UBAIRLSSTFT-2024-5-O - L-Università ta' Malta

Course Title

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Social Studies

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

International Relations

An Advanced Level pass at Grade C or better, in either Arabic, or Economics, or French, or German, or History, or Russian, or Spanish, or a pass in Chinese obtained in the Chinese University/College Entrance Examination (Gaokao).

International Relations

Applicants in terms of the 'maturity (adult learners) clause' are required to sit for an interview, held on a date which will be announced in due course. Once announced, this date cannot be changed. The closing date for receipt of applications from applicants in terms of the 'maturity (adult learners) clause' is 31 August 2024 at 2pm.

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

Applicants wishing to join the part-time mode must submit their application as full-time, and then include a note in the comments box of the application form, denoting their preference to be considered for the part-time option. Such requests will be considered by the Board of the Faculty.

Social Studies

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

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Applications for our February and October intakes have been officially open since the third week in November. 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.

International Relations

The undergraduate programme in International Relations offers you an academic perspective on the liaison between countries, and how bureaucratic decisions by hegemonic countries and the intervening action of administrative boards, state officials and elected representatives create a complex web of intercountry relations. During the course we will provide you with a coherent and clear image of how Western, European and Non-European countries coalesce, ranging from topics such as understanding foreign policy of USA and international economics, to international relations since 1919 and conflict resolution, to name a few. We also encourage you to participate in our Erasmus+ mobility programme, as we believe a multicultural perspective will provide a holistic academic journey.

Social Studies

In the programme of study in Social Studies, we provide you with a transdisciplinary holistic approach towards the field and its means of integration in the modern world we inhabit. By taking a local and international perspective, you will learn about the interrelating and causal relationship between geography, history, political and social science and the humanities in our society. You will be integrated in a broad spectrum of fields and will acquire knowledge on areas ranging from bioethics and warfare to anthropology of migration and cultural criticism. We also encourage you to participate in the Erasmus+ mobility programme for a more diverse and multicultural learning experience.

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.

International Relations

Should there be the need, in addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to choose study-units to the value of either 4 ECTS or 8 ECTS as applicable from the elective study-units on offer during the year.


Semester 1

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

IRL1025*	Introduction to Economics	4 ECTS
IRL1082	Introduction to Political Studies	6 ECTS	(NC)
IRL1193**	Introduction to Modern Europe	4 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
IRL1091	Soft Power in International Relations: An Introduction to the Role of Media and Culture	4 ECTS
LIN1063	Academic Reading and Writing in English	2 ECTS
PHI1014	Political Philosophy	4 ECTS
* Study-unit IRL1025 is to be taken only by students who do not have an Advanced Level in Economics. It is compulsory for students who do not have an Advanced Level in Economics. Students with an Advanced Level in Economics must take 4 ECTS from the Elective Units. IRL1193 is to be taken only by students who do not have an Advanced Level in History. It is compulsory for students who do not have an Advanced Level in History. Students with an Advanced Level in History must take 4 ECTS from the Elective Units. * HST1126 cannot be taken by students following either Bachelor of Arts in History or Bachelor of Arts in European and Global History.

Semester 2

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

IRL1081	The Global Politics of Inequality: Realities and Perspectives	4 ECTS	(NC)
IRL1088	Introduction to Foreign Policy	4 ECTS	(NC)
IRL1089	Theories of International Relations	4 ECTS	(NC)

Requirement for regular progression to Year 2:
26 ECTS credits in International Relations
26 ECTS credits in the other area
8 ECTS credits in optional study-units

Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to choose study-units to the value of 14 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)

IRL2090*	International Relations since 1919	6 ECTS


Semester 1

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

IRL2002	Security Studies	4 ECTS	(NC)
IRL2093	Comparative Politics	4 ECTS	(NC)
IRL3189	International Political Economy 1	4 ECTS

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

BKF3341	Prevention of Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing	4 ECTS
HST3109	International Relations Between the World Wars	2 ECTS
INL2004	International and Public Law for International Relations	6 ECTS
INL3011	European Court of Human Rights	4 ECTS
IRL2060	Contemporary China	4 ECTS
IRL2075	Environmental Issues in International Relations	4 ECTS
IRL2098	Malta in International Relations	4 ECTS
IRL3095	Diplomacy and Diplomatic Practice	4 ECTS
IRL3146	Foreign Policies of European States	4 ECTS


Semester 2

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

IRL2010	International Economics	4 ECTS
IRL2020	Nationalism in International Politics	4 ECTS
IRL2036	Intercultural Politics in the Mediterranean	4 ECTS
IRL2063	Introduction to Humanitarian Action	4 ECTS
IRL2290	International Relations since 1945	4 ECTS
IRL3007	War and Peace in the Middle East	4 ECTS
IRL3041	Contemporary Warfare	4 ECTS
IRL3098	International Financial Institutions	4 ECTS
MDT3001	Israeli-Palestinian Relations: Pasts, Urgencies, Prospects	4 ECTS
* Students who register for study-unit IRL2090 cannot regsiter for study-units HST3109 and IRL2290.

