Program Overview

Certificate in Foundation Studies in Humanities

The Certificate in Foundation Studies in Humanities is a one-year pre-tertiary study programme designed for students who wish to enroll in an undergraduate study course in the humanities but do not meet the necessary direct entry requirements. This foundation course presents a comprehensive introduction to discipline-specific academic English language skills and terminology, study skills, and the fundamental concepts in the study of the humanities and the social sciences.

Programme Details

• MQF Level: 4
• Duration and Credits: 1 Year, 62 ECTS
• Mode of Study: Full-time

Course Overview

The programme is tailored to provide a learner-centred environment, promoting autonomy through task-based learning, interactive learning, self-access, and small-group contact time for learning support. Students will be provided with core academic English language skills, a modern foreign language, history, introductory courses to philosophy and social sciences, psychology, communications, and critical thinking skills.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will:

• Have acquired fundamental concepts in the study of the humanities and the social sciences.
• Be able to carry out research and critical thought.
• Be fluent in their oral and reading faculties in the English language.
• Have a general understanding of some of the Humanities subjects.
• Be able to learn independently and organize their time effectively.

Admission Criteria

General Entry Requirements

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications.

Special Course Requirements

The Course shall be open to all applicants who:

• Present a secondary and/or high school certificate issued abroad and who studied within an educational system that is not comparable to the Maltese educational system.
• Satisfy the University's English language requirement.
• Are in possession of qualifications allowing access to an undergraduate course in the selected discipline in the country where such qualifications originate, but are deemed to require further study to be admitted to undergraduate degree courses at the University of Malta.

Applicants may be required to pass an interview and/or a written test at the discretion of the Board.

Tuition Fees

• Non-EU Applicants: Total Tuition Fees: Eur 6,600

Programme Structure

The programme consists of compulsory units spread across two semesters, including:

• Semester 1:
  • Research and Reasoning
  • Academic English Reading for Humanities
  • Academic English Writing for Humanities
  • Academic English Listening for Humanities
  • Academic English for the Humanities and Social Sciences in Context
  • French 1
  • Introduction to the Study of History 1
  • Introduction to Humanities and Social Sciences 1
  • Introduction to Psychology
• Semester 2:
  • French 2
  • Introduction to the Study of History 2
  • Introduction to Humanities and Social Sciences 2
  • Introduction to Communication

Career Opportunities

Upon successfully completing this course, students will be eligible to enroll in a course of their choice offered by the Humanities department, provided that the pre-requisites are met.