Lying at the cross-roads of the Mediterranean, L-Università ta' Malta (UM) has been, over its 400-year history, the hub for international academic exchange on the island. UM is the leading higher education institution in Malta and its structures are in line with the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education area.
The Faculty of Laws
The Faculty of Laws is one of the oldest Faculties of UM. It is a leading provider of legal education in Malta. The Faculty of Laws is renowned for its practical and professionally relevant approach to learning and teaching across a range of taught courses range from undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and research degrees. Within the Maltese legal system it performs an indispensable function, being the only institution in Malta authorised to award degrees that are required in order to qualify as an Advocate, Notary Public and Legal Procurators in Malta. Moreover the Faculty serves as the national focal point for research and scholarship concerning Maltese Law.
The Department of European and Comparative Law
The Department of European and Comparative Law has a fine and long tradition of teaching and research into all areas of European Union Law. Established in 1993, it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018. The Department runs a full range of courses in European Law at postgraduate level. Its LL.M. programme (the Master of Laws in European and Comparative Law and the Master of Laws in European Business Law) are respected academic qualifications recognised throughout the world that have trained judges, practising lawyers and civil servants in Europe and beyond. All of our teaching is conducted in the English language making our course units suitable for foreign students and attracting a growing number of ERASMUS students every year.
The Department of European and Comparative Law has an active research and publications programme. Its programmes are annually validated by rotating External Examiners from prestigious Universities in Europe including the Universities of Oxford, London, Dublin, Durham, Glasgow and Edinburgh. They have included Professor Stephen Weatherill, Professor Francis Snyder, Professor Jo Shaw and Professor Rosamarie Greaves among others.
Our members of staff are mainly full-time University academics, but the Department enjoys the services of a good number of visiting lecturers from legal practice, European institutions and government service. In addition to teaching, our academics regularly publish research works in Malta and abroad and are called upon as experts in the preparation of public policy including by the European Commission. Many members of our staff have an international reputation in their field of specialisation, playing a key role in public events while also being actively engaged in public lecturing, public service and seminars on EU-related issues.
Department of Commercial Law
The main objective of the Department of Commercial Law is to introduce students in a comprehensive and systematic format to the law regulating traders, undoubtedly a fascinating and vital element of any legal system. Modern day business activities are extremely varied and dynamic extending from retail and wholesale trade and intellectual property rights to shipping, company administration and financial services. The Department seeks to provide the most updated position of how business is regulated in its various sectors including recent important reforms in relatively new areas, such as in competition and consumer law.
The courses offered, such as the MA in Financial Services, show that trading activity is best carried on within legally and socially accepted boundaries which are set out in the Commercial Code and other legislation. The course units analyze how the law allows trade to develop and innovate within a free and fairly regulated market place subject to a workable, coherent and sufficiently sophisticated legal framework whereby entrepreneurs may pursue their legitimate activities.
Students would thereby be able to develop an understanding that trade is a multi-facetted phenomenon which, when properly regulated, creates wealth and job opportunities and is therefore crucial for a working and viable modern economy.
Department of Public Law
This department focuses on a number of subjects which include Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Human Rights Law, Fiscal Law, Tourism Law and Private International Law. It even offers a Master of Arts in Human Rights Law and Practice which is aimed at people seeking to acquire knowledge of human rights concepts, treaties, conventions and applicable laws, knowledge on systems of protection of human rights, and knowledge of procedures for redress and other methods of promoting human rights. This course has run for more than twenty years and has trained numerous students who went on to enjoy illustrious careers in the field.
Other courses on offer
The Faculty of Laws offers a number of other courses, including a Master of Arts in Law and a Master of Laws in International Law. We even offer a Ph.D. by research, either on a full time or on a part-time basis.
For the full list of courses on offer click here.
Studying at UM
The language of instruction at UM is English. Applicants who have completed their secondary education overseas must satisfy UM’s English language requirements by presenting a Secure English Language Test (SELT) result.
International students require equivalent qualifications to the Maltese Matriculation Certificate awarded by the MATSEC Board.
Ready to begin your studies at UM? Apply now.
