DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - PH.D. - AND MASTER OF 
PHILOSOPHY - M.PHIL. - DEGREES COURSE  ġ S.L.327.101 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.101
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - PH.D. - AND MASTER 
OF PHILOSOPHY - M.PHIL. - DEGREES COURSE 
REGULATIONS
30th January, 1998
LEGAL NOTICE 31 of 1998, as amended by Legal Notices 84 of 2001
and 54 of 2003.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Doctor of
Philosophy - Ph.D. - and Master of Philosophy - M.Phil. - Degrees
Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty or Institute where
the research will be carried out;
"the Committee  means the M.Phil. / Ph.D. Committee;
"the courses" means the courses leading to the Degree of Doctor
of Philosophy - Ph.D. - and of Master of Philosophy- M.Phil.;
"the Degrees" means the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D.
- and of Master of Philosophy - M.Phil.
Applicability.
Amended by:
L.N. 84 of 2001;
L.N. 54 of 2003.
2. These regulations shall be applicable from 1st October
2002 onwards.
Award of Degrees.
defence of a thesis containing original and significant contributions
to knowledge in one of the disciplines studied at the University.
(2) The M.Phil. degree shall be awarded upon the successful
defence of a dissertation based on original research.
Committee 
appointed by 
Senate.
4. (1) Applications for registration for the Degrees shall be
accepted by Senate, on the recommendations of the Board and of an
M.Phil. / Ph.D. Committee appointed by the Senate for this
purpose.
(2) The Committee shall be appointed for three years and shall
be composed as follows:
the Rector (or his delegate) as Chairman
three members elected from and by the Senate
the Registrar as Secretary
the Dean of the Faculty or Director of the Institute in
which the candidate plans to carry out his research, co-
opted.
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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - PH.D. - AND MASTER OF 
PHILOSOPHY - M.PHIL. - DEGREES COURSE 
Registration for 
Degrees.
Amended by:
L.N. 54 of 2003.
5. (1) The Committee shall consider applications for the
Ph.D. degree from candidates who possess a Master’s 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.Phil.
degree from candidates who possess a good Honours degree
(normally not below Second Class (Upper)) of the University of
Malta or another University or qualifications of comparable
standard recognised for this purpose by the Senate.
(3) In addition to the qualifications specified in subregulations
(1) and (2), candidates shall possess such qualifications and satisfy
such other conditions as the Board may from time to time establish
for the purpose and which shall be approved by Senate in the form
of bye-laws.
(4) Applications for the Degrees shall include the following:
( a ) the proposed title of the thesis / dissertation;
( b ) a detailed research proposal, normally of
approximately 1000 words;
( 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 head of the department or
the division co-ordinator that the topic of research is
acceptable.
(5) The Committee shall submit to Senate all applications
which satisfy the requirements under subregulations (1) to (4).
Senate may accept such applications and may impose such
conditions as it deems fit.
Duration of 
studies.
Amended by:
L.N. 54 of 2003.
6. (1) Studies for the Ph.D. 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;
( 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) A Ph.D. thesis 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
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - PH.D. - AND MASTER OF 
PHILOSOPHY - M.PHIL. - DEGREES COURSE  ġ S.L.327.101 3
the Board and the Committee, may give permission for the
submission of a Ph.D. thesis after the equivalent of two years of
full-time study have expired from the date of first registration.
Studies for the 
M.Phil. degree.
Amended by:
L.N. 54 of 2003.
7. (1) Studies for the M.Phil. 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 studies;
( b ) not less than 30 months and not more than 5 years in
the case of part-time studies.
(2) An M.Phil. dissertation 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.
8. (1) Students are required to register at the Faculty or
Institute concerned 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.
Transfer of 
registration.
9. (1) Senate may allow a transfer of registration from the
M.Phil. degree to the Ph.D. degree with the same research proposal
if the following conditions have been satisfied:
( a ) fifteen months of full-time study or thirty months of
part-time study have elapsed;
( b ) a satisfactory progress report from the student’s
supervisor has been received
( c ) a board appointed by the Board for the purpose,
composed of a chairman, the student’s supervisor and
another member, has assessed the student’s work and
has certified that it has reached the standard of at least
a laster’s degree; and
( d ) the Board and the Committee have recommended the
transfer.
(2) If the transfer is allowed by Senate, the work already done
for the M.Phil. degree will count towards the requirements for the
Ph.D. degree.
Submission of 
theses / 
dissertations.
10. (1) Not less than three months before the intended date of
submission, students shall apply to the Board for permission to
present the thesis / dissertation stating its exact title. Before giving
permission, the Board shall consult the students’ supervisor and
shall ascertain that the period of study conforms with that
stipulated in regulations 6 and 7.
(2) When submitting a thesis / dissertation, students shall:
( a ) submit a signed declaration that the thesis /
dissertation 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 thesis / dissertation has already been
4 ġ S.L.327.101
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - PH.D. - AND MASTER OF 
PHILOSOPHY - M.PHIL. - DEGREES COURSE 
submitted for another degree or qualification or the
thesis / dissertation has been independently published,
a statement to this effect shall be included with it, and
the Board of Examiners set up under regulation 11(1)
shall recommend to Senate whether the thesis /
dissertation should be accepted for examination or not.
Examination of 
theses / 
dissertations.
Amended by:
L.N. 84 of 2001.
11. (1) Theses / dissertations for these Degrees shall be
examined by a Board of Examiners appointed for the purpose by
Senate on the recommendation of the Board.
(2) The Board of Examiners shall consist of at least three
examiners including a Chairman, an external examiner and another
member, provided that the oral examination of the thesis /
dissertation 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 oral examination.
(3) Students shall be required to defend their thesis /
dissertation 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.Phil. dissertation, 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.
Thesis / 
dissertation may be 
referred back.
12. (1) After examining the thesis / dissertation, the Board of
Examiners may refer it back to the student for revision prior to his
defending the thesis / dissertation orally.
(2) In cases indicated in subregulation (1), the student shall
apply to the Board for permission to submit the revised thesis /
dissertation for examination. The Board shall be guided in its
decision by the recommendations of the Board of Examiners but in
all cases the revised thesis / dissertation shall be submitted for
examination within six months of the original thesis / dissertation
being referred back to the student. Such permission shall be granted
once only.
(3) A student who fails to satisfy the Board of Examiners in
the oral 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 a student for the Ph.D. degree does not satisfy the Board
of Examiners that his thesis has reached the standard required for
the award of a Ph.D. degree, the Board of Examiners may
recommend to Senate the award of an M.Phil. degree.
Bye-Laws. 13. The Senate may, on the recommendation of each Board,
draw up bye-laws governing the Degrees to regulate matters not
covered by these regulations.
