Freshers' Week Booklet 2020

Dear Students, Welcome to the University of Malta! I have no doubt that this has been a time you have been looking forward to for many months. Starting university is always a tense but exciting moment in one’s life, what with discovering a completely new campus, meeting new people, and finally getting your course underway.

As a student organisation, we’re here to help you find your feet and smoothen the transition. Some students, like myself, are coming from smaller schools with fewer students and classrooms to learn, so it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed by the size of your new educative home. Believe me though, you’ll soon be able to find your way around without needing to consult a map.

Of course, there is no question that this year things are different. It’s true that the university life you have heard about, and probably looked forward to, will not be the same one you experience now. However, that does not mean that these will be months of boredom and unenjoyment. It does not mean you won’t make new friends and experiences. S-Cubed will do our best to create opportunities that will keep your university life exciting and fulfilled. If your lectures are online, it does not mean you should confine yourselves to your house. If you are comfortable, do come to the campus so that way you can still have some semblance of what the true University experience is like.

Remember, that we’re here to help you all out so never hesitate to come message or speak to us. I wish you the best of luck in your upcoming year!

Rachel Attard Chase

The Science Students’ Society, S-Cubed, was established for all students within the Faculty of Science of the University of Malta to bridge the gap between the six different departments of the faculty. S-Cubed’s activities consist of a large variety of academic and professional events that are organised to fulfil the main vision of the organisation, that of promoting unity among all students and potential students and providing them with opportunities to enhance their skills of science through social and educational activities.

Over the past 17 years, S-Cubed has been working to:

→ Represent its members at the University of Malta. → Represent its members on a wider national and international level. → Promote cultural and scientific interchanges amongst its members. → Encourage the development of an environment more conductive to the advancement of science.

S-Cubed is run by a committee of current University students form the Faculty of Science. The Executive Board is re-elected annually by the members of that year. The current Executive Board consists of 12 members.

S-Cubed consists of seven offices, each with its own purpose, and all essential to the smooth running of the organisation. The offices are Education, International, Leisure, Social Policy, Science communication, Environmental and Internal.

→ The Education Office strives to give students various opportunities to enhance their academic experience.

→ The Leisure Office ensures that students have occasions to kick back, relax and socialise with one another.

→ The International Office works to broaden students’ horizons, by making them look beyond Malta and to the countless opportunities abroad. This is done through international affiliations and educational trips.

→ The Social Policy Office is here to educate and bring about awareness to these heavily debated topics, through the publishing of policy papers.

→ The Science Communication Office’s main goal is to reach out to people of all ages through the various activities held throughout the year.

→ The Environmental Office’s aim is to promote a greener lifestyle both on campus and outside of it.

This up-coming scholastic year has provided the S-Cubed team with a set of new challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With more restriction measures being put in place, it is proving to be a very tough challenge to plan certain events which have to do with our leisure department such as the Annual Science Seminar and also ‘The Lab’ open bar.

In spite of this, S-Cubed will be organising online leisure and academic events while also organising on site events such as Clean-Up. At such events, participants would need to keep a social distance from each other, and also wear masks and gloves as precautions.

We invite you to follow our facebook page and also our instagram account for more information on future events. Stay tuned!

These are some of the events we have planned for the upcoming year:

→ Tuesday 20th October → Friday 23rd October → Thursday 28th October → Tuesday 17th November → Saturday 21st November Sunday 29th November → Friday 27th November Saturday 28th November → Tuesday 8th December → Tuesday 15th December

CineXjenza: Get Out Faculty Tour It’s Not Rocket Science! Virtual Trivia Night CineXjenza: Manchester by the Sea European Week of Waste Reduction Science in the City Science Treasure Hunt CineXjenza: Weed the People

If you wish to be part of something at University, then look no further and join one of the seven subcommittees available: one for each of the six offices which are Education, International, Leisure, Social Policy, Science Communication, Environmental as well as the Media office. Subcommittees are a big asset to the organisation and being part of one means that you will be giving something to the running of S-Cubed, whether it’s by helping to sell tickets for an event, promoting trips, or even helping to design a poster. You will also find yourself making new friends from across different courses. We encourage students from all courses and departments irrespective of your course year, to come and contribute, to be part of a sub-committee.

Participation in an S-Cubed sub-committee is recognised by Degree+

Don’t fancy joining our Sub-comm? Become a member instead!

At just €5, becoming a member of S-Cubed entitles you to numerous benefits, aimed at making your student life easier!

Members enjoy early-bird ticket priority to all S-Cubed-organised leisure events and international trips, as well as early access to job listings. * This year we are also proudly presenting a number of exciting student discounts, redeemable upon presentation of your membership card: • • • • • • • • •

• •

20% off all items at Miss Ellen's 15% off jewellery at Carisma 15% off food and drinks at Porto Complex and K-Lounge at all times.

