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"High quality education based on new methodology and research."- The Malta School of Art
1 – ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Accredited Courses –Entry to classes at levels 1 and 2 are based on age requirements.
To apply for the course at level 3, students should have completed awards at level 2 or an equivalent qualifications or present a portfolio of works during an interview.
To apply for the course at level 4, students should have successfully completed the qualification at level 3 or an equivalent qualifications (a pass mark in Art O-Level Examinations) or present a portfolio of works during an interview.
To apply for the course at level 5, students should have successfully completed the qualification at level 4 or an equivalent qualifications (a pass mark in Art A-Level Examinations) or present a portfolio of works during an interview.
Applicants who during an interview are found unsuitable to attend art classes at levels 3, 4 or 5 will be informed and advised to chose a different course.
Non-Accredited Courses – Most courses do not have a specific entry requirement. However, in order to ensure that the learning outcomes and objectives of certain advanced courses are reached, some non-accredited courses do have an entry requirement. These are clearly indicated in the school prospectus issued ahead of the application period.
Applicants can only apply for only one course/level in a particular subject or with the same title.
2 – WAITING LIST
Courses with Entry Requirements – Applicants wanting to attend courses which have entry requirements will be placed in an order of merit after certifying that the applicants fulfil the entry requirements of the course. They will be contacted to commence lessons as per vacancies available. When the class is completed, other candidates who are not admitted to the course would be contacted and given the option to either remain on the waiting list or choose another course. When a vacancy is made available in any of these classes throughout the scholastic year, the next applicant on the waiting list will be contacted and invited to join the course.
Courses without Entry Requirements – Applicants wanting to attend open courses apply on first come first served basis. Once the class limit for a particular course has been reached, the other applicants will be put on a waiting list. These applicants will be contacted and given the option to either remain on the waiting list or choose another course. Whenever a vacancy becomes available in any of these classes throughout the scholastic year, the next applicant on the waiting list will be contacted and invited to join the course.
3 – DURATION OF LESSONS
The school strives to adhere to the timetable of lessons. However, in case of unpredictable circumstances, the school reserves the right to change the day and/or time of lessons as necessary. Students would be advised accordingly.
4 – DURATION OF COURSES
Courses at Levels 3 and 4 – These programmes are build on a three-year programme. Learners unsuccessful in 2/3 of the units in one single year are given one opportunity to repeat the year. Students who fail to successfully complete the repeated year once again, are automatically excluded. All units must be successfully completed within a period of 5 years.
Multi-Year Non-Accredited Courses – These programmes are generally build on a three-year programme. Learners unsuccessful in completing a particular year are given one opportunity to repeat the year. Students who repeat a year and fail to successfully complete it once again, are automatically excluded. The entire duration of the course cannot exceed a period of 5 years.
1 Year Non-Accredited Courses – Thematic non-accredited open courses have a duration of 1 year. If completed successfully, no course with the same title, learning outcomes and objectives can be repeated by the same learner. If the course is not completed successfully, the learner will have only one possibility to repeat the course.
5 – ASSESSMENT AND PROGRESSION
Assessment is an integral part of the teaching and learning processes. Through continuous feedback and assessment by the teacher, and self-assessment practices, learning processes build the learners’ confidence and autonomy in the acquisition of their new skills in the visual arts.
Assessment is formulated to measure the learners’ achievements vis-a-vis the learning outcomes of each particular unit or course. The assessment methods vary according to the type of course and the level it is offered at. The acquisition of all credits and the courses are accompanied by a set of assessment tools. These might include a combination of class-based tasks and discussions, visual journals, rubric, self-assessment tasks, portfolios, projects and participations in school exhibition.
To be awarded qualifications, awards and certificates of participation or certificates of attendance, students must attend at least 80% of the lessons.
Accredited Courses – The Malta school of Art recognizes that the assessment of learners is one of the critical factors to assure fairness and objectivity of attained results and to maintain credibility of academic standard of the qualifications awarded. Thus, the school adopts a consistent and objective approach to academic assessment of learners.
The assessment of accredited courses consists of a combination of continuous and summative assessment. Assessment of all accredited units will be divided in the following way: 60% continuous assessment and 40% summative assessment, consisting of 30% mark on the portfolio (in case of practice-based units) or essay (in case of history of art or theory-based units) and 10% on a 10 min class presentation focusing on an aspect/aspect of the learning outcomes of the unit.
Students who are unable to present the portfolio or presentation in class because of illness or other valid reasons, have to present a medical certificate or other evidence. In this case and whenever possible, an alternative date will be offered.
