Licentiate in Sacred Theology - L-Universit脿 ta' Malta

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

4 Semesters

120 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time

The course enables you to acquire the cognitive, practical and technical, as well as the attitudes required to exercise pastoral ministry in today's world. The course of studies consists of a number of study-units, seminars, ministry placement and a dissertation. You will be required:

to follow study-units in six areas of study, i.e. Fundamental Pastoral Theology, Social Ministry, Catechetics, Liturgy, Church Development, and Pastoral Counselling/Spiritual Direction,

to participate in seminars which give you an opportunity to study the links between one area of ministry and another and to share their ideas with the group,

to spend a period of their pastoral formation in ministry placement, to enable them to get 'experience' in different fields of pastoral ministry,

to compose a dissertation, in a way which reflects your ability to think critically and focus clearly on an area of pastoral concern, utilising research methodology and pastoral resources.

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Applicants must be in possession of:

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology (S.Th.B.) or equivalent obtained with at least Cum Laude, or
a qualification considered by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, as being comparable to the qualifications in paragraph (a).

Applicants in possession of a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology (S.Th.B) classified as Probatus may also be admitted, provided that they have obtained other qualifications, including relevant experience, following their first cycle degree.

You are viewing the entry requirements for International applicants. Switch to Local qualifications.

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 .

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.


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)

FDT5001	The Ecclesial Community: Pastoral Dynamics	10 ECTS
MRT5851	Social Ministry in a Broken and Vulnerable World	10 ECTS
MRT5861	Spiritual Companioning, Confession and Safeguarding	10 ECTS
PLC5003	Reflective Ministry: Placement and Research Methods	5 ECTS
PLC5005	Pastoral Care in Context	10 ECTS


Semester 1

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

PLC5002	Pastoral Counselling for Ministers	5 ECTS
PLC5050	Fundamentals of Pastoral Theology	5 ECTS


Semester 2

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

PLC5006	The Liturgy: Homiletics and Ministry	5 ECTS


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)

FDT5001	The Ecclesial Community: Pastoral Dynamics	10 ECTS
PLC5004	Church-World Relationship	10 ECTS


Semester 1

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

PLC5007	Ministering to Today鈥檚 Families	5 ECTS


Semester 2

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

FDT5002	Mission and Culture	5 ECTS
THL5050*	Dissertation Project	30 ECTS
* Students are expected to start working on their Dissertation Project as from the first semester of their first year. Work on dissertation will cover four semesters.

This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Licentiate in Sacred Theology - S.Th.L. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Theology.

The following is a sample of the many skills that you will gain by the end of the course:

Understanding of the basic concepts in Pastoral Theology, including its history and method,
Interpretation of the context in which ecclesial action takes place, and the relation Church-world,
Focus on pastoral ministry and development of a sense of self-identity as a pastoral minister through reflection on the theology of ministry,
Analysis and assessment of the pastoral potential of the Church's participation in international fora and in the contemporary debate on bioethical issues,
Understanding of social ministry, particularly in relation to action on behalf of human dignity and human rights,
The practice of social ministry, particularly in areas where people experience suffering.

to understand the basic concepts in Pastoral Theology, including its history and method,
to interpret the context in which ecclesial action takes place, and the relation Church
world,
to focus on pastoral ministry and develop a sense of self
identity as a pastoral minister through reflection on the theology of ministry,
to analyse and assess the pastoral potential of the Church's participation in international fora and in the contemporary debate on bioethical issues,
to understand social ministry, particularly in relation to action on behalf of human dignity and human rights,
to learn to practice social ministry, particularly in areas where people experience suffering,
to explore the development of catechesis within the Christian community,
to understand the fundamentals, method and history of catechetics,
to know how to work with different age
groups in different settings of catechesis,
to organise a liturgical community and to conduct a liturgical celebration in a creative manner,
to grasp the relevance of ritual anthropology and the language theory for Christian worship,
to explore areas in Liturgy which need specific attention, namely homiletics and confession,
to understand the way in which the Church has sought to organise itself in the course of its history in the hope of becoming the sacrament of God's love to mankind, adapting secular forms of organisation and developing alternative structures,
to assess present day Church structures and forms of Church leadership in the light of an ecclesiology of communion,
to focus on pastoral care in specific areas,
to understand the dynamics of Church ministry in bringing reconciliation, healing and growth to the individual,
to appreciate the distinctive features of pastoral counselling and spiritual direction, and their contribution to the well
being of the person,
to acquire the skills needed in spiritual direction and pastoral counselling,
to understand the process of faith inculturation in a multicultural, religiously pluralistic and secularised society,
to analyse and reflect on the main characteristics of the present day audio
visual civilization and on how one can communicate the Word in this context,
to understand the ministry to families today in ways that are both meaningful and practical, reflecting the complex world they inhabit as well as the challenges they face,
to develop appropriate ministerial responses in particular experiential contexts,
to identify and articulate areas of needed personal and professional growth which emerge out of the experience of ministry as well as develop a self
evaluation process which will help continual growth,
to acquire the practice of theological reflection within ministerial experiences.

Non EU Applicants:

Total Tuition Fees: Eur 21,600
Yr 1: Eur 10,800 - Yr 2: Eur 10,800

You are viewing the fees for non EU nationals. Switch to EU nationals if you are a national of any country from within the EU/EEA.

This canonical degree is recognised as an academic degree which enables you to teach in a major seminary or equivalent school and which is therefore required for this purpose (Cf Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium).

As a holder of this degree, you will be eligible to register for third cycle programmes leading to a Doctoral Degree in Sacred Theology (S.Th.D).

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