PMAFLMFTR3-2025-6-O - L-Università ta' Malta

Course Title

Master of Arts in Film Studies

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

3 Semesters

90 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time (by Research)

Information for International applicants

Applicants must be in possession of:

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with Second Class or better in the same or in a closely related area of study as the area of study applied for,provided that the Board may consider applicants in possession of the Degree with Third Class Honours only if it is satisfied that such applicants are in possession of other qualifications, including relevant experience, obtained following the first cycle degree or
the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the same or in a closely related area of study as that applied for, with an average mark of not less than 55% in that area or
a degree from this or from another university which the Board considers as comparable to any of the degrees indicated in paragraphs (a) and (b) above. This comparability may, in exceptional cases, extend to applicants proposing a research topic which in itself bridges the area of study of the first degree and the one being applied for. In such cases, applicants would be required to attend an interview to assess their suitability, in accordance with procedures established by the Board.

The Admissions Board may admit up to two applicants not in possession of a first cycle degree, if it is satisfied that such applicants are in possession of professional qualifications or experience closely related to the area of study, which in the judgement of the interviewing board enable such applicants to follow the Course with profit. The admission of such applicants shall not be subject to the selection criteria approved by Senate. If there are more than two such applicants, selection shall be based on the length of the relevant experience or the quality of relevant output.

Supplementary and Preparatory Programme

the Board may require applicants admitted under paragraphs (b) and if necessary (c) to follow and pass supplementary study-units and
applicants in possession of a degree with Third Class Honours or Category III shall be required to complete a preparatory programme.

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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.

The University of Malta has student accommodation on campus called Campus Hub. Campus Hub is just a 2-minute walk from the main campus. For more information, visit the accommodation website.

Our dedicated team at the student recruitment office is here to support you every step of the way. From the moment you start your application to the moment when you receive your decision letter, we're here to assist you. If you have any questions or need further information, don't hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us at info@um.edu.mt, and our team will be more than happy to help.

After you receive an offer from us, our International Office will assist you with visas, accommodation and other related issues.

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.

The Master of Arts in Film by research will provide you the opportunity to deepen your love of cinema through a dissertation that constitutes a piece of original work on a specific argument or the making of a short film, accompanied by a scholarly written component. The topic of the project is to be chosen by the student, in liaison with the principal supervisor, and can deal with various fields of this area of study, such as film history and theory, film adaptation, the relationship between film and the other media including – but not limited to – TV, theatre, literature and sequential art, dance and music.Dissertations and short films can adopt a transdisciplinary framework that draws on film studies and other areas such as history and history of art, anthropology and sociology, gender and queer studies, as well as popular culture in general.

Students who opt to make a short film should also submit a written component comprising a synopsis, a production notebook and a treatment of about 20,000 – 25,000 words as well as an outline of all the technical details and the equipment that has been used. Furthermore, students will be required to provide a detailed budget and will entirely self-finance the project.

This course acts as a counterpart to the highly successful taught programme in Film Studies and if thus intended for students who already have a sound academic background at undergraduate level and knowledge of scriptwriting and filmmaking.

Students will be required to take as a compulsory unit ATS5201 (Methods of Research – 5ECTS) and as an elective study-unit of the units offered within the taught MA in Film Studies following approval by the programme coordinator.

Applicants are required to have a first degree or a portfolio. An interview shall be carried out for reach candidate.

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to choose a study-unit to the value of 5 ECTS credits from the elective study-units on offer during the year.


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)

ATS5008*	Dissertation	80 ECTS
ATS5061*	Short Film	80 ECTS
* Work on the Dissertation or the Short Film is expected to start in semester 1 of academic year 2024-25 and continue up to the end of semester 1 of academic year 2025-26.

Semester 1

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

ATS5201	Methods of Research	5 ECTS

Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints)

ATS5039	Methods of Research: Critical Approaches to Film Studies	5 ECTS
ATS5102	Film Adaptation, the Literary Tradition and the Other Arts	5 ECTS


Semester 2

Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints)

ATS5002	Film, Technology and the Literary Canon	5 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 the degree of Master of Arts - M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts.

By the end of the course:

Students who will write a dissertation will be able to:

Apply clearly defined methodological approaches in their analysis of individual films texts and/or the main phases of film production via an understanding of the key concepts and terminology of filmic language.
Critically appraise the aesthetic and philosophical underpinnings of individual films and specific genres.
Analyse the narratorial strategies deployed by cinema.
Explore conceptual links between film and the arts as well as other intellectual practices and discourses.
Write a coherent and well-focused text on cinematic matters.

Students who will make a short film will be able to:

Develop their ability to write a synopsis, a production notebook and a treatment.
Refine their skills in the pre-production, the shooting and the post-production of a film.
Reflect critically on the storytelling and aesthetic techniques that they apply in their work.

Non EU Applicants:

Total Tuition Fees: Eur 10,800
Yr 1: Eur 10,800 - Yr 2: 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 graduate in the Master of Arts in Film (by research), you will be able to explore various career paths both locally and abroad as a film researcher, film critic, or as a film curator. It may also prove useful for alternative but relative careers (provided the necessary requirements) such as a screenwriter, producer, director, and so forth. This programme also provides a strong foundation if you are aspiring to enrol in a doctorate in Film Studies or related disciplines, offering you a gateway to become an academic lecturer.

Every effort has been made to provide information that is current and accurate. However, as the content is being constantly updated, users are advised to verify the details contained in these web pages with the relevant University office or authority before making decisions based on the published information.