Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Policy Studies

Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Policy Studies

MQF Level

6

Duration and Credits

3 Years

180 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time

Economics

The Bachelor of Commerce in Economics is designed to teach you the intricate threads of global economies. This course will grant you the perspectives of micro and macroeconomics, allowing you to become proficient in the seemingly enigmatic facets that shape financial landscapes. The broad and intricate taught study-units will provide you with the principles of supply and demand, market competition, and economic policy, gaining a profound understanding of how these elements influence societies and businesses.


Policy Studies

The Bachelor of Commerce in Policy Studies is designed to provide you with the skills to analyse, shape, and influence policies that drive societal change. Throughout the programme, you will gain knowledge about the intricacies of policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. The wide spectrum of study-units offered will explore the intersection of economics, politics, and social dynamics, giving you a deep understanding of how public policies impact communities and industries. By the end of the course, you will have honed your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, making you an attractive employee for future employers.


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.

Information for International applicants

Economics

An Intermediate Level pass in Pure Mathematics.


Policy Studies

An Intermediate Level pass in Pure Mathematics.


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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.

Economics

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to choose two areas of study and register for the study-units accordingly.
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
EMA1008 Quantitative Analysis for Business 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1011 Introduction to Management and Applied Fundamentals 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1100 Business Statistics 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1310 Foundations and Applications of Economics 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1312 Introduction to Psychology in Business and Public Life 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1313 Introduction to Sociology for Business and Public Life 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1314* Financial Accounting and Control 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1316** Accounting Theory and Practice 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1317 Policy and Governance for Business 4 ECTS   (NC)    

* Study-unit EMA1314 is to be taken by students who are not in possession of Accounting at Advanced Level as well as students who possess an Advanced Level in Accounting but will not choose Accountancy as a major area.

** EMA1316 is to be taken by students with an Advanced Level in Accounting who are selecting Accountancy as their major. Students without an Advanced Level in Accounting, but who are eligible to major in Accountancy according to the Bachelor of Commerce Bye-Laws (i.e., those with another relevant qualification in Accounting approved by the Board, or those with two Advanced Matriculation Level subjects and a grade C or better), must take both EMA1314 and EMA1316.
 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
ECN1201 Economics of Development and Small Island States 4 ECTS   (NC)    
ECN1202 Intermediate Microeconomics 4 ECTS   (NC)    
ECN1203 Intermediate Macroeconomics 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1315 Writing and Research Skills for Business Students 4 ECTS   (NC)    

 

Students are required to register for ALL compulsory study-units (12 ECTS credits), 16 ECTS credits from the elective study-units on offer during the year, 28 ECTS credits in the other area, and 4 ECTS of optional study-units to a total of 60 ECTS credits. For students majoring in Economics and Management no optional study-unit can be taken during Year 2 of the course. In this case, students need to register for study-unit ACC3521.
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
ECN2215 Mathematical Economics 4 ECTS   (NC)    
ECN2331 Economics of the Public Sector 4 ECTS   (NC)    
ECN2332 Economics of Taxation 4 ECTS   (NC)    
 
Recommended Optional Units
 
BKF2011* Banking 1 4 ECTS      
BKF2041* Financial Services Law 4 ECTS      
ELP1062 English Proficiency 2 ECTS      
IOT2002 Communication and Innovation 4 ECTS      
IOT2003 Foresight - A Tool for Shaping Futures 4 ECTS      
IOT2005 Leadership and Organisational Innovation 2 ECTS      
MGT2031* Operations Research 4 ECTS      
MGT2361 Soft Skills for the Workplace 4 ECTS      
MRK2000* Marketing Foundations 4 ECTS      
PHE0109 Badminton 2 ECTS      
PHE0110 Squash 2 ECTS      
PPL2226* The Public Policy Environment 4 ECTS      
TRS2281 Travel and Transportation Management 4 ECTS      

* In the case of optional study-units marked with an asterix, students cannot register for study-units pertaining to the Department of their chosen Areas of Study.
 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
ECN2031 Econometrics 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
ECN2141 Economics of Environmental Policy 4 ECTS      
ECN2332 Economics of Taxation 4 ECTS   (NC)    
ECN3301 Industrial Economics and Competition Law 4 ECTS      
 
