Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Work

Course Title

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

4 Years

240 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 equip you with the necessary social work knowledge, values and skills required to practice as a social worker. This is done through the teaching of a variety of study units, some of which are theory based and others which are practice based. Since the course is generic in nature, it seeks to provide you with knowledge, skills and abilities which will lend themselves useful in any practice setting. In addition, the programme is the only route in Malta through which you can enter the social work profession, and therefore an important aim of the programme is to expose you to different social work settings in Malta and Gozo. This is primarily done through the placements which you carry out during the course, but also through other tasks set by different study units.

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.


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)

SWP2550	Practice Workshops 1 and 2	5 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 1

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

FSD2001	Introduction to Family Studies	2 ECTS
SWP2140	The Economic Context of Welfare	4 ECTS
SWP2311	Research Methods in Social Work and Social Policy 1	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2640	Methods in Social Work 1	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2711	Theoretical Foundations in Helping Skills for Social Work Practice	5 ECTS	(NC)

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
MAL2031*	Il-Malti għall-Ħaddiema Soċjali	2 ECTS
* Study-unit MAL2031 is highly recommended.

Semester 2

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

PSY2622	Understanding Human Life Course Development in the Social Work Context	6 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2156	Mental Health for Social Work 1	2 ECTS
SWP2321	Research Methods in Social Work and Social Policy 2	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2641	The Application of Social Work Methods	6 ECTS	(NC)
SWP2648	The Maltese Welfare State in Context	4 ECTS
SWP3511	Basic Helping Skills for Social Work Practice	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3644	Foundations of Poverty and Social Exclusion	4 ECTS	(NC)

Total Workload this year: 60 credits

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

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

SWP3621	Sensitivity Training for Students of Social Welfare	4 ECTS


Semester 1

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

SOC3028	The Sociology of Deviance	4 ECTS
SWP3036	Ethics in Social Work Seminars	5 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3220	Practice Workshops 3	4 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3311	Placement A	12 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3710	Advanced Helping Skills for Social Work Practice	5 ECTS	(NC)

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

DBS2004	Sexuality and Disability	4 ECTS
SWP2142	The Political Context of Welfare	4 ECTS
SWP2650	Social Enterprise: Concepts and Methods	4 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
SWP3061	Residential Social Work	4 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3341	Groups in Social Work Practice	4 ECTS	(NC)
SWP3370	Anti-Oppressive Perspectives in Social Work and Social Policy	5 ECTS
SWP3512	Human Rights Advocacy and Practice in Social Work and Social Policy	4 ECTS
SWP3540	Community Care for Social Workers	6 ECTS	(NC)

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

DBS3009	Living with the Label ‘Intellectual Disability’	4 ECTS

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)

SWP4042	Dissertation	10 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 1

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

SWP3156	Mental Health for Social Work 2	2 ECTS
SWP3381	Law and Sentencing Practice	4 ECTS
SWP4021	Advanced Methods in Social Work	6 ECTS	(NC)
SWP4051	Specialisms in Social Work	5 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 2

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

SWP3150	Leadership and Management in Social Welfare	5 ECTS
SWP4260	Practice Workshops 4	5 ECTS
SWP4311	Placement B	16 ECTS	(NC)
SWP4516	Case Studies in Social Work	7 ECTS	(NC)

Total Workload this year: 60 credits

Requirement for award of B.A. (Hons) in Social Work: 240 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 the necessary knowledge, values and skills to pursue social work as a career.
Be equipped to work with vulnerable individuals in society.
Appreciate diversity and individuality.
Identify strengths in people and communities.
Seek to develop strengths and build on the specific needs of unique people.
Be more empathetic and well-equipped towards vulnerable individuals.

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.

By acquiring a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Work, you will have the opportunity to work within different social work settings. Some of these settings include children and family settings, the drug and alcohol sectors, the disability sector, community settings, health and mental health settings, working with the elderly, working with asylum seekers and refugees and various residential settings.

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Work allows students access to different Masters Programmes both locally and overseas.

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/ubahswkft-2025-6-o/