M.Ed. Board of Studies
Masters Programmes
The Faculty of Education is currently offering Masters programmes mainly by research that may be one of two
types:
(1) M.Ed. mainly by research that comprises of taught study units with a value of 30 credits and a
dissertation to which 60 credits are assigned. The areas currently on offer are:
Applied Language Studies
Health, Family and Consumer Studies
Italian Education
Science Education
(2) M.Ed. mainly by research that comprises of taught study-units with a value of 10 credits and a
dissertation study-unit to which 80 credits are assigned. The areas currently on offer are:
Art Education
Primary Science Education
Philosophy of Education
Politics of the Curriculum
Prison Education
Psychology Education
Sociology of Education
Maltese Language Teaching (from 2014)
French Education (from 2014)
The following procedures apply only for the M.Ed. by research that include an 80 ECTS dissertation.
Faculty of Education
March 2014
2
Procedures for M.Ed. by Research (80 ECTS dissertation)
To date procedures for the introduction of a new M.Ed. by research (10 taught credits and 80 credits
dissertation) has been based on individuals (co-ordinators) sending in a rationale indicating the need for the
M.Ed. by research, the areas of research on offer, and the number of students who can be supervised and
potential supervisors. The M.Ed. (Board of Studies) would like to recommend a new set of procedures to
avoid overlap in the areas of research on offer.
Expression of Interest
For M.Ed.s by research to be offered in October 2015:
1. In May 2014 the M.Ed. Board of Studies will issue an email through the respective Heads of Department,
asking members of the Faculty if they are interested in offering an M.Ed. by Research in a thematic area.
These areas should reflect current interests and expertise of members of the Faculty. This is in line with
University administrative procedures which state:
“Programmes of study shall be published by the Board after approval by Senate normally not less than eight
months prior to the commencement of the Course and shall indicate clearly the bye-laws in terms of which they
are being offered” (Master of Education, bye-law, No. 4)
Information regarding the M.Ed. by research, including aims and purpose, who is eligible to offer an M.Ed.
by research, role of course co-ordinator and dissertation supervisor, and student responsibilities, will be
provided. This information is currently being compiled as a set of guidelines for Faculty members and
prospective students.
2. The thematic areas may include the “traditional” subject area routes such as:
Science Education
Mathematics Education
Italian Education
Art Education
Philosophy of Education
Sociology of Education
Prison Education
Psychology of Education
Health, Family and Consumer Studies
3
However, colleagues can decide to collaborate on cross-departmental themes and introduce thematic areas
such as:
Assessment for Learning
Inquiry Based Learning
Children’s Literature
School Improvement
Second Language Education
Inclusive Education
3.
Members of staff interested in offering an M.Ed. by research should prepare a rationale, including topics
for research, number of students who can be accepted into the programme and names of potential
supervisors.
4.
For each M.Ed. by research, there should be a co-ordinator of the area, who administers the programme
and a team of supervisors who are eligible to supervise student dissertations in the area of research. In
some cases, the co-ordinator may decide to take on the supervision of students in the research area. In
other cases, additional supervisors may be included in the supervisory team as long as they satisfy the
eligibility criteria established by the M.Ed. Board of studies.
5. The co-ordinator of the M.Ed. by research should ideally propose a supervisory team (possibly including a
main and co-supervisor, but also provide names of other experts in the field who can assist in supervision
and also act as members of the Board of Examiners). This will enrich the research experience of students.
6. Heads of Department need to be informed about proposed M.Ed. by research initiatives in order to be
able to maintain a holistic picture of the roles taken on by individual members of staff as well as ensure an
equitable distribution of work. Heads of Department are required to endorse or otherwise a proposed
programme and communicate their recommendation (with explanatory notes as necessary) to the
proponent/s and the M.Ed. Board of Studies. Ultimately, the final decision to approve the proposed M.Ed.
by research rests with the M.Ed. Board of Studies).
7. The expression of interest shall be presented for approval to the M.Ed. (Board of Studies) by September
2014 and approved by the M.Ed. Board of Studies by October 2014.
8. In October 2014 the list of new M.Ed. by research for the various thematic areas shall be sent to the Faculty
Board for recommendations and subsequently forwarded for approval by Senate. The list of M.Eds by
research for the various thematic areas commencing October 2015 shall be published on the University
website. The Faculty website shall provide information into the various routes.
4
Application Procedures
1. In October/November 2014 the M.Ed. by research (both types) on offer by the Faculty of Education are
made available on the University website.
2. Around April/May 2015, the Faculty of Education website provides links to the various routes with
information regarding the rationale of the programme, the research areas, the co-ordinator of the
programme, the supervisors and the maximum number of students who can be accepted.
3. Selection criteria are made available online.
4. Prospective applicants may make contact with the co-ordinator of the programme indicated and
discuss potential areas of research.
5. The prospective applicants are required to submit a provisional title and a 300 word proposal (this has
to be indicated in the call for application and included with information regarding entry into the M.Ed.
by research and provided online).
6. The applications and proposals are reviewed by the co-ordinator of the specific M.Ed. In cases where
there are more applicants than can be accepted, candidates may be called in for an interview. The
M.Ed. Board of Studies also reserves the right to call candidates in for an interview in order to establish
whether the candidate can follow a research degree with profit.
7. The M.Ed. Board of Studies recommends a supervisory team to include a main supervisor and when
deemed to be of benefit for the student to expand the areas of expertise, a co-supervisor or advisor.
The M.Ed. Board of studies forwards its recommendations to Faculty Board.