Biology courses

About Master Of Science In Biology in University of Malta

This programme of study is also offered on a part-time basis. Please consult the Registrar’s website for more information pertaining to courses offered by the University.

Students are required to write a dissertation based on research work of an advanced and original nature performed by them during the Course. The dissertation, to which 85 credits are assigned, will describe this research and present results and conclusions in a scholarly manner.

The dissertation will generally be laboratory/field-based (i.e. experimental/observational) in nature although in specific cases it would be acceptable for the work to be based on literature research, provided that an original contribution is made (e.g. meta-analysis, modelling etc). The dissertation must be based on work of a sufficiently advanced nature performed by the student during the course, and should produce results that are publishable in the mainstream scientific literature. The work should demonstrate that through the project, the student has gained experience in biological research and is able to set up a research problem, plan experiments and/or observations, present and analyse data and draw logical conclusions from the results obtained. 

Students are also required to give a Seminar to which 5 ECTS credits are assigned. This will consist of a presentation to be given to an audience that will include the Board of Examiners (i.e. the Panel of Supervision in its assessment function). The presentation shall consist of the student’s appraisal of a subject area related to the dissertation project but which does not directly form part of the dissertation or include a discussion of the results of the dissertation project. Students are expected to demonstrate their familiarity with the literature of the subject area chosen for the seminar presentation.

The Research Areas that are currently being offered for potential projects, include the following:

• Aquaculture
• Aquaculture-environment interactions
• Bioremediation
• Biotechnology
• Conservation Biology
• Conservation genetics of wild species
• Ecological Assessment and Monitoring
• Ecology of Seagrass and Algal Habitats
• Environmental Management
• Faunistics and Biogeography of the Maltese Islands
• Fish Diseases/Pathology
• Genetics of domesticated species
• Influence of physical/chemical factors on marine habitats/species
• Isolation and Bioactivity of Natural Products
• Marine and Coastal Ecology
• Marine Ecotoxicology 
• Marine Pollution Studies
• Microbiology
• Utilisation of plant and microbial resources
• Vegetation Ecology

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of one of the following qualifications:

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Science with at least Second Class Honours in an area of study deemed by the Board to be relevant to the proposed area of study and obtained in the 10 years previous to registration for the Course or

(b) the Bachelor of Science with Third Class Honours in an area of study deemed by the Board to be relevant to the proposed area of study and obtained in the 10 years previous to registration for the Course, provided that the applicants have obtained other qualifications, including relevant experience, following their first cycle degree. The Board may, at its discretion, require such applicants to follow a preparatory programme as specified below.

The Board, at its discretion, may also recommend the admission of applicants in possession of a Bachelor of Science with at least Category II in an area of study deemed by the Board to be relevant to the proposed area of study and obtained in the 10 years previous to registration for the Course, provided that the admission of such applicants shall be made conditional on the result of an interview and in such cases they shall be required to follow a preparatory programme as specified below.

The Board, at its discretion, may also recommend the admission of applicants with a first cycle degree deemed by the Board to be relevant to the proposed area of study and obtained in the 10 years previous to registration for the Course, provided that the admission of such applicants may be conditional on the result of an interview and in such cases they may be required to follow a preparatory programme as specified below.

Applicants whose first degree was obtained more than 10 years previous to registration for the Course may also be admitted following an interview to ascertain their capability to follow the Course. The Board may, at its discretion, require such applicants to follow a preparatory programme as specified below.

Preparatory Programme

The preparatory programme shall comprise study-units to which not less than 30 credits and not more than 60 credits are assigned and shall also be governed by the Principal Regulations.

Students shall be required to successfully complete the preparatory programme with an average mark of 55% or better prior to their registration for the Course. 

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