications considered to be sufficient, may be exempted by the
University Admissions Board, on the advice of the Faculty
Admissions Committee, from the whole or part of these special
course requirements.
(3) On registration candidates shall be required to indicate a
preliminary choice of the two principal subject areas they intend to
follow in Part II of the course.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) - 
B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE ġ S.L.327.118 3
Course structure.
Substituted by:
L.N. 102 of 1998.
Amended by:
L.N. 43 of 2000;
L.N. 140 of 2001.
5. (1) The course shall normally extend over a period of four
years of full-time study, and shall be divided into two parts: Part
One and Part Two. Each part shall be of two years’ duration. Each
year of the course shall consist of two semesters of study.
(2) In the first year study-units may be offered from the
following principal subject areas: Biology, Chemistry, Computer
Science, Informatics, Mathematics, Statistics and Operations
Research, and Physics.
(3) By the end of the second year, students must confirm their
choice of the two principal subject areas to be followed in Part Two
of the course. In the third and fourth years (Part Two) students shall
concentrate on the subject areas chosen as specified in sub-
regulation (5).
(4) The Board may limit the possible combination of the two
principal subject areas. Computer Science and Informatics cannot
be chosen together.
(5) Students must take a number of study-units equivalent to a
minimum of 101 credits as follows:
( a ) in the first year, twenty-eight credits: fourteen credits
in any of the principal subject areas, another ten
credits from a set of study-units as advised by the
Board, which study-units shall include two credits for
practical work in each principal subject area, where
relevant, as well as another four credits, one of which
may be an extracurricular credit, to be chosen from
study-units offered by any University faculty/institute,
subject to approval by the Board;
( b ) in the second year, twenty-six credits: six credits for
study-units from each of two principal subject areas,
another ten credits from a set of study-units as advised
by the Board, which credits shall include, where
appropriate, three credits for practical work in each
principal subject area as determined by the Board, and
another four credits, one of which may be an
extracurricular credit, to be chosen from study-units
offered by any department in the Faculty of Science,
provided that for courses which started in October
1996 and 1997, the practical work in each of the two
principal subject areas shall also be assigned three
credits;
( c ) in the third year, twenty-five credits: a minimum of
eleven credits from Part II study-units in each of the
principal subject areas, including, where appropriate,
not less than three credits for assigned practical work,
and the remaining credits to be chosen from amongst
the study-units of any principal subject area subject to
approval by the Board; and
( d ) in the fourth year, twenty-two credits: ten credits
assigned for an elective in one of the principal subject
areas as approved by the relevant department, and a
further twelve credits from Part II study-units,
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) - 
B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
provided that each department of the principal subject
areas specifies six of these credits.
(6) The Board shall draw up a catalogue of study-units for
each year of the course. The catalogue shall indicate the credits
assigned to each study unit, which study-units are compulsory, and
which study-units are recommended as pre-requisites for other
study-units. The Board shall publish the catalogue prior to the
commencement of each academic year.
(7) The Board may exempt a student from the requirement of
obtaining a credit/s for a study-unit if he has obtained from the
University, or an institution recognised by Senate for the purpose, a
qualification the study for which is, in the opinion of the Board, at
least equivalent in content and standard to that required for the
study-unit concerned.
(8) A student may not complete the course earlier than four
years or later than five years from first registration, except in
special circumstances with the permission of Senate, acting on the
advice of the Board.
Assessment and 
progress.
Amended by:
L.N. 102 of 1998;
L.N. 181 of 1998;
L.N. 43 of 2000;
L.N. 140 of 2001;
L.N. 301 of 2002;
L.N. 169 of 2003.
6.  (1) ( a ) Grades for credits shall be awarded on the basis of the
student’s performance in coursework, and in oral and
written tests, as deemed appropriate by the department
responsible, subject to approval by the Board.
( b ) There shall be a Board of Assessment for each subject
to be assessed, which shall normally be composed of
the head of department as chairman and of two other
assessors, provided that the Board may increase the
number of assessors in any particular subject. The
regulations referring to Boards of Examiners in the
University Examinations Regulations, shall apply
mutatis mutandis  to Boards of Assessment.
(2) Credits shall be assigned according to the following grades
in descending order of merit: A, B, C, D and F, where F indicates
Fail, provided that for courses starting in October 1996 or later,
credits shall be assigned according to the following grades in
descending order of merit: A+, A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, D. I indicates
Incomplete and F indicates Fail.
(3) A student who fails in an oral or written test for a study-
unit may be re-assessed in that study-unit once only. In the re-
assessment, the maximum grade that may be awarded shall be
grade D. Except in the case of a repeat year, no study unit can be
taken more than once.