Recommended Optional Units
 
BKF2050* Foundations of Risk Management 4 ECTS      
BKF2071* Principles of Finance 4 ECTS      
BKF3111* Practical Issues in Banking 4 ECTS      
INS2100* Insurance Business Development 4 ECTS      
IOT2008 Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Practical Approaches 4 ECTS      
MGT2344 Creativity and Personal Development 4 ECTS      
PHE0109 Badminton 2 ECTS      
PHE0110 Squash 2 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 four of the following study-units:
 
ECN2141 Economics of Environmental Policy 4 ECTS      
ECN2161 Applied Microeconomics 4 ECTS      
ECN2310 Introduction to Political Economy 4 ECTS      
ECN2320 History of Economic Thought 4 ECTS      
ECN2333 Housing and Transport Economics 4 ECTS      
ECN3127 Applied Macroeconomics 4 ECTS      

* In the case of optional study-units marked with an asterix, students cannot register for study-units pertaining to the Department of their chosen Areas of Study.
 

Students are required to register once for EMA3001 - Statistical Design and Tools for Business (4 ECTS). Moreover, students are required to register for ALL compulsory study-units and two elective study-units amounting to 28 ECTS credits in each area, to a total of 60 ECTS credits.
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
ECN2031 Econometrics 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
ECN3126 Monetary Economics 4 ECTS      
ECN3200 International Economics 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA3001 Statistical Design and Tools for Business 4 ECTS   (NC)    

 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
ECN2041 Econometrics 2 4 ECTS   (NC)    
ECN3301 Industrial Economics and Competition Law 4 ECTS      
ECN3302 Economic Data Analysis using Python 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 one of the following study-units:
 
ECN3201 Monetary Policy 4 ECTS      
ECN3205 European Monetary Union 4 ECTS      
ECN3240 Economics of Innovation, Creativity and Knowledge 4 ECTS      

 

Policy Studies

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students are required to choose two areas of study and register for the study-units accordingly.
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
EMA1008 Quantitative Analysis for Business 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1011 Introduction to Management and Applied Fundamentals 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1100 Business Statistics 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1310 Foundations and Applications of Economics 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1312 Introduction to Psychology in Business and Public Life 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1313 Introduction to Sociology for Business and Public Life 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1314* Financial Accounting and Control 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1316** Accounting Theory and Practice 1 4 ECTS   (NC)    
EMA1317 Policy and Governance for Business 4 ECTS   (NC)    

* Study-unit EMA1314 is to be taken by students who are not in possession of Accounting at Advanced Level as well as students who possess an Advanced Level in Accounting but will not choose Accountancy as a major area.
** EMA1316 is to be taken by students who possess an Advanced Level in Accounting and will be choosing Accountancy as a major area. Students who do not possess an Advanced level in Accounting, but are eligible to choose Accountancy as a major area as per Bye-Laws for the award of the Bachelor of Commerce (that is, are in possession of another qualification in Accounting that is deemed relevant by the Board, or are in possession of two Advanced Matriculation Level subjects and grade C or better). Such students will therefore take both EMA1314 and EMA1316.
 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
EMA1315 Writing and Research Skills for Business Students 4 ECTS   (NC)    
INS1000*** Introduction to Insurance and Risk Management 4 ECTS   (NC)    
PPG1002 The Rule of Law and Ethical Standards 4 ECTS   (NC)    
PPL1941 Corporate, Financial and Public Governance 4 ECTS   (NC)    
PPL1942 Encounters with Professionals in Public Life 4 ECTS   (NC)    

*** Study-unit INS1000 is for students choosing Insurance as the other area.
 

Students are required to register for ALL compulsory study-units (24 ECTS credits), 4 ECTS credits as an elective study-unit, 28 ECTS credits in the other area and 4 ECTS credits as optional study-units, to a total of 60 ECTS credits.

For students majoring in Management and Marketing or Management and Policy Studies, no optional study-unit can be taken during Year 2 of the course. In this case, students need to register for study-unit MGT2365.
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
PPL2161 Development in Contemporary Societies 4 ECTS   (NC)    
PPL2225 Public Leadership 6 ECTS      
PPL2226 The Public Policy Environment 4 ECTS   (NC)    
 
Recommended Optional Units
 
BKF2011* Banking 1 4 ECTS      
BKF2041 Financial Services Law 4 ECTS      
ELP1062 English Proficiency 2 ECTS      
MGT2031* Operations Research 4 ECTS      
MGT2361 Soft Skills for the Workplace 4 ECTS      
PHE0109 Badminton 2 ECTS      
PHE0110 Squash 2 ECTS      
TRS2281 Travel and Transportation Management 4 ECTS      

* In the case of optional study-units marked with an asterix, students cannot register for study-units pertaining to the Department of their chosen Areas of Study.
 
