Program Overview

Master of Arts in Disability Studies (Preparatory Programme)

The Master of Arts in Disability Studies (Preparatory Programme) is offered at both the University of Malta and the University of Malta Gozo Campus. This preparatory programme is for health and social care professionals in possession of a Diploma qualification and is intended to enable students to obtain the necessary credentials to enroll on the MA in Disability Studies course in the future.

Programme Overview

Disability Studies originated from within the Disabled People's Movement and has grown to become an interdisciplinary academic field. The programme is based on subjects that open students to new perspectives, moving them away from the medical model view of disability and preparing them for a more social model view of disability.

Programme Structure

The programme is divided into two semesters, with compulsory units in each semester.

• Semester 1
  • GDS2002: The Intersectionality of Inequality (4 ECTS)
  • SWP1352: Introducing Social Policy (6 ECTS)
  • SWP2311: Research Methods in Social Work and Social Policy 1 (5 ECTS)
• Semester 2
  • DBS1001: Disability Issues for Health Professionals (2 ECTS)
  • DBS3100: Directed Literature Review (10 ECTS)
  • PHI1018: Ethics for Social Wellbeing (4 ECTS)
  • SWP2321: Research Methods in Social Work and Social Policy 2 (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing the Preparatory Programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate that they have acquired the fundamentals of psychology and sociology
• Show that they have gained a basic knowledge of research methods used in the social sciences
• Distinguish between the medical model and the social model/human rights approach used in disability studies
• Demonstrate that they have obtained basic knowledge and different perspectives of various disability issues
• Show that they are able to appreciate the value of an inclusive society where all are equal

Admission Criteria

General entry requirements apply, and international applicants should refer to the list of country-specific qualifications.

Tuition Fees

• Total Tuition Fees for non-EU applicants: Eur 4,250

Programme Governance

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 in Disability Studies - M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.