UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
PROGRAMME VALIDATION COMMITTEE
Study-Unit Approval
The process for the approval of new or amended study-units is similar to that for new
programmes of study, in that it requires the completion of an approval form which must
be submitted to the Programme Validation Committee (PVC), via APQRU (refer to
diagram). The study-unit approval form should be used in all cases when a proposal to
introduce a new study-unit, or modify an existing one, is being put forward. Please note
that this only applies in the case of major amendments to a study-unit.
SENATE
4
APQRU
3
PROGRAMME
VALIDATION
COMMITTEE
2
DEPARTMENT
1
LECTURER
(Departments)
Study-unit Approval Route
Major Amendments to Study-units
A major amendment to a study-unit is one that involves a change in:
•
learning outcomes
•
level of study
•
credit value
•
method of assessment or the relative weighting of assessment components
•
title due to a change in content
Where major amendments to a study-unit add up to a substantial change, a new code will
be required. Changes are considered as substantial where, without the new code, the
transcript information held in the historical student record could be misleading, or where
it is not possible to ensure parity for any student retaking the study-unit in a subsequent
year. A new code is always required for:
•
a change in the title which signifies a change in content
•
a change in the level of study
•
changes in credit value which are accompanied by a substantial increase or
decrease in the content of the study-unit
Minor Amendments to Study-units
Minor amendments to study-units are all of those changes that relate to the content (e.g.
necessary updates to keep the content in line with scientific developments) teaching
delivery or student experience, but are not defined as major amendments above. Minor
amendments must not affect the title, learning outcomes, objectives, level of study, or
credit weighting.
Guidance Concerning Individual Sections of the Study-unit Approval Form
SECTION A – General
A1. Study-unit code: Recommend to the Office of the Registrar a unique code
comprising 3 letters indicating the department, division or programme and 4 digits.
New codes for departments, divisions or programmes are assigned by the Office of
the Registrar on the recommendation of the Faculty, Institute or Centre concerned
The first digit indicates the level at which the study-unit concerned is offered. The
second, third and fourth digits are the numbers assigned to each study-unit by the
department/division/programme board offering the study-unit. For a detailed
explanation of how to assign digits refer to Schedule 1 of the harmonised
regulations.
A2. Study-unit title: please ensure that the title is as concise as possible,
informative and unique
A3. Level: Indicate at which level the study-unit is being offered, and whether it
contributes towards an undergraduate or a postgraduate award. For full details of
the levels of study-units refer to schedule 1 of the General Regulations for
University Undergraduate Awards
A4. ECTS credits: The number of credits allocated to a particular study-unit is
related to the student workload required to complete it. In allocating credit value,
revision of earlier work that is already credited should not be taken into account.
Click here for a detailed explanation of the allocation of credit value, available in
Schedule 2 of the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards
A5. Study-unit type: Indicate what type of study-unit is being proposed e.g.
lecture, clinical, etc. Refer to the list of types of study-units at the end of this
document
A6. Period of study: Indicate when the proposed study-unit would be delivered
i.e. semester 1, semester 2, year, or summer period
A7. Number of occurrences in same semester: If this study-unit will be delivered
to more than one group of students concurrently, please indicate the number of
occurrences in the same semester
A8. Department offering unit: Insert here the name of the Department which will
be in charge of delivering this study-unit
A9. Faculty responsible: Insert here the name of the Faculty which has overall
responsibility for the study-unit
A10. Availability to visiting students: Indicate whether this study-unit can be
made available to students visiting for a specified period of time. Year study-units
cannot be taken by students who are only visiting for one semester
A11. Estimated student numbers: How many students are expected to register for
and follow this study-unit?
A12. Maximum class size: What is the upper limit on the number of students who
can register for and follow this study-unit? In considering this issue, take into
account whether the existing resources are sufficient to enable the study-unit to be
delivered according to standards acceptable to the University, and to ensure that
students are adequately supported and provided for. In exceptional cases, a
maximum number of students may be indicated for particular study-units
SECTION B – Rationale
B1. Indicate whether this approval form is being submitted for the purpose of
proposing a new study-unit or to request a change to an existing study-unit
B2. Rationale for new unit or changes to existing unit: Briefly explain the
reasons for introducing or amending the study-unit
B3. From which academic year will this unit become available/change?
