DOCTOR OF MUSIC - D. MUS. - AND 
MASTER OF MUSIC - M. MUS. - DEGREES COURSE ġ S.L.327.235 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.235
DOCTOR OF MUSIC - D. MUS. - AND MASTER OF 
MUSIC - M. MUS. - DEGREES COURSE 
REGULATIONS
22nd July, 2003
LEGAL NOTICE 185 of 2003.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Doctor of Music -
D.Mus. - and Master of Music - M.Mus. - Degrees Course
Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Mediterranean Institute;
"the Committee" means the M.Phil. / Ph.D. Committee appointed
by Senate;
"the Degrees" means the Degrees of Doctor of Music - D.Mus. -
and Master of Music - M.Mus.; and
"the Institute" means the Mediterranean Institute.
Applicability.
onwards.
Award of the 
Degrees.
3. (1) The D.Mus. degree shall be awarded to students who
satisfy all the criteria in any one of the following areas of
specialisation:
( a ) by composition: successfully present and defend a
portofolio of new and original compositions that
includes large scale work such as opera or oratorio
during a  viva voce  examination; or
( b ) by performance: successfully present at least four
public recitals (that must include large scale works
with orchestra), at least two chamber music
performances, and the successful defence of a
dissertation on the subject of performance during a
viva voce  examination.
(2) The M.Mus. degree shall be awarded to students who
satisfy all the criteria in any one of the following areas of
specialisation:
( a ) by composition: successfully present a portofolio of
new and original compositions followed by a  viva voce
examination; or
( b ) by performance: successfully present at least two
public recitals, at least one chamber music
performance, and successfully defend a dissertation on
the subject of performance during a  viva voce
examination.
2 ġ S.L.327.235
DOCTOR OF MUSIC - D. MUS. - AND 
MASTER OF MUSIC - M. MUS. - DEGREES COURSE
Committee 
appointed by 
Senate.
S.L. 327.101
4. The Committee appointed by Senate in terms of the Doctor
of Philosophy - Ph.D. - and Master of Philosophy - M.Phil. -
Degrees Course Regulations shall also be entrusted with the
responsibility for these Degrees.
Registration for 
Degrees.
5. Applications for registration for the Degrees shall be
accepted by Senate, on the recommendations of the Board and of
the Committee.
Applications. 6. (1) The Committee shall consider applications for the
D.Mus. degree from candidates who possess a Master of Music
degree of the University of Malta or another university or
qualifications of comparable standard recognised for this purpose
by the Senate.
(2) The Committee shall consider applications for the M.Mus.
degree from candidates who possess:
( a ) a good Honours degree in Music Studies (not below
Second Class) of the University of Malta or another
university or qualifications of comparable standard
recognised for this purpose by the Senate; or
( b ) a Bachelor’s degree in Music Studies (Category II or
higher) or qualifications of comparable standard
recognised for this purpose by the Senate, provided
that such candidates shall be required, in addition to
satisfying any other special conditions laid down by
the Board, to follow a preparatory course extending
over one year of full-time study or its equivalent in
part-time study and to complete the course at the
standard of at least Second Class Honours. The study-
units shall normally be from the Bachelor of Arts
(Honours) Music Studies Programme.
(3) Applications for the Degrees shall include the following:
( a ) the proposed title of the project;
( b ) a detailed research proposal, normally of
approximately 1000 words, that includes the
compositional tools and techniques in the case of the
Degrees by composition, and the analytical tools and
performance practices in the case of the Degrees by
performance;
( c ) a statement on whether the studies will be undertaken
on a full-time or a part-time basis, and, in the latter
case, the number of hours that will be dedicated to this
research work;
( d ) the name of a member of staff of the University who
has agreed to act as supervisor, and in special cases,
the name of a member of staff of the University of
Malta or another university or of a specialist who has
agreed to act as co-supervisor; and
( e ) a recommendation from the Co-ordinator of the Music
Studies Programme that the topic of research is
acceptable.
DOCTOR OF MUSIC - D. MUS. - AND 
MASTER OF MUSIC - M. MUS. - DEGREES COURSE ġ S.L.327.235 3
(4) The Committee shall submit to Senate all applications
which satisfy the requirements under subregulations (1) to (3).
Senate may accept such applications and may impose such
conditions as it deems fit.
Duration of 
studies.
7. (1) Studies for the D.Mus. degree shall extend over the
following periods:
( a ) not less than three years and not more than five years
in the case of full-time studies; and
( b ) not less than four years and not more than eight years
(which should normally include one year of full-time
study) in the case of part-time studies.
(2) The presentation of the works outlined in regulation 3(2)
for the D.Mus. degree shall not be considered if submitted later
than the maximum period allowed in subregulation (1), unless in
special circumstances, on the recommendation of the Board and the
Committee, the Senate grants students an extension of studies
beyond the maximum period.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1)( a ), in
exceptional circumstances, the Senate, on the recommendation of
the Board and the Committee, may give permission for the
presentation of a final concert, the portofolio of compositions and
the dissertation for the D.Mus. degree after the equivalent of two
years of full-time study have expired from the date of first
registration.
Period of study for 
M.Mus. degree.
8. (1) Studies for the M.Mus. degree shall extend over the
following periods:
( a ) not less than 15 months and not more than 3 years in
the case of full-time study; and
( b ) not less than 30 months and not more than 5 years in
the case of part-time studies.
