Disability Studies at UM

Yesterday, the Dean’s Award Ceremony was held to celebrate outstanding student achievements and contributions.

The Department of Disability Studies would like to warmly congratulate our department’s awardees, Joshua Barwood and Marion Parmis, on this well-deserved recognition.

We also extend our congratulations to Mr Ryan Portelli, who was nominated by our department and was awarded the Jacqueline Azzopardi Community Engagement Award.

We are proud of your accomplishments and wish you continued success in all your future endeavours!

Faculty for Social Wellbeing - University of Malta
Marion Parnis
port

The Department of Disability Studies is delighted to announce a call for applications for a PhD scholarship focusing on children and adolescents with visual impairments in Malta. More details below.

Call for Applications: Ph.D. scholarship in Visual Impairment in Malta - Faculty for Social Wellbeing Call for Applications: Ph.D. scholarship in Visual Impairment in Malta - Faculty for Social Wellbeing

👉🏼 New Disability Studies Micro-Credentials – Applications Now Open

From the academic year 2026/2027, two Disability Studies study-units will be offered as standalone micro-credentials:

🔹 DBS1003: Building a Maltese Disabled People’s History
🔹 DBS1004: Disability Issues in Practice

These micro-credentials offer a flexible opportunity for parents, professionals, advocates, educators, service providers, and anyone interested in disability rights and inclusion to deepen their knowledge and obtain accredited certification from the University of Malta.

📅 Application deadline: 15 September 2026
Applications are to be submitted through the University of Malta online application portal. Applicants should apply as New Users and select Visiting Student (1/O) – 2026/7 when prompted.

For more information, applicants may contact the Department of Disability Studies, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta.

Applications are now open for our Master’s in Disability Studies, starting October 2026.

This interdisciplinary programme offers students the opportunity to explore disability through social, cultural, educational, and policy perspectives while developing the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for inclusion, accessibility, and social justice.

🤝 Ideal for educators, healthcare professionals, advocates, and anyone passionate about disability rights and inclusion.

Join a growing community committed to creating a more inclusive society.

📅 Programme starts: October 2026

📍 Apply now and take the next step in your academic and professional journey.

https://www.um.edu.mt/courses/overview/pmadbspet2-2026-7-o/

Master of Arts in Disability Studies
For more info:
Malta Programme - https://www.um.edu.mt/courses/overview/pmadbspet2-2026-7-o/
Gozo Programme - https://www.um.edu.mt/courses/overview/pmadbsgpet0-2026-7-o/
Duration: 3 Years, Part-time Evening Malta or Gozo
Contact us: [email protected]

This year's Gordon Cardona Memorial Lecture was held in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage (Faculty for the Built Environment) and Heritage Malta, focusing on Cognitive Access to Cultural Heritage. It included two presentations from MA students: Emily Slater on Autistic Involvement in Enhancing Accessibility in Archeological Sites and Joshua Barwood on Exploring the accessibility of information in a museum space for persons with intellectual disabilities: the use of sensory trails.

https://www.um.edu.mt/media/um/docs/faculties/socialwellbeing/departments/disabilitystudies/GCML2026CognitiveAccesstoCulturalHeritage(1).pdf

Social wellbeing is dependent on removing poverty and social exclusion. Studying disability studies prepares you to identify the factors that create poverty and exclusion for persons with disabilities and ways to address them. Ultimately, it teaches you how we’re all interdependent and prepares you for a career in various sectors as disability issues are important in all areas.

Yesterday, the Department of Disability Studies had the pleasure of hosting a group of teachers from French Guiana, who are currently in Malta for a study visit.
It was a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and discuss inclusive practices in education.

Lexema - Learning Experiences in Malta

For disabled people to be able to contribute to and be fully included in society it is important to be able to better understand the issues they face. Maltese society will become more inclusive if people understand disabled people’s rights, the issues that these people encounter as well as the solutions that can be provided.