Universities in Malta

Malta is a small EU country where English is an official language and the language of university teaching. Its higher education system is made up of public and private institutions that award qualifications on the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF), from short-cycle programmes to doctorates. The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) regulates and accredits institutions and programmes. Three public institutions, the University of Malta, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), have self-accrediting status within limits set by the MFHEA.

The University of Malta (L-Università ta' Malta, UM) is the country's public university. It traces its origins to the Collegium Melitense, founded in 1592, and the decree establishing the university was signed in 1769. According to the university, it has around 12,000 students, including about 2,800 international students from over 144 countries, in fourteen faculties and a number of institutes, centres and schools. The main campus is in Msida, with further campuses in Valletta, Marsaxlokk and Gozo. MCAST, founded in 2001, is the main vocational college and also offers degrees.

How universities in Malta work

Degrees follow the Bologna structure of the European Higher Education Area and use ECTS credits:

• Bachelor's degree: three to four years, depending on the subject
• Postgraduate certificate (30 credits) and postgraduate diploma (60 credits)
• Master's degree: 90 or 120 credits, including a dissertation; taught or by research, full-time or part-time
• Doctorate (Ph.D. and other doctoral degrees)

The academic year has two semesters, roughly October to January and February to June. At UM most courses start in October, applications open the previous November, and a smaller intake starts in February. Teaching is in English; Maltese is not required of overseas students.

Admission for international students

Entry to a bachelor's degree generally requires an upper-secondary qualification at MQF level 4. UM accepts foreign school-leaving qualifications that give access to recognised universities in the home country, provided they are of a comparable standard and the course has no special entry requirements. The International Baccalaureate and the European Baccalaureate are treated as local qualifications. Students who are eligible for university at home but do not meet UM's entry requirements can take a one-year Foundation Studies Course. Mature applicants aged 23 or over may be admitted on the basis of experience.

Applicants who completed secondary school abroad must present a Secure English Language Test result. For an undergraduate course UM asks, for example, for Academic IELTS 6.0 overall, and for a postgraduate course 6.5. Master's courses generally require a first degree with at least Second Class Honours or an equivalent. Non-EU applicants who need a visa face an earlier deadline: for the October 2026 intake it was 1 July 2026.

Student visa and residence

According to Identità, Malta's identity and visa agency, students from outside the EU (including those who can normally visit for 90 days without a visa) need a national long-stay visa (D-visa) for courses longer than 90 days. UM requires a D-visa from all non-EU students who come for at least one semester, and students staying a year or more apply for an e-residence permit after arrival. Non-EU students with an e-residence permit may work up to 20 hours a week.

Costs and funding

Maltese and EU students on full-time undergraduate courses at UM, MCAST and ITS do not pay tuition fees, and they can receive a maintenance grant (stipend). Students from outside the EU normally pay higher fees, which UM lists for each course. Since 2021, UK nationals are treated as non-EU applicants at UM. Examples from UM for 2026: the application fee for applicants with overseas qualifications is €100, and annual doctoral fees are €11,000 full-time for non-EU students and €600 for EU/EEA students.

For living costs, UM's guide gives about €550-700 a month for a room in a shared flat and €450 for food. Public transport is free for e-residence permit holders.

How to choose a university in Malta

• Type of institution: a public university, a vocational college with degree programmes or a private provider
• Accreditation: whether the programme is accredited on the MQF by the MFHEA or by a self-accrediting institution
• Fees: whether you pay EU or non-EU fees
• Intake: October or February start, and the earlier deadline for visa applicants
• English level: the test and score your course requires
• Campus and housing: Msida, Valletta, Marsaxlokk or Gozo, and shared or single accommodation

Frequently asked questions

Are university courses in Malta taught in English?

Yes. English is the language of instruction at the University of Malta, and overseas students do not need Maltese. Applicants educated abroad must show an English test result.

Is university free in Malta?

Full-time undergraduate courses at the University of Malta, MCAST and ITS are free for Maltese and EU students. Students from outside the EU normally pay fees, which vary by course.

Do I need a visa to study at a university in Malta?

Students from outside the EU need a long-stay D-visa for courses longer than 90 days, even if they can visit Malta without a visa. Those staying a year or more also apply for an e-residence permit.

When does the academic year start in Malta?

Most courses start in October, with a smaller intake in February. Non-EU applicants who need a visa must apply earlier; for October 2026 the deadline was 1 July.