Each unit will be considered completed, if the candidate archives at least 50 marks in the totality of the assessment. Results will be classified as follows – Distinction 85-100, Merit 70- 84, Pass 50 –69, Fail 0- 49. Results will be issued through the Mikiel Anton Vassalli College Platform: mavc.gov.mt
Students who have completed at least 2/3 of the units during each year will be allowed to continue the qualification in the same level the following year. The student will be given the possibility to complete any unit they failed to complete within 5 years starting from the date of the certificate issued.
Courses at levels 3,4 and 5 are built on a multi-year programme. Students could progress to the next year of the course if they successfully complete at least 2/3 of the units during the current year. If this is not attained, the student has one opportunity to repeat all the units of the year. Students who repeat a year and fail to successfully complete it once again, are automatically excluded.
Participation in school events and school organized exhibitions would contribute to the fulfilling of supervised hours each student needs to complete each year
All units have to be completed before a qualification or award is awarded.
Non-Accredited Courses -Students attending non-accredited courses will be
assessed through continuous assessment. The effort and interest shown by the student during the sessions, as well as the quality of work produced during the scholastic year will be considered and evaluated in the assessment. Continuous assessment is based on the effort and interest shown by learners during the classes and the work produced during the scholastic year. A certificate of attendance will be awarded to learners who attend at least 80% of the lessons.
In the case of non-accredited courses build on a multi-year programme, students must attend at least 80% of the lessons and successfully complete the current year. If this is not attained, students are given one opportunity to repeat the year. Students who repeat a year and fail to successfully complete it once again, are automatically excluded.
6 – PLAGIARISM
All presented art works, essays and assignments may be vetted for plagiarism. This may include significant unacknowledged copying of text, material and diagrams from published or unpublished sources either in print or electronic form. Plagiarism may also include significant amounts of patch writing (changing only a few words) and presenting the assignment in whole or part as one’s own work. Citations and paraphrasing should be encouraged as a sign of proficient academic work.
Art plagiarism, that is copying, tracing or duplicating an original artwork by someone else either with little or no change at all, and presenting it as your own without seeking consent from or giving credit to the source, is also not permitted. Originality in the artworks presented for assessment is highly valued and the use of original artworks without a conceptual frame to justify their use is highly not advisable.
7 – APPEALS OF ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Appeals of assessment results are only accepted for accredited units and courses. A request must be addressed to the Board of Studies and submitted at the main office of the school within 5 days from the issuing of results. The portfolio and other documentation related to the continuous assessment of the appealing learner will be examined by the board of studies against a fee of €25 paid in advance.
8 – EXTENSIONS AND EXEMPTIONS
Requests for any type of extension or exemption will be considered by the Board of Studies. The decision will be final.
If the student needs to interrupt the course for medical or other reasons considered valid by the board of Studies. The Student will be allowed to resume the course only within a period of not longer than 2 years.
9 – USE OF PREMISES
No student may work in any studio or workshop apart from the allocated course’s hours.
Requests by learners or external students to use studio spaces are considered according to available time slots, so as not the disturb the delivery of lessons at the school. Requests and reservations should be made through the main office. Users will be charged a fee of 15 euro per 3 hours. A Malta School of Art technician or tutor may be asked to be present during these sessions to ensure the safe and correct use of space and equipment.
10 – USE OF EQUIPMENT
The School has the equipment necessary to ensure a high-quality delivery of the courses on offer. This equipment is made available to learners under the strict direction of their tutor. Equipment shall be used by learners only as part of learning process in order to achieve the learning outcomes established for the course applied for.
Learners who would like to use equipment to work on or complete a personal project that falls outside of the scope of the course they are attending, should consult and ask the permission of the school administration. If permission is granted, use of equipment for such projects shall be done outside course hours and against a fee, depending on the equipment used. The same applies for external students and art practitioners interested in using school equipment to complete personal work.
11 – USE OF RESOURCES
The school offers resources such as easels, plinths, work benches, tools, clay turn tables and other items to be used by learners at the school. Good care should be taken of any resource used by learners. No school resources should be taken out of the school premises.
Requests to hire resources and equipment are considered depending on availability. Permission should be first requested from the school administration.
12 – DAMAGE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY
No person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse any resources and equipment provided by the school or damage any school property including the building, furniture, computers and other items. Learners or visiting learners may be required to reimburse the cost of replacement for any loss or to repair damages to school property they may have caused.
13 – MATERIALS
Students attending certain courses are provided with art materials by the school, against an initial materials fee. Learners attending other courses will be expected to provide their own material for the lessons, as asked by their tutor.
Courses at Levels 1,2 and 3 – Learners are provided with art materials by the school, against an initial materials fee of 40 euro. This payment has to be settled within 2 weeks’ time from the commencement of the course. Students need to still bring along a pocket with basic stationary, coloured pencils, scissors and glue.