(4) In the first three years of the course, the study-units
completed in a semester shall be assessed at the end of that
semester. In the fourth year, all study-units shall normally be
assessed in the June session of examinations. A supplementary
session of assessments shall be held only in September.
(5) Students must obtain all credits assigned to practical work
throughout the course.
(6) On completion of the first year, and in order to proceed to
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) - 
B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE ġ S.L.327.118 5
the second year, a student must obtain at least twenty-four credits
consisting of a minimum of seven credits in each of the principal
subject areas, including any compulsory credits, and another ten
credits. In order to be eligible for re-assessment of failed study-
units, a student must have obtained a minimum of twenty credits in
the first sitting.
(7) On completion of the second year, and in order to proceed
to the third year, a student must obtain not less than twenty-four
credits. In order to be eligible for re-assessment, of failed study-
units, a student must have obtained a minimum of twenty-two
credits in the first sitting.
(8) A student who fails to satisfy the requirements to proceed
to the next year of the Course shall be allowed to repeat the study
programme for the year, provided that he has not already repeated a
year during the course, except in extraordinary circumstances with
the approval of Senate.
(9) A student who is allowed to repeat a year may, at the
discretion of the Board, be exempted from being re-assessed in the
study-units for which he had obtained a credit during the failed
year. 
(10) A student who is allowed to repeat a year shall, if he passes
the  respective tests, only be awarded the minimum grade D for
each of the study-units in which he was unsuccessful in the failed
year.
(11) A student shall be allowed to proceed to Part Two provided
he has obtained a minimum of forty-eight of the fifty-four credits
stipulated in regulation 5(5)( a ) and ( b ), including all those credits
which are deemed compulsory by the Board.
(12) On completion of the third year, and in order to proceed to
the fourth year, a student must obtain a minimum of twenty-two
credits inclusive of all credits assigned to practical work.
(13) A student who fails to satisfy the examiners in the practical
work in the third year may, at the discretion of the Board, be
allowed to re-submit the work or to complete some other task(s) by
not later than the end of September of that year. If successful, the
maximum grade that can be awarded shall be grade D. If
unsuccessful, the student shall fail the course irrespective of the
performance in the written papers, unless he still has the option to
repeat the year and chooses to do so.
(14) In order to be eligible for re-assessment of failed study-
units, the student must have obtained a minimum of twenty credits
in the principal subject areas including all credits assigned to
practical work. If after the re-sits the student still fails to satisfy the
provisions of subregulation (12), then he shall fail the course,
unless he still has the option to repeat the year and chooses to do
so.
(15) In the fourth year, a student must:
( a ) satisfy the elective requirements; and
( b ) pass in the written examination papers which shall test
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) - 
B.SC. (HONS.) - DEGREE COURSE
material covered in the fourth year study-units in the
principal subject areas.
(16) The requirements stipulated in subregulation (15)( a ) and
( b ) shall be deemed to constitute the whole of the final
examinations for the course.
(17) A student who fails to satisfy the examiners in the elective
may, at the discretion of the Board, be allowed to re-submit in
September. If successful, the student shall be awarded the
minimum pass mark for the elective, that is, 45%. If unsuccessful,
the student shall not be allowed to repeat the year and shall be
awarded a Bachelor of Science - B.Sc. - Pass degree if he has
passed in the final examinations.
(18) For the purposes of the non-elective written component of
the final examination, a student who fails in study-units that
contribute between them not more than two credits in each of the
two principal subjects taken in the fourth year may be re-examined
in September. If after the re-sits the student still fails to satisfy the
examiners in more than any two credits, he shall fail the final
examination and shall not qualify for the Honours degree. In this
case, the student shall be awarded a Bachelor of Science Pass
Degree - B.Sc. - unless he still has the option to repeat a year and
chooses to do so.
(19) If a student fails to satisfy the examiners in the written
component of the final examinations and has already repeated a
year, the Board may, at its discretion, award the student a Bachelor
of Science Pass Degree (B.Sc.).
Results and award 
of the Degree.
Substituted by:
L.N. 102 of 1998.
7. (1) The Degree shall be awarded to students who have:
( a ) obtained not less than ninety credits throughout the
course;
( b ) successfully completed all the study-units indicated as
compulsory by the Board; and
( c ) satisfied the requirements of the written component of
the final examinations as stipulated in regulation
6(18).
(2) For the purposes of the final Honours degree classification,
regard shall be taken of the best 101 credits obtained as prescribed
in regulation 5(5).
(3) The names of all students who qualify for the award of the
Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order in one of
the following classifications, in descending order of merit:
First Class Honours
Second Class Honours (Upper Division)
Second Class Honours (Lower Division)
Third Class Honours.
(4) The names of the students who are awarded the Bachelor of
Science - B.Sc. - Pass degree shall be published in a list in
alphabetical order.
