Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies and Psychology

NA On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Malta

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies and Psychology is a three-year full-time programme that combines disability rights advocacy with psychological science, preparing you to work meaningfully in disability services, mental health, education, and social policy. This degree is ideal if you're passionate about understanding disability from both theoretical and practical perspectives, including perspectives shared directly by disabled people who contribute to course delivery.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Building Your Foundation

In your first year, you'll establish core knowledge across both disciplines. You'll begin with Building a Maltese Disabled People's History and Disability Issues in Practice, which ground you in the lived experiences and policy context of disability in Malta. Simultaneously, you'll study foundational psychology units including Introduction to the Psychology Profession and Foundations in Human Biology for Psychology, giving you the scientific basis for understanding human behaviour and wellbeing.

Year 2: Deepening Expertise and Research Skills

Your second year shifts toward applied learning and research methodology. You'll engage with specialized disability studies courses like Campaigning for Rights on an Equal Basis with Others, From Dependence to Autonomy: Empowerment in Everyday Life, and Developing Disability Arts, which explore practical advocacy and cultural approaches to disability. In psychology, you'll develop critical research competencies through Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis and Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis, essential skills for both academic and professional work.

Year 3: Specialization and Professional Focus

In your final year, you'll choose from advanced electives that align with your career interests, such as Selected Topics in Organisational Psychology, Introduction to Critical Psychology, and Neurodiverse Profiles. This flexibility allows you to tailor your studies toward areas like workplace inclusion, mental health support, or neurodiversity awareness, preparing you directly for your chosen career path.

Focus Areas

Empowerment and rights-based approaches to disability; psychological applications in health, organizational, and forensic contexts; disability arts and cultural representation; inclusive community development; accessible education and employment services.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop critical understanding of disability as a social and psychological phenomenon; competence in research methodologies; ability to advocate for disabled people's rights and autonomy; skills in designing inclusive services and communities; psychological expertise applicable across healthcare, education, and organizational settings.

Professional Alignment

The programme combines applied psychology training with disability advocacy expertise, positioning graduates for roles in disability services, mental health support, educational psychology, organizational development, and policy work. The integration of both disciplines reflects contemporary understanding that effective disability support requires psychological knowledge alongside rights-based practice.

Reputation & Employability

The University of Malta's Department of Disability Studies delivers teaching through partnerships with disabled people, ensuring real-world relevance and strong connections to the disability sector. The psychology components align with professional psychology standards, and the joint qualification in both fields creates distinctive career advantages in an increasingly inclusive job market.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In our Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies and Psychology at the University of Malta, you'll dive into hands-on experiential learning right from the start, building real-world skills through practical units and direct involvement with disabled people and their families. Courses like DBS1004 Disability Issues in Practice and DBS1003 Building a Maltese Disabled People’s History emphasize applying theory to everyday scenarios, while psychology units such as PSY3655 Neurodiverse Profiles and PSY1625 Psychology of Communication let you explore human behavior in real contexts. The Department of Disability Studies delivers content from both theoretical and experiential perspectives, often with disabled people leading lectures to share lived insights, preparing you to make a genuine impact.

Here are some standout ways you'll gain practical experience tailored to this program:
- Direct involvement with disabled people: Lectures and sessions feature disabled individuals and their families for authentic, firsthand perspectives on disability studies.
- Practical disability-focused projects: Tackle units like DBS3110 Disability Access Project (in related Disability Studies streams) and DBS3100 Directed Literature Review, where you'll conduct independent research and apply concepts to access and independence issues.
- Psychology in action: Engage with applied areas like PSY3130 Psychology of Adjustment, PSY2633 Health Psychology, and PSY3655 Neurodiverse Profiles to understand and address real human behaviors, families, and neurodiversity.
- Faculty facilities and support: Housed in the Faculty for Social Wellbeing (Room 117, Humanities B, Msida campus), with access to the Department of Disability Studies and Department of Psychology for specialized guidance and resources.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies and Psychology at the University of Malta develop a strong understanding of human behaviour alongside disability, inclusion, rights, and social policy. This combination prepares students for meaningful, people-focused careers where they can support inclusion, wellbeing, and community development. Typical roles include work in social services, disability support organisations, community services, human resources, and research or policy-related positions.

With this interdisciplinary background:

Students benefit from the University’s Communication and Academic Skills Programme, which strengthens academic writing, presentation, and professional communication skills needed for employment and further study.
The programme encourages participation in Erasmus+ mobility opportunities, allowing students to gain international experience and broaden their academic and cultural perspective.
Graduates develop transferable skills in research, critical thinking, advocacy, and understanding human behaviour and social inclusion, which are valued across public, private, and third-sector organisations.
The degree provides a recognised MQF Level 6 qualification worth 180 ECTS credits, supporting progression to postgraduate study in psychology, disability studies, social work, social policy, and related disciplines.
The programme builds a strong foundation for careers supporting inclusion and accessibility, including roles in community development, advocacy, education support, and public service environments.
The University highlights that disability studies graduates are well placed for employment in social and community services, particularly within governmental and non-governmental organisations focused on inclusion and support.
The University does not publish specific employment rates, salary figures, or named industry partnership employers for this programme.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies and Psychology, students can continue their studies through master’s degrees in psychology, disability studies, social work, youth and community studies, health-related fields, or other related disciplines, depending on entry requirements. This can lead to advanced academic training, doctoral research opportunities, and long-term careers in academia, public policy, healthcare support services, and social care leadership.