S.L. 327.669 Art. 65Assessment of Dissertations for Master’s Degree.

(1) Dissertations presented for a Master’s degree shall:

(a) be work of an advanced or original nature in the Area of Study;

(b) satisfy the Board of Examiners as regards content and presentation; and

(c) fulfil the requirements as provided by relevant Bye-Laws and guidelines as regards format and length.

(2) For Dissertations assigned 60 ECTS credits or more, the Board of Examiners, after reading and marking the dissertation shall call the student to an oral examination, except when the Board of Examiners agrees that the Dissertation is of poor quality, in which case a failing mark and grade shall be published. A second oral examination may be held at the discretion of the Board of Examiners in cases of resubmission of Dissertations following major corrections or re-examination of failed Dissertations. In cases of poor quality Dissertations where a failing mark and grade have been published, without the student having been called to an oral examination, the Board of Examiners shall hold the oral examination in the re-assessment;

(3) For Dissertations assigned less than 60 ECTS credits:

(i) an oral examination shall be held if it is indicated in the Method of Assessment of the Dissertation Study-Unit. A second oral examination may be held at the discretion of the Board of Examiners in cases of resubmission of Dissertations following major corrections or resubmission of failed Dissertations;

(ii) if an oral examination is not indicated in the Method of Assessment of the Dissertation Study-Unit it may be held in cases of borderline Dissertations verging on a fail, in cases of re-examination of failed Dissertations, or in cases where there is lack of consensus among the Board of Examiners.

(4) For any other work submitted or carried out in replacement of the Dissertation requirement, students shall be guided by the guidelines issued by the Board or as detailed in the course Bye-Laws.

(5) Principal supervisors shall, after confirming with the Faculty administrator that the student is eligible to submit the dissertation in terms of regulation 60 (6), signify in writing, on the appropriate form, that they are aware that the student is submitting his/her Dissertation for examination by the Board of Examiners.

(6) The supervisory role of Principal supervisors and co-supervisors shall cease when the Dissertation is submitted for examination. The role may be re-assumed, on the advice of the Board of Examiners, in order to provide guidance to students whose Dissertation is referred back for significant correction pending final acceptance.

(7) No Dissertation shall be accepted which is identical in substance to a document already submitted for a degree in this or any other university or to any other published material. Students shall not, however, be precluded from incorporating such previous work as may be necessary to the presentation and fuller understanding of their exposition, provided that the nature and extent of such incorporation are clearly indicated in the Dissertation itself.