Requirement for regular progression to Year 3:
26 ECTS credits in International Relations
26 ECTS credits in the other area
8 ECTS credits optional study-units

Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to choose study-units to the value of 12 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)

IRL3096*	Contemporary European Studies	8 ECTS


Semester 1

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

IRL2099	Conflict Resolution and International Relations	4 ECTS	(NC)

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

BKF3341	Prevention of Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing	4 ECTS
INL3011	European Court of Human Rights	4 ECTS
IRL2012	Foreign Policy of Russia	4 ECTS
IRL2014	An Introduction to Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa	4 ECTS
IRL2064	Asia-Pacific in the World	6 ECTS
IRL2074	The Muslim-Arab World in Contemporary Times	4 ECTS
IRL2089	Further Studies in Diplomacy	4 ECTS
IRL3196	The Politics and the Government of the European Union	4 ECTS


Semester 2

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

IRL3057	Synoptic Study-Unit 1: International Relations	6 ECTS	(NC)
IRL3058	Synoptic Study-Unit 2: International Relations	6 ECTS	(NC)

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

HST2005	Contemporary Mediterranean History	6 ECTS
IRL2011	Foreign Policy of USA	4 ECTS
IRL2013	Political Economy of War	4 ECTS
IRL2058	Terror: Ideas and Realities	4 ECTS
IRL2084	The International Relations of Small States and Territories	4 ECTS
IRL2092	Political Movements and Parties	4 ECTS
IRL3006	Politics and Government in the Persian Gulf	4 ECTS
IRL3010	Norms, rights and climate justice	4 ECTS
IRL3050	International Institutions	4 ECTS
IRL3065	The Media and International Relations	4 ECTS
IRL3296	External Relations of the European Union	4 ECTS
MDT3001	Israeli-Palestinian Relations: Pasts, Urgencies, Prospects	4 ECTS
* Students who register for study-unit IRL3096 cannot register for study-units IRL3196 and IRL3296.

Requirement for successful completion of Year 3: 60 ECTS credits, of which:
28 ECTS credits in International Relations
28 ECTS credits in the other area
4 ECTS credits optional study-units

Requirement for award of B.A. International Relations and in another area of study: 180 ECTS credits, of which:
80 ECTS credits in International Relations
80 ECTS credits in the other area
20 ECTS credits optional study-units

Social Studies


Semester 1

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

SOC1012	Introducing Research Methods in the Social Sciences	4 ECTS	(NC)
SOC1014	Family Life - A Sociological Investigation	4 ECTS	(NC)
SOC1046	Urban Society and Culture	4 ECTS	(NC)
SOC1061	Sociology of Island Life	4 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 2

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

SOC1007	The Sociological Imaginary in Practice	2 ECTS	(NC)
SOC1058	Health, Illness and Society	4 ECTS	(NC)
SOC1060	Foundations of Sociology: Theories and Perspectives	4 ECTS	(NC)

Requirement for regular progression to Year 2:
26 ECTS credits in Social Studies
26 ECTS credits in the other area
8 ECTS credits in optional study-units
Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits

Students are required to choose study-units to the value of 26 ECTS credits from the elective study-units on offer during the year.


Semester 1

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

ANT3020	Introduction to Child Anthropology	2 ECTS
ENG2089	An Introduction to Cultural Criticism	2 ECTS
IRL2075	Environmental Issues in International Relations	4 ECTS
IRL2075	Environmental Issues in International Relations	4 ECTS
MCS3953	Social Media and 21st Century Communications	4 ECTS
SOC2000	Economic Sociology	4 ECTS
SOC2010	Environmental Sociology	4 ECTS
SOC2055	Quantitative Analysis: SPSS in Practice	4 ECTS
SOC2067	Sociology of Disability	4 ECTS
SOC2071	Intoduction to Demography	4 ECTS
SOC2079	Sociology of Space and Place	4 ECTS
SOC2125	Quantitative Research in Social Sciences	4 ECTS
SOC3031	Sociology of Politics and the State	4 ECTS
SOC3032	Sociology of the Professions	4 ECTS


