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

Course Title

Diploma in Design Foundation Studies

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

1 Year

60 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time

Information for International applicants

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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 Diploma in Design Foundation Studies encourages innovation and experimentation, while providing you with the creative, artistic, historical and academic foundation upon which you can build your responsible contributions to your respective field. Providing an extensive education in art, design and digital media practice, history, theory and criticism, the course fosters a critical and creative exploration of traditional and emerging forms of visual communication practices which cut across physical and digital environments.

Your creative development is our primary concern and that this is best served by the cultivation of an imaginative and thoughtful engagement with the practical and theoretical aspects of art, design and media practices. By providing a period of time and space dedicated to creative practice as part of a community of developing art, design and media students and lecturing faculty, you can be enlightened in understanding the breadth and range of traditions, ideologies and modern-day thought.


Semester 1

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

VSA1901	Visual Design Tools 1	14 ECTS	(NC)
VSA1991	20th Century Art and Culture 1	4 ECTS

Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) Students are required to choose a total of 12ECTS credits from the elective study-units below:

BEN1004	Landmarks of Cultural Development	4 ECTS
VSA1921	Introduction to Painting Techniques	4 ECTS
VSA1923	Composite Spaces	4 ECTS
VSA1951	Introduction to the Art of Etching	4 ECTS
VSA1961	Introduction to Printing	4 ECTS
VSA1973	Introduction to Digital Imaging Tools	4 ECTS
VSA1976	Typography	4 ECTS


Semester 2

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

VSA1902	Visual Design Tools 2	14 ECTS	(NC)
VSA1992	20th Century Art and Culture 2	4 ECTS

Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) Students are required to choose a total of 12ECTS credits from the elective study-units below:

VSA1922	Painting 1	4 ECTS
VSA1931	Photographic Imaging and Processing	4 ECTS
VSA1941	Introduction to the Plastic Arts	4 ECTS
VSA1962	Fine Art Printmaking 1	4 ECTS
VSA1971	Interface Design	4 ECTS
VSA1974	Introduction to 3D	4 ECTS
VSA1975	Digital Toolset	4 ECTS
VSA1981	Introduction to Architectural Modelling	4 ECTS

Requirement for the award of Diploma in Design Foundation Studies: 60 ECTS 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 Diploma in Design Foundation Studies under the auspices of the Faculty for the Built Environment.

Upon successfully completing the course, you will have:

Developed your visual literacy, visual communication skills and visual design fundamentals.
Developed your cognitive skills (thinking and learning skills).
Developed your human communication skills (self-confidence, awareness, interpersonal relations, team-work).
Developed your language communication skills (oral and written English).
Been introduced to a limited number of 'Knowledge-based' skills specific or complementary to the art and design practices the students wish to specialise in.

Non EU Applicants:

Total Tuition Fees: Eur 10,800

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.

Since the Diploma in Design Foundation Studies is considered as a preparatory course for a complimentary degree that you might be interested in pursuing, then it will be your foundation for architecture related professions.

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