15 - Malta - Certification
Non-university Tertiary Education
The
Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) certifies all its
Level 4 programmes during graduation held each year. For some
programmes certification is issued jointly by Edexcel/Business and
Technology Education Council (BTEC) and MCAST, whilst for other
programmes certification is issued by MCAST or the examining body as
the case may be.
The entitlement to certification is automatic
for students who satisfy all the criteria establish for the course and
no overall grading is provided unless this is offered by the external
awarding body with whom the candidates sat for their final examinations.
MCAST
has adopted a policy of graduating all students who manage to satisfy
all the criteria for the programme, irrespective of the year when
achievement is finally obtained. This recognizes the fact that a number
of students may require more time to successfully complete their
studies. It also rewards the effort, persistence and commitment of the
candidates in following the programme to the very end.
University Tertiary Education
The University issues accredited Certificates and Diplomas and Degrees at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate levels.
The Certificates awarded by the University are unclassified.
The Diplomas may be awarded ‘With Distinction’ or ‘Pass’.
Ordinary
degrees are of three years’ duration during which a student must
accumulate a total of 180 ECTS credits of which not more than 4 at
Level 0, not less than 56 at Level 1, 56 at Level 2 and 56 at Level 3.
Such degrees may be awarded in any of the following categories:
- Category I
- Category II A
- Category II B
- Category III.
Honours
degrees may be either of 3 years, 4 years or of 5 years full-time
study. The three-year Honours degree is awarded in one area of study
and requires the accumulation of 180 ECTS credits of which not more
than 4 at Level 0, not less than 56 at Level 1, 56 at Level 2 and 56 at
Level 3, the latter all in the area taken at honours. The four-year
honours degree is awarded in two areas of study and requires the
accumulation of 240 ECTS credits of which not more than 4 at Level 0,
not less than 56 at Level 1, 56 at Level 2 and 112 at Level 3 and Level
4.
The Levels 3 and 4 units are divided equally between the two
areas taken at honours. In the case of a 4–year full-time honours
professional degree the professional units will be at Level 4. The
5-year honours degree requires the accumulation of 300 ECTS credits of
which not more than 4 at Level 0, not less than 56 at Level 1, 56 at
Level 2 and a further 168 at Levels 3 and 4.
The honours degree may be awarded in any of the following classes:
- First Class Honours
- Second Class Honours (Upper Division)
- Second Class Honours (Lower Division)
- Third Class Honours
The
classification of awards is determined by the Award Classification
Board in accordance with criteria that are indicated in the general
regulations and in the course bye-laws and that are made subject to the
following provisions: (a) the performance in study-units in a
Certificate or Diploma Course Programme is normally weighted equally
except that, in the case of Diploma programmes that include Level 2
study-units (study-units offered in Year 2 of an undergraduate course),
such units may be weighted by a factor that is not more than twice that
of Level 1 units (study units normally offered in Year 1 of an
undergraduate course); (b) In degree programmes the performance in
study-units of each year of the course may be weighted differently
towards the Final Weighted Average Mark, provided that the weighting of
the study-units of any particular year is not more than 65%.
Award
Classification Boards consult the following guidelines when deciding on
the classification of awards at the end of each course:
a Diploma is normally awarded ‘With Distinction’ to students whose Final Weighted Average Mark is not less than 80%;
The
Award Classification Board, at its own discretion, may award the degree
with a higher category or class than that indicated to students whose
Final Weighted Average Mark is up to five marks less than the threshold
(minimum) for the category / class. In such cases the Award
Classification Board is required to minute the decision and the
justification for it.
The Award Classification Board may also
award a diploma or degree with a lower category / class than that
indicated in the above guidelines. In such cases the Classification
Board is required to obtain the authorisation of the Board of the
Faculty or Institute or Centre responsible for the particular course
that will minute the decision and the justification for it. The
student/s concerned may appeal to Senate against the decision within
two weeks of the publication of the Final Classification.
Certificates, diplomas and degrees awarded by the University of Malta enjoy international recognition.
The
University awards the Master of Philosophy – M.Phil. - degree on the
successful defence of a dissertation based on original research. The
applicant for registration of the M.Phil. degree must be in possession
of a good Honours degree (normally not below Second Class – Upper) of
the University of Malta or another university or qualifications of
comparable standard recognised of this purpose by the University’s
Senate. Studies for a M.Phil. degree extend over the following periods;
(a) not less than 15 months and not more than 3 years in the case of
full-time study; (b) not less than 30 months and not more than 5 years
in the case of part-time studies.
The University awards the
Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. - degree on the successful defence of a
thesis containing original and significant contributions to knowledge
in one of the disciplines studied at the University. The applicant for
registration for a Ph.D. must be in possession of a Master’s degree of
the University of Malta or of another university or qualifications of a
comparable standard recognised for the purpose by the University’s
Senate. Studies for a Ph.D degree extend over the following periods:
(a) not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years in the case of
full-time studies; (b) not less than 4 years and not more than 8 years
(which should normally include one year of full-time study) in the case
of part-time studies.
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
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