Secularisation among Maltese University students

Abstract

The main aim of this dissertation was to gain an understanding of the religiosity of University students according to their Faculty, gender, secondary education background as well as their year of studies. This research was carried out by means of qualitative techniques among first and final year students from three Faculties - Medicine, Law and Engineering. The results suggested that there was an increase in secularisation from the first-year student group to the final-year student group suggesting that the university environment may play a role in accelerating secularisation. Results obtained from the students in the three Faculties involved in the research suggest that the level of secularisation of medical and law students is similar. The engineering students were found to have a higher level of secularisation. The study also concluded that there is a larger degree of secularisation in University students with a State Secondary School education background than those with a Church Secondary School education background. This suggests that a Church Secondary School education may play a significant role in protecting against secularisation with the opposite happening as a result of a State Secondary School education. It was difficult to assess the levels of secularisation according to gender. However, the study suggests that when compared to their male counterparts, females tend to be more in favour of divorce and tolerant of abortion but pray more regularly and are closer to the Sacraments.