Over 1,300 University of Malta students have signed an online petition to remove a compulsory study unit from their curricula.

According to the University's website, CASP or the Communication and Academic Skills Programme, is aimed at providing students with the skills needed to develop their academic voice by helping them to "think critically" through practicing their writing and presenting skills.

The students signing the petition say that the CASP has been forced onto first-year university students against their consent.

The aggrieved students claim that the addition of this particular study unit, which comprises 8 ECTS or European credits, would cause students to have trouble focusing on those units which they specifically elected to study in their respective courses.

The students further claim that, compared to other European universities which require students to obtain 180 credits, their required credits would now amount to 188.

Some of the comments on the petition cite the frustration they feel at having to study hard for their A and O levels, only to find that their efforts were useless all along.

An anonymous quote says: "I have worked hard to get a C in my English intermediate for nothing?"

The petition claimed that "the purpose of this petition is to put forward the voice of the students and let their frustration about the new compulsory course be known."