DOCTOR OF LAWS - LL.D. - DEGREE COURSE ġ S.L.327.79 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.79
DOCTOR OF LAWS - LL.D. - DEGREE COURSE 
REGULATIONS
31st January, 1997
LEGAL NOTICE 9 of 1997, as amended by Legal Notices 179 of 1997,
52 of 1998, 115 of 2000 and 37 of 2002.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Doctor of Laws -
LL.D. - Degree Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Laws;
"the course" means the course leading to the Degree of Doctor of
Laws;
"the Degree" means the Degree of Doctor of Laws.
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 179 of 1997;
L.N. 52 of 1998;
L.N. 115 of 2000;
L.N. 37 of 2002.
2. These regulations shall be applicable for courses starting in
October 2002 or later.
Eligibility for the 
Degree.
3. To be eligible for the Degree a candidate shall:
( a ) be registered as a matriculated student in terms of the
Admission Regulations of the University;
( b ) complete the course of studies, qualify in the
examinations and satisfy any other requirements
prescribed in these regulations; and
( c ) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other
relevant statutes and regulations of the University.
Special course 
requirements.
Amended by:
L.N. 179 of 1997;
L.N. 37 of 2002.
4. (1) To be registered in the course a candidate shall, in
addition to satisfying the conditions specified in the Admission
Regulations of the University, satisfy the following special course
requirements:
( a ) have obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Legal
and Humanistic Studies with at least category IIB;
( b ) have obtained at least 54 credits in the law area and
have at least a Grade C average in the final
examinations held in that area; and
( c ) have obtained passes in English and in Maltese at
Intermediate Level or higher:
Provided that students who had commenced their
studies for the Matriculation Certificate Examination
in October 2001 shall not be required to be in
possession of these passes.
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(2) The Board may recommend the admission of an applicant
who is not a citizen of Malta and who is not in possession of passes
in English and/or in Maltese at Intermediate Level or higher,
provided that it is satisfied that the applicant is proficient in the
English language to an equivalent level.
(3) A candidate who is a graduate of a University, or has other
qualifications considered to be sufficient, may be exempted by the
Admissions Board, on the advice of the Faculty Admissions
Committee, from the whole or part of these special course
requirements.
(4) Candidates in possession of the B.A. in Legal and
Humanistic Studies who do not have the necessary requirements to
register for the course in terms of subregulation (1)( a ) and ( b ), as
well as candidates in possession of a degree in law other then the
B.A. in Legal and Humanistic Studies that is considered by the
Board to be of an equivalent standard, may be allowed by the Board
to register for a qualifying year of studies at the end of which they
will be required to sit final examinations in the Law subjects
followed during the qualifying year. Such candidates will become
eligible to be admitted to the course leading to the degree of Doctor
of Laws if they pass the final examinations and obtain an average
Grade C in these examinations.
Course structure. 5. (1) The programme of studies shall extend over three
years, and shall be divided into two parts: Part One and Part Two.
(2) The Board may require candidates to register before each
year of the course for those study-units indicated by it.
(3) The Board shall draw up a schedule of study-units and of
the credits assigned to each. The Board may amend such schedule
from time to time as it may deem advisable, provided this is done
before the beginning of the academic year.
(4) The Board may exempt a candidate from the requirement
of obtaining a credit 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 credit concerned.
Part One of course. 6. (1) Part One shall extend over the first four semesters of
the course. To complete Part One of the course a candidate must
obtain a minimum of 55 credits, of which 27 shall be taken in the
first two semesters.
(2) A candidate who fails to obtain a minimum number of
credits in the first two semesters shall not be allowed to proceed to
the next semester.
(3) A candidate who obtains the minimum number of credits
prescribed in subregulation (1) shall be allowed to sit for the final
examinations at the end of Part One.
(4) A candidate who fails to obtain the necessary number of
credits or fails in the final examinations shall not be allowed to
proceed to Part Two of the course, saving the provisions of
regulation 12.
DOCTOR OF LAWS - LL.D. - DEGREE COURSE ġ S.L.327.79 3
Part Two.
10 credits shall be assigned, the submission of a thesis and a final
oral examination on the subject thereof: provided that no candidate
shall be allowed to submit his thesis to the Board before he has
been approved in the final examinations at the end of Part One of
the course.
Progress.
grades in descending order of merit: A, B, C, D and F, where F
indicates Failed.
(2) A candidate who fails to obtain a credit for a study-unit is
allowed to be re-tested once. In the re-assessment, the student’s
credit shall be graded either D or F.
Final 
examinations.
Amended by:
L.N. 115 of 2000.
9. (1) Final examinations shall be held at the end of Part One
of the course, normally in June, and shall consist of one paper in
each of the subjects studied, provided that, whenever it deems
necessary, the Board of Examiners for any paper may also require a
candidate or candidates to submit to a  viva voce  examination.