15% off dinner at Il-Merill 10% off accommodation at Paradise Bay Resort Happy Hour all night at The Anvil Pub 10% off all services at Steel Fitness 10% off on 12, 6, and 3-month memberships or 5% off on 9-month academic year membership at ActiveZone 20% off products and services from Sunday to Thursday and 10% off products and services on Friday and Saturday at Inglott&Inglott The Studio 20% off products from Sunday to Thursday and 10% off products on Friday and Saturday at Perfumes&More 5% discount at Piscopo Gardens

How to apply?

An S-Cubed Membership can be obtained by simply contacting us directly through our Instagram or Facebook pages or visiting our Stand at the KSU's Freshers' Week on Thursday 22nd October from 9am to 3.30pm, where our yearly freebie bag will be waiting for you! *Members are given access to Job Listings Throughout the year S-Cubed is contacted by employers seeking to employ our members on a full-time, part-time or even internship basis. Members of the organisation are given access to all listings and openings. S-Cubed will also work hand in hand with both the student and employer throughout the entire process.

The student representatives are the link between students and the University.

Their role is to present any queries or complaints students might have to the Faculty during the Faculty Board meetings, and also to the Board of Studies.

They will also guide you and give you advice on who to speak to regarding general matters. Just like student organisations, student representatives are there to improve the students’ experience at University, so do not hesitate to contact them or ask for help!

Below you may find the contact details of the student representatives of the Faculty of Science:

Rebekah Attard Trevisan

Steve Galea

Postgraduate rebekah.attard-trevisan.15@um.edu.mt

Undergraduate steve.galea.17@um.edu.mt

Yacopo Baldacchino Postgraduate yacopo.baldacchino.15@um.edu.mt

• What are ECTS? ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System and it is how the work involved in a particular lecture is calculated. 1 ECTS credit represents 25 hours of work which includes lectures, practical work, seminars, private studying, tutorials, fieldworks and exams. You are assigned 60 credits in a year and these are transferable when going to universities abroad. If a unit is assigned 4 ECTS, the general case is having two lectures a week, while 2 ECTS is one lecture per week. It can be the case that a 4 ECTS Unit is split throughout the year, meaning that you will have one lecture a week.

• What are Electives?

These are credits which accompany the compulsory credits; however, students are able to select the subject from a specific study unit database themselves. This subject will be directly related to their course or area of study.

• What is a Programme of Study?

The Programme of Study gives you an overview of your entire course, including all your units, be they compulsory or elective. Each unit will also have a detailed description, stating what it will consist of, learning outcomes, recommended reading, type of assessment (exam, assignment, seminar etc.) and lecturer/s. It is important to go through the programme as information regarding how certain units lead to one another is useful to know, especially with regards to choosing electives.

• Do lectures provide notes, past papers and sample papers?

Some lectures provide all three, others just he notes they write on the board.

They are not obliged to do so, but quite a few do. You may also be asked to do additional research which would then be examinable. Always ask if in doubt.

• What do the abbreviations of locations stand for?

Often buildings and classrooms have abbreviated names – here are a few of them and what they stand for:

→ → → → → → → → → → →

MP BM GW CHB DGZ EB SLT CLR NALR STZ NBRR

Maths and Physics Building Biomedical Sciences Building Gateway Building Chemistry and Pharmacology Building Dar Guzeppi Zahra Engineering Building Science Lecture Theatre Chemistry Lecture Theatre New Anatomy Lecture Room Sir Temi Zammit Hall New Biology Resource Room

• What effect do the grades I get have?

All grades you obtain count towards your final degree classification. An Undergraduate Bachelors’ Degree is awarded according to the average mark (weighted by the ECTS credits) obtained over the years. Unlike other faculties, each year has an equal contribution to the final mark.

Degrees are classified as follows: 100%-80% - Category I First Class Honours 79%-70% - Category IIA Upper Second Class Honours 69%-55% - Category IIB Lower Second Class Honours 54%-45% - Category III Third Class Honours Obtaining a third class will restrict you from completing a Master’s Degree Course. Certain international universities may even restrict you if you hold a Lower Second Class Honours degree as well. Achieving an Upper Second Class Honours or higher, will make finding internships and scholastic opportunities easier, although work experience in the respective field is always an asset.

• What happens if I fail a study unit?

Certain study-units may be compensated (refer to the next question). If they are not, you will be required to do a resit in September. If you pass the resit your mark will be listed as 45 irrespective of how much better you may actually do. If you do not pass your unit, you may carry it up with you to the next year. A student has four opportunities to be assessed for a unit, unless you repeat a year. You may carry up to 12 ECTS credits to the next year. If you fail, or are absent, in more than 20 ECTS credits, you have failed the year.