Print Making Classes I, II & III – Materials such as wax, acids, white spirit and inks are provided to registered learners in the printing lab. An initial materials fee of 25 euro has to be paid within 2 weeks’ time from the commencement of the course.
Copper plates for etching printing can be purchased directly from the classroom. Fees depend on the size of the plate required.
Sculpture: Modelling and Casting Classes I, II & III – Materials such as pastellina and ceramic glazes and the use of the Kiln and other equipment are made available to registered learners. An initial materials fee of 25 euro has to be settled by learners within 2 weeks’ time from the commencement of the course.
Clay can be purchased directly from the classroom. Fees depend on the weight of clay required.
Sculpture: Modelling and Casting Classes (Open Class) – Materials such as pastellina and ceramic glazes and the use of the Kiln and other equipment are made available to registered learners. An initial materials fee of 15 euro has to be settled by learners within 2 weeks’ time from the commencement of the course.
Clay can be purchased directly from the classroom. Fees depend on the weight of clay required.
Figure Classes – A model’s fee might apply for this course. The fee depends on the number of learners attending the course.
Applicants, who due to social reasons, declare that they cannot afford the relevant fee, have to provide supporting documentation. These will be verified and approved by the administration after consultation with the Department of Social Services.
14 – LIBRARY
The Malta School of Art has a collection of resource books ranging from theoretical books focusing on local and international Art History, Contemporary Art Discourses, Critical Art Theory and Philosophy of Art; and practical books containing techniques, exercises and educational materials.
Borrowing a Book – All students and staff registered with the Malta school of Art can have access and borrow resource books from the school library. Any student or staff member can borrow a maximum of 2 books at one time.
The librarian will take note of the book/s borrowed and ask for personal details of students or staff: the name, surname and contact number. Any borrowed book has to be returned to the library within 3 weeks. The same book can be borrowed for another 3 weeks by the same library user.
If books are not returned to the Library within the time frame allowed, the school librarian will make contact with the library user. If after 4 weeks from contact, the book/s are not returned, the school reserves the right to impose a penalty fee (in order to repurchase the missing book/s).
Library users are permitted to photocopy or scan the school’s resources for educational purposes only. Books must be returned unmarked (no underlining, highlighting, writing or mark making on the book/s).
15 – PHOTOCOPIES
Photocopy services are available at the main office at 5c per A4 B&W page and 10c per A3 B&W page; 15c A4 Colour page and 30c A3 Colour page. It is advised to keep photocopies to a minimum in order to safeguard copyright restrictions and respect our environmental responsibilities.
Digital Scanning is available at the main office and is the preferred option. Fee is at 2c per page.
16 – WAITING AREA
Students and parents/guardians are only allowed to wait in the space designated as a waiting area, located in the ground floor corridor. Parents/guardians are strictly not allowed to wait or wander on other floors of the school. Silence and quiet whispering is expected, and the area should be kept clean and tidy.
Due to health directives issued by the relevant authorities, the waiting area may have to be moved outside the school premises. In such cases, parents/ guardians are expected to wait for and pick up children outside the school.
17 – PASSAGEWAYS, CORRIDORS & STAIRCASES
All passageways including studio passages, must be clear at all time. Works, furniture and equipment must not be stored in such a way as to obstruct passageways, corridors or staircases.
18 – STUDENT’S ATTIRE
All students are to wear appropriate but comfortable clothes to the lessons and wear protective accessories or gears where applicable, as indicated by their tutor.
19 – SHARP OBJECTS & WET PAINT
Due consideration must be shown to other users of the School facilities; care must be taken not to allow sharp objects or wet paint to come into contact with furniture and other school facilities.
20 – HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, SUBSTANCES AND EQUIPMENT
No hazardous materials, substances or equipment may be brought into the school without prior arrangement with the tutor. Any hazardous materials, substances or equipment used during the course must be used with responsibility and under the strict direction of the tutor, and only as part of learning process.
21- FIRST AID
First Aid boxes are found in all offices, studios and workshops. In any case of a first aid emergency, the tutor must contact the school First Aider present at that time.
22 – FIRE
All staff and students must cooperate in Fire drills and precautions for the School. When the fire alarm bells sound:
Staff and students should in their own interest make themselves familiar with all fire exits.
23 – COMPLIANCE
Learners, teachers, staff, parents, guardians and visitors shall all observe and comply with the Malta School of Art Policies and Procedures as well as the College’s Rules and Regulations. Those who fail to observe and comply render themselves open to disciplinary action by the Centre Administrator, who bears ultimate responsibility for all regulation matters in the school.
The School of Art seeks to provide high quality artistic education based on contemporary methodologies, offering an innovative and diversified programme for all learners.
Malta School of Art, 'Casa Brunet', 106
Old Bakery Street, Valletta VLT 1458