PMABSHPEB3-2023-4-O - L-Università ta' Malta

Course Title

Master of Arts in Business Ethics

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

6 Semesters

90 ECTS

Mode of Study

Part-time Evening Blended

Information for International applicants

Applicants must be in possession of:

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

a Bachelor degree with at least Second Class Honours or Category II in the following areas: Theology, Philosophy, Laws, Accountancy, Economics, Management, Banking, Marketing, or in any other area which the Board deems suitable, or an equivalent relevant professional qualification or
a Bachelor degree with Third Class Honours or Category III in the following areas: Theology, Philosophy, Laws, Accountancy, Economics, Management, Banking, Marketing, or in any other area which the Board deems suitable, or an equivalent relevant professional qualification, if applicants are also in possession of other relevant qualifications, including at least three years' relevant experience, obtained following the first cycle degree.

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Applications for our February and October intakes have been officially open since the third week in November. You can submit your application online. The deadlines for submission of applications vary according to the intake and courses. We encourage all international applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. This is especially important if you require a visa to travel and eventually stay in Malta.

You can compare your national qualifications to the local requirements by visiting our qualifications comparability webpage. Access more information about our admission process and English language requirements.

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Business ethics, corporate governance and social responsibility are areas of rapidly growing importance in our society. This course brings together both economic and moral considerations in a strongly interdisciplinary approach. The main focus encompasses the social, political, legal, economic and moral aspects of how businesses are governed, in order to provide those wishing to engage with the issues of business and society, and those wishing to be involved professionally in the processes of corporate governance, with the necessary critical tools.

The aims of this course are to:

introduce you to the important ethical issues that arise in the context of business activities;
foster an understanding of the social and economic environments within which such ethical issues occur;
introduce you to ethical concepts and theories that can aid one's understanding of business activities;
help you develop the necessary skills for moral reasoning in the business environment.

Our recent economic downturns cannot just be attributed to regular economic cycles, but a lack of ethical understanding of decision-makers. Thus, in todayҳ business environment, it is more important than ever to strive for strong ethical behaviour. Business ethics involves a guiding standard for values, behaviours, trustworthy methods of operation and decision-making. A leadership team sets the tone for how an entire organisation (whether for profit or NGO) runs on a day-to-day basis. When the prevailing leadership philosophy is based on ethical practices and behaviour, leaders within an organisation can direct employees by example. An ethical organisation runs on principles such as honesty, integrity, fairness, trustworthiness, accountability, and respect for others.

The Master of Arts in Business Ethics is an interdisciplinary programme bringing together the fields of philosophical ethics, moral theology, business studies, marketing and public policy. Following the successful introduction of the MA in Bioethics and MA in Environmental Ethics, this course will provide another valuable contribution to the field of professional ethics.

The aims of this course are to:

introduce you to the important ethical issues that arise in the context of business activities;
foster an understanding of the social and economic environments within which such ethical issues occur;
introduce you to ethical concepts and theories that can aid oneҳ understanding of business activities;
help you develop the necessary skills for moral reasoning in the business environment. Areas of study
Financial Ethics: The ethical dimension of Financial Activity
Human Resources and Relationships: Work in an Ethical Perspective
Sustainability, Environment and Ethics
Management and Marketing Ethics
Corporate Governance and Culture of Ethics
Role of Government, Politics, Economics and Business in a Globalised world
Ethical Theories and the Practice of Business
Ethical Concepts and Theories
The World of Business as a World of Human Relationships
Work in an Ethical Perspective
Values and Systems of Corporate Governance
Personal Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility
Management, Finance and Marketing: Ethical Issues
Cost-benefit Analyses, Rationality and Ethics
Business, Regulation and Self-Regulation
Comparative Frameworks in Business and Ethics
International Business Ethics Cooperating Partners This course is being offered with the participation of a number of lecturers from:
the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy
various business leaders.