• What is a compensated pass?

The standard pass mark for any unit is 45. However, there exists such a thing as a compensated pass which allows you to pass your unit with a minimum of 35. But to be eligible for the compensated pass, a number of criteria must be met. Your unit must be firstly, compensatable, as seen on your programme of study- if there is an (NC) next to the unit, it is non-compensated. Next, your average mark, after the June assessment, will be calculated. If it is at least 50% you will be given the grade CP and will not be required to re-sit the unit.

• How do I get promoted to the following year?

If from both examination sessions, and any other assessments, you fail, or are absent, for more than 20 ECTS credits, you will fail from the year. If you fail, or are absent, for less than 20 ECTS credits, you will have the opportunity to sit for the units in September. If after the September session, you have 12 or less ECTS credits to be completed, you will be able to carry them up with you to the following year.

If on the other hand you have more than 12ECTS credits to be completed, and are eligible for an extension year, you will either be assessed in the Incomplete Study Unit/s in an extension year of study; or repeat the year in its entirety. If you are not eligible for an extension year, you will be required to withdraw from the course.

What can happen when applying for a revision of paper?

If you have passed, marks may be deducted but you cannot be failed from that unit after a revision of paper.

• What happens if I don’t sit for an examination?

If you are absent from an exam due to sickness or other reasons, it is important to inform the department secretary before 30 minutes of the exam have passed. You are not required to provide evidence of a valid reason for absence from an examination at any of the first three opportunities, except for absence from a synoptic examination which must always be covered by evidence of a valid reason for absence. However, you will still have to provide a reason for absence. If the reason is approved by Senate, you will be eligible to do the exam as a first-sit in the Supplementary Examination. If not, you’ll still be required to do the exam in the Supplementary session but as a resit.

• What do I supply when asked to prove that I’m a University student?

You could use your KSU Student Card, which you can obtain after registering with KSU. Students can use this while abroad to get discounts. If you do not have one, a copy of your acceptance letter will suffice.

• Who do I need to contact if I have an academic complaint?

You may contact S-Cubed’s Education Officer, Emma Xuereb, Faculty of Science Representatives or KSU’s Education Officer who will all address your complaint and forward it where necessary.

Dean of the Faculty of Science Prof. Emmanuel Sinagra Room 109, Chemistry and Pharmacology Building emmanuel.sinagra@um.edu.mt

Administrative Staff Ms Marvic Cuschieri Room 118, Maths and Physics Building anabelle.camilleri@um.edu.mt Ms Tiziana Micallef Room 120, Maths and Physics Building tiziana.micallef@um.edu.mt Ms Ruth Sammut Room 120, Maths and Physics Building ruth.sammut@um.edu.mt Ms Michelle Spiteri Room 119, Maths and Physics Building michelle.spiteri@um.edu.mt Ms Sandra Zammit Room 119, Maths and Physics Building sandra.a.zammit@um.edu.mt

Department of Biology Head of Department Dr Sandro Lanfranco Room 227/228/247, Biomedical Sciences Building sandro.lanfranco@um.edu.mt Secretaries Ms Michaela Stivala Room 226, Biomedical Science Building michaela.stivala@um.edu.mt Ms Janice Zerafa Room 226, Biomedical Science Building janice.zerafa@um.edu.mt

Department of Chemistry Head of Department Prof. Emmanuel Sinagra Room 109, Chemistry Building emmanuel.sinagra@um.edu.mt Secretary Ms Angele Mizzi Room 215, Chemistry Building angele.mizzi@um.edu.mt

Department of Geoscineces Head of Department Dr Pierre-Sandre Farrugia Room 215, Maths and Physics Building pierre-sandre.farrugia@um.edu.mt Secretary Ms. Catherine Mifsud administrator-geo.sci@um.edu.mt

Department of Mathematics Head of Department Prof. David Buhiagar Room 402, Maths and Physics Building david.buhagiar@um.edu.mt Secretary Ms Marion Cachia Room 404, Maths and Physics Building marion.cachia@um.edu.mt

Department of Physics Head of Department Prof. Andre Xuereb Room 208, Maths and Physics Builidng andre.xuereb@um.edu.mt Secretaries Ms Carmen Mifsud Room 209, Maths and Physics Building carmen.mifsud@um.edu,mt Mr Robert Grech Room 209, Maths and Physics Building robert.grech@um.edu.mt

Department of Statistics and Operations Research Head of Department Dr Fiona Sammut Room 510, Maths and Physics Building fiona.sammut@um.edu.mt Secretary Ms Stephanie Dimech Room 505, Maths and Physics Building stephanie.s.dimech@um.edu.mt

FACEBOOK S-Cubed – Science Students’ Society R-Cubed

INSTAGRAM @scubed_malta

WEBSITE www.scubed.org.mt