Semester 2

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

ANT2050	Anthropology of Borders	4 ECTS
ANT3049	Culture and Society in Modern China	4 ECTS
ECL2000	Introduction to European Union Law	4 ECTS
EST2020	Small States and the European Union	4 ECTS
IRL3041	Contemporary Warfare	4 ECTS
IRL3041	Contemporary Warfare	4 ECTS
SOC2003	Qualitative Approaches in the Social Sciences	4 ECTS
SOC2007	Theories in Sociology of Religion	4 ECTS
SOC2018	Empirical Research in Sociology	4 ECTS
SOC2063	Sociology of Cyberspace	4 ECTS
SOC2073	Visual Sociology	4 ECTS
SOC2121	Principles of Data Visualisation	4 ECTS
SOC2123	Theories of Social Policy	4 ECTS
SOC2124	Gender: A Sociological Exploration	4 ECTS
SOC2345	Sociology of Social Movements	4 ECTS
SOC3005	Sociology of Money	4 ECTS

Requirement for regular progression to Year 3:
26 ECTS credits in Social Studies
26 ECTS credits in the other area
8 ECTS credits optional study-units
Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to choose study-units to the value of 16 ECTS credits from the elective study-units on offer during the year.


Semester 1

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

ANT3020	Introduction to Child Anthropology	2 ECTS
ART2038	Gender Issues in Art	2 ECTS
IRL2075	Environmental Issues in International Relations	4 ECTS
LLT3410	Discourse, Ideology and Power	4 ECTS
MSP3121	Maltese Popular Music	4 ECTS
SOC2000	Economic Sociology	4 ECTS
SOC2055	Quantitative Analysis: SPSS in Practice	4 ECTS
SOC2067	Sociology of Disability	4 ECTS
SOC3028	The Sociology of Deviance	4 ECTS
SOC3030	Sociology of Sport	4 ECTS
SOC3031	Sociology of Politics and the State	4 ECTS
SOC3032	Sociology of the Professions	4 ECTS


Semester 2

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

SST3001	Synoptic Study-Unit 1	6 ECTS	(NC)
SST3002	Synoptic Study-Unit 2	6 ECTS	(NC)

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

ANT2050	Anthropology of Borders	4 ECTS
ANT3049	Culture and Society in Modern China	4 ECTS
CST3951	Cyberculture	4 ECTS
IRL3041	Contemporary Warfare	4 ECTS
MCS3080	Online Journalism	4 ECTS
MCS3500	Consumer and Organizational Buying Behaviour	4 ECTS
SOC2010	Environmental Sociology	4 ECTS
SOC2025	Locating the Global Society	4 ECTS
SOC2044	Sociology of Law	4 ECTS
SOC2072	Demographic Processes	4 ECTS
SOC2121	Principles of Data Visualisation	4 ECTS
SOC2124	Gender: A Sociological Exploration	4 ECTS
SOC2345	Sociology of Social Movements	4 ECTS
SOC3005	Sociology of Money	4 ECTS
SOC3030	Sociology of Sport	4 ECTS

Requirement for successful completion of Year 3: 60 ECTS credits, of which:
28 ECTS credits in Social Studies
28 ECTS credits in the other area
4 ECTS credits optional study-units

Requirement for award of B.A. Social Studies and in another area of study: 180 ECTS credits, of which:
80 ECTS credits in Social Studies
80 ECTS credits in the other area
20 ECTS credits optional study-units

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 and the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts.

International Relations

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Carry out and conduct critical academic research in a professional manner as expected at an undergraduate level.
Have a familiarised knowledge about theories and concepts of international relations and apply them to contemporary world affairs.
Develop a keen sense of awareness through your refined interpretation of reading news and international events.
Contribute your invaluable knowledge on the subject matter to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary discursive atmospheres.
Understand the interweaving relationship and personal ethics present between the contingent relationship of individual decisions and national results.

Social Studies

Upon successfully completing this course, you will be able to:

Carry out research and write academic essays through your refined use of critical thought and methodological research skills.
Participate in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary discussions and contribute your unique knowledge on the subject matter with your heightened capacity of problem-solving, critical thought and performative skills.
Recall historical events, key figures and theoretical concepts, theories and criticisms respective of the field of study or area at hand.
Have a better understanding of human behaviour in its relation to social phenomena and institutions.
Apply your theoretical knowledge of the subject matter on contemporary issues, both local and international.

Non EU Applicants:

Fee per academic year: Eur 8,500

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International Relations

As a graduate of this programme of study you will be employable, both locally and internationally, as an intelligence analyst, policy office political risk analyst, international aid worker, public affairs consultant, diplomatic service officer and as a civil service fast streamer. If you would like to further your studies, or are considering an academic profession, then we encourage you to enrol in one of our local post-graduate courses.

Social Studies

As a graduate in this programme of study you will have career opportunities, both locally and internationally, as a sociologist, historian, teacher, political scientist, market research analyst and human resources officer. If you are interested in furthering your studies, or are considering an academic career, then we encourage you to enrol in one of our local postgraduate courses.

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