Indicate the academic year in which the new or modified study-unit will be offered
for the first time
B4. Withdrawals (new study-units only): If the study-unit is being proposed as a
replacement for an existing study-unit, please indicate which study-unit is being
replaced
B5. By which Departmental or Faculty Committee has this study-unit been
approved? Reference should be made to the dates of respective meetings
SECTION C – Study-unit details
C1. Name and status of Coordinating Lecturer: Provide the name and status
(i.e. senior lecturer, lecturer etc.) of the coordinating lecturer who is responsible for
this study-unit. The coordinating lecturer will normally be a permanent member of
staff, who is accessible to students and to whom all queries concerning the studyunit can be addressed. If lecturing is to be delivered by an occasional lecturer
(those without a Council appointment), a curriculum vitae for the individual will
need to be forwarded.
Co-lecturers (if any) and status: If more than one lecturer will contribute to the
delivery of this study-unit, provide the names and status of each contributing
lecturer
C2. Is this study-unit compulsory for any programme of studies? Is this studyunit offered as an elective in any programme of studies? Programmes which use
this study-unit are to be grouped into two lists: firstly programmes in which the
study-unit is compulsory; secondly, programmes in which the study-unit is an
optional or elective element
C3. Pre-requisite qualifications (if any): In the case of study-units taken by
students in the first semester of the first year of a course, entry requirements are
assumed to be those for entry to the course and need not be given. For other studyunits any requirements additional to entry or normal progression should be stated.
The requirements should be consistent with the aims and level of the study-unit
C4. Pre-requisite study-units (if any): List any study-units for which students are
required to have obtained credit prior to registering for the proposed study-unit
C5. Co-requisite study-units (if any): Indicate whether students are required to
follow any study-units during the same semester as the proposed unit
C6. Description of this study-unit: A brief statement of the general content of the
study-unit is to be provided here. This statement will be used for any publication
purposes related to the course
C7. Study-unit aims: Provide a brief, but clear, overall impression of the
educational purposes of the unit, ensuring that they are consistent with, and
contribute to, the aims of the programme(s) of which the unit is a part
C8. Learning Outcomes: These are statements that specify what learners will
know or be able to do as a result of following the study-unit. In this section, the
skills and knowledge which students will acquire or develop during the study-unit
should be listed briefly, ensuring that these learning outcomes contribute to the
learning outcomes of the overall programme(s) of which the unit forms part. More
information on how to write effective learning outcomes is available from
Birmingham City University
C9. Teaching and learning methods: Give details of the teaching and learning
methods that will be used for the delivery of this study-unit, which could include
the number of sessions which will make use of each method, as well as the duration
of each
C10. Method of assessment: Indicate which method of assessment will be used
for the study-unit. If the assessment consists of two or more components (e.g.
essay and exam) the percentage weighting for each component is to be clearly
indicated. If the assessment consists of an examination, the duration of this
examination should be indicated.
C11. Recommended reading and references: Provide a list of the main text and
any supplementary readings for this study-unit, indicating against each entry
whether these items are available at the library, and distinguishing clearly between
required readings and supplementary readings.
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
MODULE TYPES FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE COURSES
In principle, the Module type should indicate to the students the method of teaching of the unit.
Module Type
Code
APL
Revised Module
Type Code
APL
CLIN
EXC
CLIN
EXC
EXT
FLDW
INDS
LECT
PERF
PLAC
PRAC
PRAT
PROJ
SEMI
SSU
THES
TRF
EXT
FLDWK
INDS
LECT
PERF
PLAC
PRAC
PRAT
PROJ
SEMINAR
SSU
THES
TRF
TUT
TUT
Full name
Description
Accreditation of Prior
Learning
Clinical Practice
Extracurricular StudyUnit
External Study-Unit
Fieldwork
Independent Study
Lectures
Performance
Placement
Practical Study-Unit
Practicum
Project
Seminar
Synoptic Study-Unit
Thesis
Study-unit transferred
from
another UoM course
Tutorial
Notes
Code used for work
done prior to admission
to a course.
A period of instruction
given by a tutor aimed
at exploring in greater
depth, revising and
discussing material and
topics presented within
a unit.
These module types have been used in the past but will no longer be used:
Module Type
Code
CASE
DISS
EXAM
LESS
STAN
T&O
Revised Module
Type Code
CASE
DISS
EXAM
LESS
STAN
THESIS & ORAL
PRT
RES
T&P
PROG TEST
RES PAPER
T&P
09-Apr-07
MOT-Apr07
Full name
Case Study
Dissertation
Examination Paper
Long Essay
Standard Study-Unit
Thesis and Oral
Examination
Progress Test
Research Paper
Taught and Practical
Description
Notes
Do not use
Do not use
Do not use
Do not use
Do not use
Do not use
Do not use
Do not use
Do not use