Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Mediterranean Studies and Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

3 Years

180 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time

Contemporary Mediterranean Studies

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.

The programme of study allows you to gain a vast understanding of Mediterranean affairs in modern society through a vast array of perspectives, ranging from anthropology, politics and foreign policy, to international relations, migration and multi-country relations. During your course of studies, you will be encouraged to participate in the Erasmus+ mobility programme, as we believe that having an international academic learning experience will give you a more rich and multicultural perspective of the subject matter.

Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)

The Bachelor’s degree programme in Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic) studies provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the Arabic language, literature, cultures, and history. Through a rigorous academic curriculum and language experiences, the programme aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary to engage with and contribute to the global Arabic-speaking community, foster cross-cultural understanding, and promote intercultural communication.

The overarching learning objectives of the Arabic programme is to develop your linguistic, cultural, and analytical competencies necessary to engage with the Arabic-speaking world. You will acquire advanced proficiency in Arabic, gain in-depth knowledge of different Arab cultures, literature, and contemporary issues, and develop critical thinking, research, and intercultural communication skills.

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.

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Information for International applicants

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

Contemporary Mediterranean Studies

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.

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

Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)

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.

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

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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.

Contemporary Mediterranean Studies

Students are required to choose study-units to the value of 26 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)

ANT1004	Ethnography and Anthropological Theory	8 ECTS


Semester 1

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

GEO1005	The Geography of Populations: Concepts and Theories	4 ECTS
HST1126	The Mediterranean in Modern Times	2 ECTS

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

ANT1003	Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology	4 ECTS
ANT1005	Locating the Anthropology of the Mediterranean	4 ECTS
HST1023	Introduction to Maltese Historical Demography	2 ECTS
IRL1082	Introduction to Political Studies	6 ECTS
IRL1091	Soft Power in International Relations: An Introduction to the Role of Media and Culture	4 ECTS
PHI1014	Political Philosophy	4 ECTS


Semester 2

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

SPA1013	Christians, Muslims and Jews in Al-Andalus	4 ECTS

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

HST1021	Europe in early modern times c.1450 - c.1789	4 ECTS
IRL1081	The Global Politics of Inequality: Realities and Perspectives	4 ECTS
IRL1088	Introduction to Foreign Policy	4 ECTS
IRL1089	Theories of International Relations	4 ECTS
PHI1006	History of Philosophy: (a) Modern Philosophy and (b) Contemporary Philosophy	4 ECTS
SPA1003	An Overview of Spanish History	4 ECTS

Requirement for regular progression to Year 2:
26 ECTS credits in Contemporary Mediterranean 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)

ANT2047	Emotions, Culture and Society	4 ECTS
ANT3006	Political Anthropology	4 ECTS
ANT3030	People, Migration and Change	4 ECTS
ARB2022	Arab History and Civilization: The Oral Tradition	4 ECTS
GEO2050	Historical and Political Geography	4 ECTS
GEO3083	The Human Geography of the Mediterranean	2 ECTS
HST2014	A History of the Family and Sexual Behaviour	4 ECTS
HST2017	Anglo-Italian Relations in the Mediterranean: From the Renaissance to the Cold War	4 ECTS
HST3012	Steam: A History of Industrial Power	2 ECTS
IRL2074	The Muslim-Arab World in Contemporary Times	4 ECTS
IRL2093	Comparative Politics	4 ECTS
SPA2004	Modern and Contemporary Spanish and Latin American Art	4 ECTS


Semester 2

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

ANT3041	Anthropology of Islam	4 ECTS
ANT3080	History, Memory and Identity	4 ECTS
GEO3087	The Physical Geography of the Mediterranean	2 ECTS
HST2005	Contemporary Mediterranean History	6 ECTS
HST2027	Introduction to Historical Demographic Theories	4 ECTS
HST2030	Demographic and Urban Growth in the Mediterranean from the Late Middle Ages to Modern Times	4 ECTS
IRL2010	International Economics	4 ECTS
IRL2058	Terror: Ideas and Realities	4 ECTS
MDT3001	Israeli-Palestinian Relations: Pasts, Urgencies, Prospects	4 ECTS
PHI3046	Contemporary Continental Philosophy	4 ECTS
SPA2019	Imperial Spain	4 ECTS

Requirement for regular progression to Year 3:
26 ECTS credits in Contemporary Mediterranean 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.


