Malta

⇑Universities

Malta is a small country, so the choice of institutions is limited. The main public ones are:

• University of Malta (UM) – the only public university; around 12,000 students, including around 1,900 international students from 127 countries,
• MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology) – the largest vocational institution, offering everything from foundation courses to doctorates,
• ITS (Institute of Tourism Studies) – programmes in tourism and hospitality,
• Institute for Education – trains teachers, mainly part-time.

There are also private institutions, including branch campuses of foreign universities. Each must be licensed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). You can check the list of institutions and accredited programmes in the MFHEA database.

Universities in Malta – profiles

⇑Study system

The system is based on the European Qualifications Framework:

• Bachelor – 3–4 years; for example, a BA in History at UM takes 3 years and 180 ECTS,
• Master – 1–2 years,
• Doctorate (PhD) – 3–4 years.

The academic year at the University of Malta starts in October. Besides a full degree, you can also come on an Erasmus+ exchange or for a summer or language course.

Malta – bachelor's programmes
Malta – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Malta – master's programmes
Malta – doctoral programmes

⇑Admission

You apply directly to the institution through its online form. At the University of Malta you choose your programme and then – as an applicant with foreign qualifications – the "Overseas Qualifications" option. Applications for the year starting in October open in November of the previous year.

Deadlines: according to Study in Europe, for programmes starting in October they usually fall in June or July. At the University of Malta the final (late application) deadline for 2026/27 was 15 September 2026 at 14:00. Each programme may, however, have its own deadlines.

With a secondary school leaving certificate from abroad you must meet the requirements of your chosen programme – often passes in specific subjects at the right level. You also need proof of English (see: Language). The programme description gives the exact list of documents.

If you come from outside the EU, apply well before the deadline: you need your letter of acceptance to apply for a study visa, and the visa must be issued before you travel (see: Residence and formalities).

For a master's programme you need a bachelor's degree in a related field.

⇑Entrance exams

Malta has no central entrance exam for international applicants. The institution checks whether your certificate and exam subjects meet the programme requirements – for example, the BA in History at UM requires a pass in history at Advanced Level.

Maltese applicants take the MATSEC exams. At UM, the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the European Baccalaureate are treated like local qualifications.

⇑Language

Malta has two official languages – Maltese and English. Most programmes are taught entirely in English, so you don't need Maltese for your studies.

The University of Malta usually requires:

• for bachelor's programmes – IELTS Academic of at least 6.0 (6.0 in writing, 5.5 in the other parts) or Cambridge Advanced with at least grade C,
• for master's and doctoral programmes – IELTS of at least 6.5 (6.0 in each part) or Cambridge Advanced with at least grade C.

TOEFL iBT is also accepted – since January 2026 on the new score scale (e.g. 4 overall and 4.5 in writing for bachelor's programmes). Some applicants may be exempt from the certificate – check on the UM website.

⇑Residence and formalities

EU citizens don't need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, you must register your residence. In Malta this means applying for a residence document (e-Residence) with the Identità agency – you apply online, uploading your documents through the Identità portal.

Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Students from outside the EU – including those who can visit Malta visa-free – need a national long-stay (D) study visa for courses longer than 90 days. You apply before you travel, at an authorised visa application centre (external service provider). According to the University of Malta, you must show at least €950 for each month of your stay (2026), not counting tuition fees, with bank statements covering at least the last 3 months. After you arrive and enrol, you apply to Identità for an e-Residence permit – again with a recent bank statement showing €950 a month. Within four weeks of arrival you also have to go through a health screening (immunisation certificate, possibly a chest X-ray). You will also need health insurance – check the required cover in Identità's list of documents.

⇑Tuition fees

EU citizens studying full-time on bachelor's programmes at the University of Malta, MCAST and ITS don't pay tuition fees – just like Maltese students. Some full-time master's programmes that lead to a professional qualification are also free, e.g. the Master in Teaching and Learning for future teachers. Evening and part-time programmes are fee-paying, although at state-subsidised rates.

For other programmes you pay. Study in Europe gives these rough figures:

• bachelor's – €1,000–9,000 a year,
• master's – €2,000–12,000 a year,
• doctorate – €600–2,000 a year for EU citizens, €5,000–11,000 for non-EU students.

Students from outside the EU pay for every programme – for example, the BA in History at UM costs €8,500 a year in 2026/27. Private institutions set their own fees.

⇑Accommodation and living costs

Study in Europe estimates living costs in Malta at around €900–1,400 a month – including housing, food, bills, transport and personal expenses.

Housing takes the biggest share. You can choose between:

• a student residence – near the campuses of UM and other institutions,
• private renting – a room in a shared flat or a flat of your own.

Demand is high, so book your accommodation as early as possible – Study in Europe says so directly. On the University of Malta website you will find practical information on accommodation, visas and opening a bank account.

⇑Scholarships

You can apply for:

• government scholarships – programmes listed on myscholarship.gov.mt; check the eligibility conditions (including citizenship) in the rules of each one,
• a student maintenance grant (the "stipend") – for full-time students; paid as a yearly amount at the start of the year plus 10 instalments every four weeks. According to Eurydice, EU students also have access to it – check the exact conditions with your institution,
• Erasmus+ – an exchange with your home university,
• doctoral scholarships and opportunities for researchers – on EURAXESS Malta,
• institutional scholarships – ITS, for example, has its own support scheme.

⇑Working while studying

EU citizens can work in Malta without restrictions, also while studying.

Students from outside the EU may work up to 20 hours a week. You need a work permit, which you apply for once your e-Residence permit has been issued. Note: Identità says that full-time higher education students can work from their first year of study, while the University of Malta mentions the first three months of study – check the current rule before you start. A job related to your field of study makes approval more likely. After graduating, you can extend your residence for six months to look for work.

English is enough for most casual jobs. The easiest to find are jobs in tourism, hotels and restaurants, especially in the summer season. Start with your institution's careers service. Jobs for researchers are listed on EURAXESS Malta.

Malta – why work there?
How to find a job abroad?

⇑Useful links

• Study in Europe – Malta – the official country profile on the European Commission's portal,
• University of Malta – programmes, admission, language requirements, life in Malta,
• University of Malta – visa and e-Residence permit – what students from outside the EU need,
• MFHEA database – licensed institutions and accredited programmes,
• myscholarship.gov.mt – government scholarship programmes,
• Identità – visas and residence documents,
• ENIC-NARIC – recognition of qualifications in Europe,
• Eurodesk – free information on studying, traineeships and volunteering in Europe.