Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Policy

Course Title

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

3 Years

180 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time

Information for International applicants

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

Applicants in possession of the Diploma in Social Work of this University, or a comparable qualification in an area related to Social Work or Social Policy or who have obtained credits for study-units considered by the Board to be equivalent to those in the Course may also be admitted to the Course. Subject to the provisions of the Principal Regulations, such applicants may be allowed by the Board to transfer these credits to the Course. The number of credits so transferred shall not exceed those obtainable in one year of the Course.

Applicants in terms of the 'maturity (adult learners) clause' are required to sit for an English Proficiency Test to be held in September. Successful applicants will then be required to sit for an interview sometime during September. Such applicants shall be exempted from sitting for the proficiency test if they are in possession of a pass at SEC level English at Grade 5 or better or equivalent.

Applicants may also be required to submit a Learning Portfolio. Further information about the Portfolio will be forwarded to applicants.

Requires the submission of a Police Certificate of Conduct.

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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.

The overall aim of the course is to prepare you to contribute in the administration, management, planning, development and evaluation of services in all areas of social policy. You will become familiar with issues that relate to health, social security, education, housing, employment and social care services. Through a variety of study׵nits, the course seeks to provide you with an understanding of the recipients of all welfare services such as children and families, elderly, disabled persons and migrants. Besides social welfare services, social policy also covers the social aspects of other policies, such as the social aspects of environment, culture, leisure, penal, transport or trade policy. You will learn about the organisation, management and provision of welfare services and social policy and how these can be administered in the public, private and NGO sectors. Participation in the Erasmus+ mobility programme will enable you to have a holistic academic journey.

Communication and Academic Skills Programme

The communication and academic skills programme complements students’ main course of study. It introduces them to writing and presenting as situated within academic contexts sensitive to specific disciplines and develops their competences for future careers.

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to register for optional study-units to the value of 4 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)

PSY1313	An Overview of Psychology	6 ECTS	(NC)
SWP1261	The Social Context of Welfare	6 ECTS	(NC)
SWP1262	Scholarship Skills for Social Policy and Social Work	6 ECTS
SWP1270	Community Engagement	6 ECTS
SWP1341	Social Skills Development	10 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 1

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

SWP1320	The Regulatory Context of Social Welfare	5 ECTS
SWP1352	Introducing Social Policy	6 ECTS


Semester 2

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

CVL1017	Family Law for Social Policy and Social Work	5 ECTS
SWP1354	Introduction to the World of Social Work	6 ECTS

Total workload this year: 60 credits

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to choose study-units to the value of 2 ECTS credits from the elective study-units on offer during the year.


Semester 1

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

SWP2140	The Economic Context of Welfare	4 ECTS
SWP2141	Social Policy Workshops 1	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2142	The Political Context of Welfare	4 ECTS
SWP2311	Research Methods in Social Work and Social Policy 1	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2644	The Origins and Development of Welfare States	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2650	Social Enterprise: Concepts and Methods	4 ECTS
SWP2652	Governance and Administration in Social Welfare	5 ECTS

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

HST1126	The Mediterranean in Modern Times	2 ECTS


Semester 2

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

DBS2002	Disability Issues in Social Policy and Social Work	3 ECTS
SWP2321	Research Methods in Social Work and Social Policy 2	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2648	The Maltese Welfare State in Context	4 ECTS
SWP3150	Leadership and Management in Social Welfare	5 ECTS
SWP3370	Anti-Oppressive Perspectives in Social Work and Social Policy	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3644	Foundations of Poverty and Social Exclusion	4 ECTS	(NC)

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

MAL2032*	Il-Malti għall-Amministraturi Pubbliċi	2 ECTS
* Study-unit MAL2032 is highly recommended.

Total Workload this year: 60 credits


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)

SWP3041	Dissertation	10 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3570	Practicum	10 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 1

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

SWP2505	Social Policy Seminars	5 ECTS
SWP3503	The Practice of Evaluation	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3508	Strategy and Planning in Social Policy	6 ECTS
SWP3524	Understanding and Applying Social Policy Analysis	5 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 2

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

SWP3505	European Social Policy	5 ECTS
SWP3510	Community Care and the Mixed Economy	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3512	Human Rights Advocacy and Practice in Social Work and Social Policy	4 ECTS
SWP3522	Foundations of Project Management in the Social Sector	5 ECTS

Total Workload this year: 60 credits

Requirement for award of B.A. (Hons) in Social Policy: 180 credits

This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Policy or in Social Work under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.

By the end of the course, you will:

Have gained wide perspectives about good governance and welfare-related/social values.
Have learned how to administer in the public sector, how to manage projects and how to integrate the experiences of other countries.
Have received guided training in evaluation research and hands-on experience of management and administration through placements.
Be expected to develop your own person and interpersonal skills as well as your skills in management, planning, evaluation and customer care.
Participate in transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary discussions and contribute your knowledge on the area.

Non EU Applicants:

Fee per academic year: Eur 8,500

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.

The course prepares you to be suitable for employment with government departments, ministries and agencies, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private providers of all kinds of welfare, social and human services, or any service with important social aspects. As a social administrator, you would be the key professional group in social security, employment and housing and work, alongside key welfare professions in education, health care and social care. Your training in public policy and management enables you to work successfully in many other capacities in the private and public sector as well.

The B.A. (Hons) Social Policy enables you to access different Courses both locally and overseas. Our alumni have pursued further studies in Social Policy Research, Human Rights, European Studies and Public Policy amongst others. The Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Malta has recently opened an M.A. course in Social Policy that will offer you the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of social policy.

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.

https://www.um.edu.mt/courses/overview/ubahspcft-2025-6-o/