(2) The presentation of the works outlined in regulation 3(2)
for the M.Mus. degree shall not be considered if submitted later
than the maximum period allowed in subregulation (1), unless in
special circumstances, on the recommendation of the Board and the
Committee, the Senate grants students an extension of studies
beyond the maximum period.
Annual 
registration.
9. (1) Students are required to register at the Institute at the
beginning of each academic year throughout their period of study.
(2) Such registration shall be allowed only on the submission
of a satisfactory progress report from the student’s supervisor.
Submission of 
portofolio of 
composition/s or 
performance 
programme and 
dissertation.
10. (1) Not less than three months before the intended date of
submission, students shall apply to the Board for permission to
present the portofolio of composition/s or performance programme
and dissertation. Before giving permission, the Board shall consult
the students’ supervisor and shall ascertain that the period of study
conforms with that stipulated in regulations 7 and 8.
(2) When submitting a portofolio of composition/s students
4 ġ S.L.327.235
DOCTOR OF MUSIC - D. MUS. - AND 
MASTER OF MUSIC - M. MUS. - DEGREES COURSE
shall:
( a ) submit a signed declaration that the portofolio is their
own personal work, and that the greater portion of the
work has been done after their registration for the
Degree;
( b ) if a part of the portofolio of composition/s has already
been submitted for another degree or qualification or
the portofolio has been independently published, a
statement to this effect shall be included with it, and
the Board of Examiners shall recommend to Senate
whether the portofolio should be accepted for
examination or not.
(3) The dissertations must on no account have already been
submitted for any degree or diploma elsewhere, and must not have
been published independently by the student, entirely or
substantially.
Examination of 
portofolio of 
composition/s or 
performance 
programme and 
dissertation.
11. The portofolio of composition/s for these Degrees shall be
examined by a Board of Examiners appointed for the purpose by
Senate on the recommendation of the Board.
Board of 
Examiners.
12. The Board of Examiners for the Degrees shall consist of at
least three examiners, including a Chairman, an external examiner
and another member, provided that the  viva voce  examination shall
be conducted by at least three examiners, and provided that the
supervisor is precluded from being an examiner but is invited to
attend as an observer during the  viva voce  examination. (Clear
recordings of the performance "authenticated by examiners" must
be available for the non-visiting external examiner.)
Defence of 
portfolio.
13. (1) Students shall be required to defend their portofolio
orally before the Board of Examiners. The Board of Examiners
shall submit a final report to Senate stating whether the student
should be admitted to the degree, provided that, in the case of an
M.Mus. portofolio, if the external examiner is unable to take part in
the final deliberations of the Board of Examiners because of his
being abroad, it shall be lawful for the other members of the Board
of Examiners to take decisions in his absence so long as any views
he may have expressed in writing are taken into consideration and
the final decision is acceptable to him.
(2) In the case of performance, the dissertation must be
examined before the actual final performance takes place.
Revision of 
portfolio.
14. (1) After examining the portofolio of composition/s, the
Board of Examiners may refer it back to the student for revision
prior to his defending the portofolio.
(2) In the case indicated in subregulation (1), the student shall
apply to the Board for permission to submit the revised portofolio
for examination. The Board shall be guided in its decision by the
recommendations of the Board of Examiners but in all cases the
revised portofolio shall be submitted for examination within six
DOCTOR OF MUSIC - D. MUS. - AND 
MASTER OF MUSIC - M. MUS. - DEGREES COURSE ġ S.L.327.235 5
months of the portofolio being referred back to the student. Such
permission shall be granted once only.
(3) In the case of composition, a student who fails to satisfy the
Board of Examiners in the  viva voce  examination may, at the
discretion of the Board of Examiners and with the permission of the
Board, be re-examined orally within a period of six months. Such
permission shall be granted once only.
(4) If, in a performance, a student for any one of the Degrees
does not show a complete mastery of technique and interpretative
skills, the Board of Examiners may require a repeat of the
performance after a time decided upon by the Board.
(5) If a student for the D.Mus. degree does not satisfy the
Board of Examiners that his work has reached the standard required
for the award of the D.Mus. degree, the Board of Examiners may
recommend to Senate the award of an M.Mus. degree.
Dissertation format 
and presentation. - 
degrees by 
composition.
15. For the Degrees by composition students shall be required
to submit the following:
( a ) for the D.Mus. degree: the copies of the original
portofolio of works shall be presented on regular A3
music sheets with each work separately soft-bound.
The dissertation shall be of not less than 25,000 and
not more than 30,000 words, exclusive of notes,
bibliography, and appendices; and
( b ) for the M.Mus. degree: the copies of the original
portofolio of works shall be presented on regular A3
music sheets with all works soft-bound as a unit. The
dissertation shall be of not less than 15,000 words in
length, exclusive of notes, bibliography, and
appendices.
Dissertation format 
and presentation. - 
degrees by 
performance.
16. For the Degrees by performance students shall be required
to submit the following:
( a ) for the D.Mus. degree: the programme notes and
dissertation shall be in the standard document format
and shall be of not less than 25,000 and not more than
30,000 words in length, exclusive of notes,
bibliography, and appendices; and
( b ) for the M.Mus. degree: the programme notes and
dissertation shall be in the standard document format
and shall be of not less than 15,000 words in length,
exclusive of notes, bibliography, and appendices.
Copies.
should be presented to the Co-ordinator of the Music Studies
Programme for forwarding to the Board of Examiners.
Submission of 
hard-bound copies.
18. After the portofolio and dissertation are approved, the
students shall submit them in hard-bound form within not more
than six weeks from the  viva voce  examination.
Expenses.
composition/s are to be borne by the students.
