Legal Notice 185 of 2003 – Malta Government Gazette No. 17,449 – 22 July 2003
Amended by:
Legal Notice 244 of 2007 – Malta Government Gazette No. 18,119 – 28 August 2007
EDUCATION ACT
(CAP. 327)
Doctor of Music - D.Mus. - and Master of Music - M.Mus. - Degrees
Course Regulations, 2003
IN exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 30 (5) and
31 (6) of the Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor of the University of
Malta has promulgated the following regulations made by the Senate of the
University of Malta by virtue of the powers conferred upon it by sections 31
and 35 of the said Act:
Citation and Interpretation
1. (1) These regulations may be cited as the Doctor of Music - D.Mus. and
Master of Music - M.Mus. - Degrees Course Regulations, 2003.
(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
2. These regulations shall be applicable from October 2002 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 portfolio of new
and original compositions that includes large scale work such as opera or oratorio
during a viva voce examination; or
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(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. All the recitals, including the chamber
music performances, except for the final recital, shall be assessed by the supervisor
and at least another examiner. They shall use standard criteria and assign a mark
and grade which shall contribute towards the final result. The final recital together
with the dissertation shall be assessed under normal examination conditions and
shall be given a weighting of 65%; or
(c) by research in musicology: successfully present a critical and analytic
edition of a score of major proportions and historical significance available in
manuscript form or dated version and its successful defence 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 portfolio of new and original
compositions followed by a viva voce examination; or
(b) by performance: successfully present three public recitals, and
successfully defend a dissertation on the subject of performance during a viva voce
examination. Two of the recitals shall be assessed by the supervisor and at least
another examiner. They shall use standard criteria and assign a mark and grade
which shall contribute towards the final result. The final recital together with the
dissertation shall be assessed under normal examination conditions and shall be
given a weighting of 65%; or
(c) by research in musicology: successfully present a critical and
analytic edition of a score of major proportions and significance available in
manuscript form or dated version and its successful defence during a viva voce
examination.
Committee appointed by Senate
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.
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6. (1) The Committee shall consider applications for the D.Mus. degree
from candidates who possess a Master of Music degree of this 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
this 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 this 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.
(4) The Committee shall submit to Senate all applications which satisfy
the requirements under paragraphs (1) to (3) of this regulation. Senate may accept
such applications and may impose such conditions as it deems fit.
Duration of Studies
7.
periods:
(1)
Studies for the D.Mus. degree shall extend over the following
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(a) not less than three years and not more than five years in the case of fulltime 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 paragraph (2) of regulation
3 for the D.Mus. degree shall not be considered if submitted later than the maximum
period allowed in paragraph (1) of this regulation, 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 sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1)
of this regulation, 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 portfolio 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.
8.
periods:
(1) Studies for the M.Mus. degree shall extend over the following
(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 paragraph (2) of regulation
3 for the M.Mus. degree shall not be considered if submitted later than the maximum
period allowed in paragraph (1) of this regulation, 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.
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Submission of Portfolio 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 portfolio 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 portfolio of composition/s students shall:
(a) submit a signed declaration that the portfolio 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 portfolio of composition/s has already been submitted for
another degree or qualification or the portfolio 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 portfolio 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 Portfolio of Composition/s or Performance Programme and
Dissertation
11. The portfolio 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.
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.)
13. (1) Students shall be required to defend their portfolio 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. portfolio, 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
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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.
14. (1) After examining the portfolio of composition/s, the Board of
Examiners may refer it back to the student for revision prior to his defending the
portfolio.
(2) In the case indicated in paragraph (1) of this regulation, the student
shall apply to the Board for permission to submit the revised portfolio for
examination. The Board shall be guided in its decision by the recommendations of
the Board of Examiners but in all cases the revised portfolio shall be submitted for
examination within six months of the portfolio 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.
Classification of Awards
15. The D.Mus. degree shall not be classified. The M.Mus. degree shall be
classified as follows:
Pass with distinction
Pass.
Dissertation Format and Presentation
16. For the Degrees by composition students shall be required to submit the
following:
(a) for the D.Mus. degree: the copies of the original portfolio of works shall
be presented on regular A3 music sheets with each work separately soft-bound. The
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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 portfolio 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.
17. 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.
18. For the Degrees by research in musicology, 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 80,000 and not more than
100,000 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 40,000 and not more than
50,000 words in length, exclusive of notes, bibliography and appendices.
19. Following formal approval by the supervisor, four copies should be
presented to the Co-ordinator of the Music Studies Programme for forwarding to the
Board of Examiners.
20. After the portfolio and dissertation are approved, the students shall
submit them in hard-bound form within not more than six weeks from the viva voce
examination.
21. Any expenses related to the performance and portfolio of composition/s
are to be borne by the students.
11 September 2007
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