University of Malta

Students who have obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Malta or any other recognised university normally in an area of study that is related to the research to be conducted are eligible to apply. Course Bye-laws may provide the possibility to applicants who are in possession of a First Class Honours or Second Class Honours (Upper Division) and also have a strong background in the area of study related to the proposed area of research to apply. In this instance, the Faculty Doctoral Committee is required to  submit a clearly motivated recommendation for acceptance to the Board of the Faculty for eventual consideration by the Doctoral Academic  Committee and Senate.

Applicants for the Ph.D. degree are required to provide:

• the provisional title for the thesis and practices, as applicable;
• a detailed research proposal, between 2000 and 3000 words, which includes a timeline for the progression of the research programme;
• 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 shall be dedicated to this research work;
• the name of an academic member of staff of the University who has agreed to act as Principal Supervisor;
• a statement regarding the applicant’s employment commitments, as applicable;
• where appropriate, a request to undertake the research outside the University; and
• any other document as may be required by the Faculty and indicated in the Faculty Bye-Laws.

Applicants are interviewed by the Faculty Doctoral Committee with the participation of the applicants’ proposed Principal Supervisor in order to assess the applicants’ ability and potential to reach doctoral level. The result of the interview shall be referred to the Doctoral Academic Committee and Senate together with the Board’s recommendation. 

Applications for Ph.D. Degrees may be submitted at any time of the year.  However, students are registered with effect from one of the following dates: 1 October, 1 December, 1 February, 1 April and 1 June. Accepted applicants shall be expected to enrol by the date indicated to them.

In relation to transfers from M.Phil. to Ph.D. status, the senate may allow a transfer of registration from the M.Phil. Degree to the Ph.D. Degree with the same research proposal when specific conditions once satisfied. Following an oral examination, the Transfer Assessment Board submits a report to Senate through the Doctoral Academic Committee, If the transfer is allowed by the Senate, then work done for the M.Phil. degree will be applicable towards the requirements for the Ph.D. Degree.

Doctoral students may be required to support the Faculty’s teaching activities and/or provide laboratory demonstration service for up to a maximum of 100 hours a year, provided that these duties do not conflict with their research work. Doctoral students involved in teaching shall be assigned a mentor to whom they may turn for advice and support so that effective teaching is ensured.

When a Ph.D. application has been accepted, the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty Doctoral Committee, the Board and the Doctoral Academic Committee appoints a Principal Supervisor from among the resident members of the academic staff. Such a member of staff shall have appropriate qualifications with extensive knowledge and research experience in the broad subject area of the student.  A co-supervisor may be appointed when the nature of the research work makes it necessary or expedient to do so and to complement the expertise of the Principal Supervisor. However, the Principal Supervisor retains ultimate reasonability of leadership in the supervision.

The University Ph.D. regulations specify that a principal supervisor, co-supervisor, adviser should not be related to a student by consanguinity or by affinity to the third degree inclusive or have a dual relationship with the student.

The role of the principal supervisors, co-supervisors and advisers is one which requires responsibility in providing guidance to students under their care in the following areas:

• offering ideas and providing guidance on the planning and progress of research, and the writing and publication of the results in scholarly journals;
• providing or arranging for instruction in research methodology, including use of information technology and other professional development activities;
• guiding students in acquiring and improving appropriate generic skills, including written and oral communication, numeracy, decision-taking, and organisational and management skills; and
• ensuring that the students are aware of the manner in which research results are reported and that they understand the implications of plagiarism and other unbecoming academic practices.

Principal Supervisors shall meet the students regularly to review their progress and keep a record thereof. 

Principal Supervisors, co-supervisors and advisers are not responsible for proof-reading theses. Neither is it their responsibility to ensure that theses do not contain plagiarised parts. However, if plagiarism is detected in a draft or in the final version of a thesis prior to the formal submission for examination, the Principal Supervisor, depending on the gravity of the offence, will use discretion as to what corrective measures if deemed appropriate are taken.

The Ph.D. examination process essentially involves the submission of the students’work, the oral examination and the completion of 100 hours of professional development. The process follows the procedures outlined in the Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. Regulations. The purpose of the examination process is to ascertain that the student has reached the standard required by the criteria for the award of the Ph.D. degree, namely that the work:

• represents a significant contribution to knowledge in a particular field of study; 
• contains evidence of originality by the discovery of new facts, and/or the development of new theories and/or methods, and/or by the exercise of independent critical judgement and constitutes an addition to knowledge; 
• contains evidence of the ability of the student to relate the subject matter of the thesis to the existing body of knowledge; 
• contains evidence of the ability of the student to apply research methods appropriate to the subject; 
• has a satisfactory level of literary presentation; 
• contains evidence that it is of peer-reviewed publishable quality; and
• complies with the provisions of the Ph.D. Regulations

Professional Research Doctorate (DRes) on the Competitive Behaviour of Small Organizations

The research-based ‘Professional Research Doctorate on the Competitive Behaviour of Small Organizations’, or DRes, addresses a very specific, much needed, and purposely narrow area of research focus, and through applying a powerful mixed-methods research methodology that is based on Grounded Theory and that runs on MCAST’s MAXQDA platform. It focuses on building usable, substantive theories for small organizational behaviour, using the grounded theory method of enquiry. It looks towards understanding the patterns of decision-making behaviours, and best-practice models adopted, in both business-oriented small firms and in non-profit oriented small organizations.

A relevant first degree and a relevant master qualification at 60 ECTS, with at least 5 years relevant industry or research experience. 

Other Entry Requirements

 A relevant first degree and a relevant master qualification at 90 ECTS, with at least 2 years relevant industry or research experience or   A master qualification in the MCAST MVEAR at 120 ECTS, with at least 2 years’ relevant industry or research experience   or   A relevant master qualification at 90 ECTS, and at least 10 years’ relevant industry or academic experience.

DRes Schedule

The DRes runs over a minimum of 5 years on a part-time basis, and is generally aimed at professionals that hold relevant first and Masters degrees. The main component of the programme is a research endeavour of PhD level, taken on after following a successful journey through four taught modules relating to the MCAST Post Graduate Certificate in Research Methods (PG. Cert. Research Methods) qualification.  

Currently,  ITS does not offer third-cycle (doctoral) qualifications.

Currently,  IfE does not offer third-cycle (doctoral) qualifications.