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)

ANT3038	Ecology and Culture in the Mediterranean	4 ECTS
IRL2090	International Relations since 1919	6 ECTS


Semester 1

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

ANT2002	Law, State and Society in Southern Europe	4 ECTS
ANT2003	Nation, State and Society in the Middle East/North Africa	4 ECTS
ANT2020	Kinship, Family and Marriage	4 ECTS
ANT3019	Historical Anthropology	4 ECTS
GEO3021	Climate Change and Sustainability in the Mediterranean	4 ECTS
HST2015	Tracing Family History: Archival Depositories, Digital Resources and Genealogical Research	4 ECTS
HST3025	Trans-Regional Migrations: A Short History of Migration and Mobility from Ancient to Modern Times	4 ECTS
HST3109	International Relations Between the World Wars	2 ECTS
PHI3039	Thematic Readings in Political Thought	4 ECTS


Semester 2

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

ATS3001	Contemporary Mediterranean Studies Paper 1	6 ECTS	(NC)
ATS3002	Contemporary Mediterranean Studies Paper 2	6 ECTS	(NC)

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

GEO3006	Urbanisation and Development	4 ECTS
HST2028	A History of European and World Populations	4 ECTS
IRL2020	Nationalism in International Politics	4 ECTS
IRL2036	Intercultural Politics in the Mediterranean	4 ECTS
IRL3007	War and Peace in the Middle East	4 ECTS
IRL3098	International Financial Institutions	4 ECTS
MDT3001	Israeli-Palestinian Relations: Pasts, Urgencies, Prospects	4 ECTS

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

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

Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)


Semester 1

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

ARB1001	Arabic 1	8 ECTS	(NC)
ARB1025	Introduction to Arabic Studies	4 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 2

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

ARB1002	Arabic 2	8 ECTS	(NC)
ARB1042	Arabic Literature: The Abbasid Period	6 ECTS	(NC)

Requirement for regular progression to Year 2:
26 ECTS credits in Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)
26 ECTS credits in the other area
8 ECTS credits in optional study-units

Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits


Semester 1

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

ARB2016	Arabic 3	8 ECTS	(NC)
ARB3131	Arabic Readings: Classical Arabic Poetry and Prose	6 ECTS


Semester 2

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

ARB2003	Maghrebi Arabic	4 ECTS
ARB3057	Arabic 4	8 ECTS	(NC)

Requirement for regular progression to Year 3:
26 ECTS credits in Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)
26 ECTS credits in the other area
8 ECTS credits optional study-units

Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits


Semester 1

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

ARB3018	Arabic 5	8 ECTS	(NC)
ARB3032	Arabic Readings: Modern Arabic Literature	4 ECTS	(NC)


Semester 2

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

ARB2012	Media Arabic	6 ECTS
ARB3015	Synoptic Study-Unit 1: Arabic Grammar	6 ECTS	(NC)
ARB3016	Synoptic Study-Unit 2: Arabic Texts; Arabic Literature	6 ECTS	(NC)

Requirement for successful completion of Year 3: 60 ECTS credits, of which:
30 ECTS credits in Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)
28 ECTS credits in the other area
2 ECTS credits optional study-units

Requirement for award of B.A. Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic) and in another area of study: 180 ECTS credits, of which:
80 ECTS credits in Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)
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.

Contemporary Mediterranean Studies

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

Participate in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary discussions about contemporary Mediterranean issues.
Compose and carry out research and analytical essays by using the appropriate methodological skill-set required.
Have a broader scope of interrelations and the different policies and formulations carried out between countries.
Have knowledge on the historical, cultural, regional, political and societal facets and their effects on the contemporary Mediterranean countries.
Apply theoretical concepts and recall key events to analyse contemporary affairs.

Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)

By the end of the undergraduate programme, you will gain the following skills:

Language Proficiency: The acquisition of an advanced level of proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic and at least one dialect will enable you to communicate effectively in diverse settings.
Cultural Competence: Possessing a deep understanding of Arab culture, traditions, customs, and values will enable you to navigate and interact respectfully within Arab societies and contribute to intercultural dialogue.
Analytical Skills: The development of strong analytical and critical thinking skills will allow you to critically analyse and evaluate complex social, political, and cultural issues related to the Arab world.
Research and Scholarship: You will be able to demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research, utilising primary and secondary sources in Arabic, and apply scholarly methodologies to produce high-quality academic work in the field of Arabic studies.
Global Perspective: The course material will include a global perspective and will therefore provide you with interdisciplinary knowledge, thus enabling you to understand the historical, geopolitical, and socio-cultural complexities of the Arab world and its relationships with other regions.
Intercultural Communication: You will be able to proficiently exhibit practical intercultural communication skills, demonstrating sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to bridge gaps through open dialogue and respectful engagement with diverse communities.

Non EU Applicants:

Fee per academic year: Eur 8,500

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Contemporary Mediterranean Studies

As a Contemporary Mediterranean Studies graduate, you will be able to work in a variety of occupations, both locally and abroad, as an office supervisor, operations manager, chief executive, personal service manager, and research consultant. If you are interested in furthering your studies for a more holistic academic experience, or to pursue an academic profession, then you are encouraged to take on a postgraduate course offered at our University.

Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (Arabic)

As a graduate in this course you will be employable, both locally and internationally, as a translator, writer, researcher, human resources officer, editor, journalist, teacher, publisher, librarian, social worker, public cultural educator and as a tourism officer. If you are interested in furthering your education, or are considering an academic profession, then we encourage you to enrol in one of our local postgraduate courses for a honed academic background.