Semester 1

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

MRT5301	Ethical Theories and the Practice of Business	10 ECTS
MRT5302	Role of Government, Politics, Economics and Business in a Globalised World	5 ECTS


Semester 2

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

MRT5202	Ethical Issues in the Regulation of Business	5 ECTS
MRT5303	Corporate Goverance and Culture of Ethics	10 ECTS


Semester 1

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

MRT5304	Human Resources and Relationships: Work in an Ethical Perspective	5 ECTS
MRT5305	Financial Ethics: The Ethical Dimension of Financial Activity	10 ECTS


Semester 2

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

MRT5306	Sustainability, the Environment and the Economy	5 ECTS
MRT5307	Management and Marketing Ethics	10 ECTS


Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

MRT5204	Dissertation	30 ECTS

This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Master of Arts in Business Ethics under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology.

By the end of the course, you should:

have a comprehensive understanding of basic ethical concepts such as trust, fairness, rights, duties, good and bad, right and wrong, virtue and vice, agents and actions with special reference to the notion of justice and its application to business policy and practice;
be able to discern the way in which decision-making can take place in the light of key ethical theories such as Utilitarianism, Kantianism, Contractarianism, and Virtue ethics;
be able to appreciate the issues having to do with decision-making in manufacturing, marketing, personnel, finance, sustainability and environmental matters;
understand the nature of corporate communications, advertising, marketing and public relations, and the ways in which they can be conducted ethically;
have a comprehensive understanding of the nature of business as a human activity and its relation to other spheres of human life; and,
be aware of the nature of corporate governance and the concepts of ownership, direction, accountability and participation.

have a comprehensive understanding of basic ethical concepts such as trust, fairness, rights, duties, good and bad, right and wrong, virtue and vice, agents and actions with special reference to the notion of justice and its application to business policy and practice;
be able to discern the way in which decision-making can take place in the light of key ethical theories such as Utilitarianism, Kantianism, Contractarianism, and Virtue ethics;
be able to appreciate the issues having to do with decision-making in manufacturing, marketing, personnel, finance, sustainability and environmental matters;
understand the nature of corporate communications, advertising, marketing and public relations, and the ways in which they can be conducted ethically;
have a comprehensive understanding of the nature of business as a human activity and its relation to other spheres of human life;
be aware of the nature of corporate governance and the concepts of ownership, direction, accountability and participation;
have a clear understanding of biblical and a theological understanding of work, economics and society with particular attention to the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church;
appreciate particular issues such as work-family balance, the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, the importance of participation, and the insights of the psychology of work;
have a comprehensive understanding of the nature of business as a human activity and its relation to other spheres of human life;
be aware of the nature of corporate governance and the concepts of ownership, direction, accountability and participation;
be able to understand the notion of responsibility and its application in a business context, including the notion of shared responsibility, and the nature and scope of personal, fiduciary, corporate and social responsibility;
have a clear understanding of the notion of rationality underlying rational choice theory, and its repercussions for business decisions;
be able to critically respond to the question as to whether cost-benefit analysis provides an ethically defensible way of making business decisions and evaluate the nature of capitalism and economic libertarian theory and their implicit view of human nature;
be able to analyse the notions of regulation and self-regulation of business;
be able to appreciate the issues having to do with decision-making in manufacturing, marketing, personnel, and finance;
understand the nature of corporate communications, advertising, marketing and public relations, and the ways in which they can be conducted ethically;
be able to appreciate accounts of corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, business models, and ethical principles from the Islamic, Jewish and the Confucian perspectives, to find points of convergence with the 'western' model, and to be sensitized to other ways of doing business; and,
have a critical appreciation of the role of globalisation and the spheres of international business (including the question of emerging markets), foreign direct investment and global portfolio investment.

Non EU Applicants:

Total Tuition Fees: Eur 10,800
Yr 1: Eur 5,400 - Yr 2: Eur 5,400 - Yr 3: NIL

You are viewing the fees for non EU nationals. Switch to EU nationals if you are a national of any country from within the EU/EEA.

As a holder of this degree, you would be eligible to register for the third-cycle programme leading to a Ph.D. provided by the Faculty of Theology.

You may also be invited to sit as part of a cohort of members in business ethics committees.