(2) To satisfy the final examination requirement, a candidate
must be successful in each subject.
(3) A candidate who fails in any one or more of the subjects
shall have a supplementary session in September in the failed
subject or subjects.
(4) The mark or grade obtained in a supplementary
examination shall either be the minimum pass mark or grade, or
Failed.
(5) The Board of Examiners shall issue a notice calling the
students to the  viva voce  examination at least three days prior to the
viva voce  examination.
Thesis.
Amended by:
L.N. 52 of 1988.
10. (1) The subject of the thesis referred to in regulation 7
shall be submitted by a candidate for the approval of the Board at
any time after the candidate has been admitted to the course but,
unless there is a good and sufficient cause to the satisfaction of the
Board, not later than the end of the fourth semester of the course.
(2) The Board shall, after the approval of the subject of the
thesis, appoint:
( a ) a tutor to direct and supervise the work of the
candidate; and
( b ) a Board of Examiners composed of three persons to
examine the thesis.
(3) A candidate may submit his thesis for the approval of the
Faculty Board after he has completed Part One.
(4) A candidate, who, for a reason considered justified by the
Faculty Board, does not submit the thesis before the end of the
sixth semester of the course, may submit it for the approval of the
Faculty Board within a period of two years following the final year.
The said period of two years may be extended further by Senate for
a good and sufficient cause.
(5) The thesis shall be an original work on the approved
4 ġ S.L.327.79 DOCTOR OF LAWS - LL.D. - DEGREE COURSE
subject or other contribution to the knowledge thereof showing that
the candidate has carried out sufficient research therein.
(6) The thesis shall be presented in such format, be of such
length and be submitted in such number of copies as the Faculty
Board may direct. The Faculty Board may also require students to
submit a copy of the thesis in an agreed electronically readable
format.
(7) The candidate, when submitting his thesis, shall sign a
declaration stating that it is his own personal work and specifying
expressly if it has been previously submitted or is concurrently
being submitted in candidature for another degree or diploma. In
such case the student shall also state what part of it has been or is
being so submitted and the Faculty Board shall have the right to
decide whether to accept or not such thesis.
(8) The Board of Examiners shall, within such time as may be
determined by the Faculty Board, submit a report to the Faculty
Board on the merits of the thesis and as to whether it satisfies the
requirements of subregulation (5).
(9) If the report of the Board of Examiners is favourable, the
candidate shall be required to undergo a final oral examination
before a Committee of the Faculty Board. The said Committee shall
be composed of the members of the Board of Examiners appointed
to examine the thesis and the members of the Faculty Board. The
quorum at meetings of the said Committee shall consist of two
members of the Board of Examiners and two members of the
Faculty Board. The said Committee shall be chaired by the Dean of
the Faculty and in his absence by a Chairman elected by the
Committee.
(10) The Committee shall report to the Faculty Board on the
result of the oral examination mentioned in this regulation.
(11) The Faculty Board, shall, after the receipt of such report,
cause the names of candidates who qualify for the award of the
Degree to be published on the notice board of the University in
alphabetical order.
Diploma of Notary 
Public (N.P.).
11. Candidates who, in accordance with these regulations,
during the first two semesters obtain a minimum of 25 credits in the
study-units indicated by the Board for the purpose, shall be entitled
to register for the examination for the award of the Diploma of
Notary Public and if successful shall be entitled to such Diploma.
Such examination shall be held at the end of those two semesters
and a resit shall be allowed within three months in any subject or
subjects failed.
Rejoining of 
course.
Amended by:
L.N. 115 of 2000.
12. (1) A candidate who has interrupted his course of studies
or who has failed to obtain the necessary credits in Part One of the
course or failed the final examinations at the end of that Part may
be allowed by the Board to rejoin the course in such year as the
Board may deem appropriate and in so doing the Board may require
such student to sit for such further examinations, besides those
specified in regulation 9(1), as it may deem necessary.
(2) In no case shall a candidate complete his course of studies
DOCTOR OF LAWS - LL.D. - DEGREE COURSE ġ S.L.327.79 5
in a period longer than four years except with the special
permission of Senate, for a good and sufficient cause.
(3) Candidates who were following the LL.D. course under the
regulations in force prior to the present regulations and had
interrupted their course of studies or failed in a particular year at
any time after the third year of that course may be allowed by the
Board to join the Course notwithstanding that such candidates have
not previously obtained the B.A. degree specified in regulation 4,
and this in such semester and under such conditions as the Board
may deem necessary.
Transitory 
provision.
Added by:
L.N. 179 of 1997.
13. Regulation 4(3) shall apply to all candidates applying to
register for courses commencing in October 1997 or later.
