Studying in Malta
Students looking at Malta to further their studies will find that the country has a well-rounded education system covering all levels, from primary to post-graduate level. Other than specific language courses, the higher levels are offered solely in English and the sector already hosts a sizeable percentage of foreign students.
Within every level, there are both public and private schools, with the former providing free education for all students up to post-secondary level. Private schools providing their services against fees comprise both independent schools and international schools, with the latter catering mainly for foreign residents.
Tertiary, as well as further and higher education, are currently provided by three public education institutions, namely the University of Malta https://www.um.edu.mt/ , the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) https://mcast.edu.mt/ and the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) https://its.edu.mt/ , as well as a good number of private education institutions. A list of these institutions may be viewed here.
The qualifications provided by all education institutions in Malta follow the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) https://mfhea.mt/research-and-policy/malta-qualifications-framework/ as set by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) in line with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) https://europass.europa.eu/en/european-qualifications-framework-eqf . This means that all qualifications garnered through these institutions are internationally recognised. Also in line with European guidelines, the course work is measured in ECTS .
Education institutions in Malta offer both full-time and part-time courses. They also welcome students on exchange programmes, as well as students who are benefiting from a scholarship.
Exchange Programmes
With its excellent quality of life, as well as schools in proximity to the sea, cultural and entertainment hotspots, Malta is a favourite choice among students seeking to undertake a study experience abroad. All hosting institutions have their own international offices that are available to help all incoming students by answering any questions they may have about the courses, funding, housing and general paperwork. Exchange programmes are available both for students hailing from the European Union, such as Erasmus+ https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/ , as well as non-EU students, who may benefit from International Exchange programmes.
Erasmus+ is a European Union mobility programme that gives students the opportunity to experience studying abroad or working through a traineeship in the hope of building a sense of interconnectivity across Europe whilst training independent and self-sufficient individuals. Studying in Malta has proven to be an enriching experience for many Erasmus students, with the added benefit that lectures are delivered in English, making it is generally easier for the students to follow. Although Malta has a bilateral agreement with many universities across the EU, interested students should first check with their own institution to see with whether a bilateral agreement is indeed in place. They should then apply to the receiving institution and if accepted are given a grant issued through the European Commission.
Education institutions in Malta also participate in other international exchange programmes that focus on countries that are outside of the European Union. The University of Malta, for example, has agreements with various universities around the world, including universities in Australia, Canada, China, Japan and the USA. One such programme is the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) https://www.isepstudyabroad.org/, which is one of the largest study abroad membership networks in the world with more than 300 partner universities in over 50 countries. Interested students should contact their own education institution to see if a bilateral agreement exists and, in that case, what the funding and scholarship opportunities available for them would be.
Scholarships
Students who undertake studies in Malta may also avail themselves of various funding opportunities or scholarships, including support provided by the Maltese authorities as well as support provided by the European Union.
Scholarships provided by the Maltese authorities are issued through the Ministry for Education. A list of available scholarships is published on the Ministry’s website https://myscholarship.gov.mt/. These include:
The Endeavour Scholarship Scheme https://myscholarship.gov.mt/en/services/endeavour-ii/ supports good quality tertiary education with the aim of ensuring that the Maltese labour market is supplied with adequately trained individuals. The scheme supports those pursuing this path to succeed both at the level of education attainment as well as contributing effectively towards the economy, thereby placing Malta in a better position to compete at an international level.
The Malta Arts Scholarships https://myscholarship.gov.mt/en/services/art-scholarships/scheme seeks to provide more opportunities to individuals who are exceptionally talented in the creation and/or promotion of expressive arts. Theatre, music, dance, design, creative writing, film, the visual arts or any combination thereof are given priority for support.
The Malta Sports Scholarships https://myscholarship.gov.mt/en/services/sports-scholarships/ scheme seeks to promote specialisation in sports, including certifications in proficiency in sporting disciplines, coaching, management and related support services. Aimed at contributing towards the development of sport in Malta, the scholarship is intended to support individuals who are exceptionally committed in any field of sport to help them pursue a programme of study leading to a specialised level in a selected sport discipline.
The European Union provides a wide range of scholarships and financial support schemes, including grants, bursaries and loans to finance one’s studies. Some schemes cover part of the tuition fees, while others cover all of the tuition fees plus support living costs too.