 
Semester 2
 
Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints)
Students are required to choose ONE elective study-unit from the following:
 
PPL2044 Interpreting Data for Policy Analysis 4 ECTS      
PPL2224 People Development in the Public Sector 4 ECTS      
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
PPL2046 Ideas, Society and Public Policy 4 ECTS   (NC)    
PPL2054 Evidence-Based Policy Making 6 ECTS   (NC)    
 
Students majoring in Management and Marketing or Management and Policy Studies must register for:
 
MGT2365 Financial Linguistics for Managers 4 ECTS      
 
Recommended Optional Units
 
BKF2050* Foundations of Risk Management 4 ECTS      
BKF2071* Principles of Finance 4 ECTS      
BKF3111* Practical Issues in Banking 4 ECTS      
ECN2216* Economics of Social Policy 4 ECTS      
ECN2310* Introduction to Political Economy 4 ECTS      
MAL2032 Il-Malti għall-Amministraturi Pubbliċi 2 ECTS      
MGT2344 Creativity and Personal Development 4 ECTS      
PHE0109 Badminton 2 ECTS      
PHE0110 Squash 2 ECTS      

* In the case of optional study-units marked with an asterix, students cannot register for study-units pertaining to the Department of their chosen Areas of Study. In case of students with a major in Management, no optional can be taken during year 2 of the course.
 

Students are required to register once for EMA3001 - Statistical Design and Tools for Business (4 ECTS). Moreover, students are required to register for ALL compulsory study-units and any electives (if present) amounting to 28 ECTS credits in each area, to a total of 60 ECTS credits.
 
Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
PPL3110 Work-based Learning 6 ECTS   (NC)    

 
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
EMA3001 Statistical Design and Tools for Business 4 ECTS   (NC)    
PPG3001 Public Management, Policy and Artificial Intelligence 4 ECTS      
PPL3103 Policy Analysis 4 ECTS   (NC)    

 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
PPL3104 Decision-making for Policy Leaders 6 ECTS      
PPL3106 Malta Politics, Policies and Governance Research Seminar 4 ECTS      
PPL3108 Regulatory Policy and Institutions 4 ECTS   (NC)    

 

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 Commerce - B.Com. - and Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) - B.Com. (Hons) - under the auspices of the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy.

Economics

Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Commerce degree course, you will be able to:

  • Comprehend how small states are defined, their special characteristics, and which aspects of economic theory are relevant to small country size and insularity.
  • Describe how markets work across various typologies of market structures, as well as be in a position to assess how changes to the cost of production change with output.
  • Understand how individual behaviour, market forces and government policies combine to affect the environment.
  • Demonstrate awareness about the unintended consequences of public policy.
  • Apply theoretical frameworks to existing trade between countries at different levels of development.
  • Inform policy makers through utility and choice frameworks about the impact of policy on individuals' decisions.

Policy Studies

Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Commerce degree course, you will be able to:

  • Express business issues and applications in terms of the relevant quantitative notation and equations, both within this subject as well as in other business-related topics.
  • Evaluate the impact of good governance, regulation on the compliance requirements of an organisation.
  • Assess and comment on leaders' styles of leadership in public, private and Civil Society organisation.
  • Identify the strengths and limitations of evidence-based policy.
  • Analyse and explain the purpose, key operating principles and organisation of the work placement.
  • Acquire a critical understanding of the classic theories of decision-making.

Non EU Applicants:

Fee per academic year: Eur 8,500

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Economics

By the end of the course, you will have acquired the necessary analytical prowess to navigate complex economic challenges. You will be able to choose roles such as economic analysis, policy advisory, and economic research within the public and private sectors. The course will also provide a strong academic foundation to pursue further studies at a postgraduate level, which may lead you to more specialised fields in economics and providing the possibility of becoming an academic or researcher.


Policy Studies

As a successful graduate, you will have a diverse range of opportunities to choose from. Roles that you may embark on may include policy analysis, advocacy specialisation, and public affairs consultation, within government agencies, non-profit organisations, and private sectors. The programme also lays a strong foundation to further your studies, thus enabling you to specialise further in policy areas or pursue higher degrees in public administration. You may also choose to further your studies in order to enrol in a doctoral programme, enabling you to enter a career in research and academia, or a specialised role in public policy.


Business Stream

 

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