Their spokesman said they are happy that the degree course will begin next October and that it will be held on a regular basis.

“KSU has long been calling for the university to institute courses which directly reflect the employment needs of the country,” said KSU Education Commissioner Anthony F Camilleri. “Through the implementation of the M.Psy programme, we are seeing the university do exactly this, and we hope that similar action will be taken in other fields in the future.”

Thanks to this development, said KSU and BetaPsi, all psychology students can now continue to achieve full professional status in Malta, when previously it was necessary for them to do this abroad.

BetaPsi president Ruth Bonnano said: “The approval for a Master’s programme at the University of Malta is a step forward in the development of psychology as a profession here in Malta and will help in ensuring the continuity of these professionals who would work within the Maltese community”.