There is no single scholarship for every international student. As of 28 September 2026, the 2026 TESS and University of Malta deadlines have passed. One English school has announced a 2026 IELTS scholarship, but its application details and terms are still forthcoming.
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| You want to attend an English-language school in Malta | Maltalingua has announced a 2026 scholarship for one student: a four-week IELTS preparation course and listed extras, worth over €2,000. Its page says application details, dates and terms will be announced later, so it is not a confirmed open application. |
| You want postgraduate or other higher-education funding | TESS supports eligible MQF Level 7 and 8 study, while University of Malta awards are often tied to specific nationalities or programmes. The 2026 deadlines for the examples described here have passed. |
| You are newly arriving in Malta and want a government maintenance grant | Do not assume you qualify. The published criteria include specified status categories and at least five years’ residence in Malta before the course. |
Start with the kind of course you want
Yes, some scholarships and study grants are available, but there is no single general award for every international student. English-language courses, university degrees and other higher-education programmes have different options. Check the exact course, your nationality and residence status, the academic year, the deadline and what costs the award covers.
For English-language study, Maltalingua’s school page announces a 2026 IELTS scholarship for one student, worth over €2,000. The listed package includes a four-week IELTS preparation course, accommodation in a shared student apartment and return airport transfer, among other items. As checked on 28 September 2026, the school says entry dates, application instructions and terms will be announced later. Treat it as an announced opportunity, not an open application, and check the school’s page for the formal announcement.
The government’s Live the Language scheme is different: it supports young people undertaking language training in the language’s native country, and its 2026 call is marked closed. It is not funding for an international student to come to Malta for English classes. Ask any school you are considering whether it has other school-specific support, and get the current terms in writing.
For university or other higher-education study, check both the institution’s scholarship listings and government schemes. University of Malta awards can be limited to particular nationalities, programmes and applicant circumstances; do not assume a listed award is open to all foreign applicants.
What the 2026 higher-education calls offered
The Tertiary Education Scholarships Scheme (TESS) supports eligible MQF Level 7 and Level 8 study. Its 2026 window for new applications ran from 27 April to 5 June at noon and has closed. If you already applied, the 2026 regulations set a separate deadline of 9 October 2026 at 4 p.m. for certain follow-up documents, including a transcript, unconditional acceptance letter or MQRIC report where applicable. Successful applicants had to start their course by 31 December 2026. The published page does not establish that a 2027 call is open.
University of Malta’s 2026 listings included targeted rather than general awards. For example, one call was for Palestinian nationals residing in Palestine applying to specified master’s programmes, with a 5 June 2026 deadline. An Islands and Small States Institute postgraduate award was limited to eligible nationals of ODA-eligible Small Island Developing States and had a 1 July 2026 deadline. Both deadlines have passed; check the university’s current listings for later calls rather than assuming the awards have reopened.
Coverage differs by award. The 2026 Palestinian-national award listed tuition, a €1,300 monthly subsistence allowance, and capped return-travel and visa expenses. The Islands and Small States Institute award listed tuition and a €1,000 research grant; it said students choosing to reside in Malta would be responsible for living, accommodation and travel costs. These were specific 2026 terms, not a standard package for international students.
TESS eligibility and reimbursement
TESS eligibility is tied to specified connections to Malta, not simply admission to a course. The 2026 regulations include Maltese citizens meeting residence conditions; certain EU/EEA nationals or family members with specified residence or worker status; third-country nationals with five years’ residence and long-term residence status; and certain UK Withdrawal Agreement residence-document holders. Swiss nationals are not expressly named in the eligibility list reviewed. If you are Swiss, ask the Scholarships Unit to confirm your position rather than assuming the EU/EEA provisions apply.
Under the 2026 scheme, listed maximum grants were up to €10,000 for MQF Level 7 and up to €32,000 for Level 8. These are scheme limits, not guaranteed individual awards. TESS is not necessarily an upfront full-fee scholarship: awardees pay tuition or bench fees to the institution and seek reimbursement with invoices, official receipts and proof of payment. Check the regulations and any individual award agreement before relying on the funding.
Government maintenance grants are not a general newcomer scholarship
Malta’s Students’ Maintenance Grants have their own status and residence requirements; they are not a general grant for students newly arriving from abroad. The published criteria include qualifying nationality or immigration-status categories and at least five years’ residence in Malta immediately before the course. The stated processing cutoff for 2025–26 applications was 30 June 2026. Check the rules and dates for your academic year and personal circumstances.
Funding does not give immigration or work permission
Treat funding and immigration as separate matters. A scholarship does not itself give you permission to enter, reside or work in Malta. Requirements for third-country students depend on factors including nationality, course and duration, so check your route with Identità before making travel plans. Read more about Malta residence permit requirements.
Student work access has separate conditions and may require an employment licence or permit. Before budgeting around possible earnings, check the rules that apply to your course and situation. Our guide to part-time jobs in Malta for students covers practical checks before accepting work.
Get Qualified is a tax credit, not a scholarship
Malta’s Get Qualified scheme is a tax-credit incentive, not an upfront scholarship or cash award. A 2026 government announcement describes tax credits of up to 70% on eligible study expenses and says the enhanced scheme remains in effect through 31 December 2030. Applicants must be liable to tax in Malta; not every international student or course qualifies. Check the detailed rules, approved courses and qualifying expenses before counting on a credit.
What to check before applying
Start with the exact course and academic year. Ask the school or university which awards are open to your nationality and residence status, whether you need a full offer of admission, the application deadline, which costs are covered, and whether you must pay first and claim reimbursement. Several 2026 deadlines discussed above have passed, and their terms should not be assumed to carry over to another year. Check the current listings and confirm details with the institution or scholarship office.
Questions people ask
Can international students get TESS?
Some applicants who are not Maltese citizens may qualify, but the 2026 rules require specified nationality, family, worker or residence conditions. The 2026 application window has closed. Swiss nationals are not expressly named in the eligibility list reviewed, so ask the Scholarships Unit to confirm your case.
Does TESS pay all my tuition upfront?
Not necessarily. The 2026 regulations listed maximum grants of up to €10,000 for Level 7 and €32,000 for Level 8, but say awardees pay tuition or bench fees and then seek reimbursement with the required documentation. The amount and eligible costs depend on the rules and individual award.
Are scholarships available for English-language courses in Malta?
Maltalingua has announced a 2026 scholarship for one student to take a four-week IELTS preparation course, with a package the school values at over €2,000. As checked on 28 September 2026, its application dates, instructions and terms were still forthcoming, so do not assume applications are open. The government’s Live the Language scheme is not for international learners coming to Malta for English classes.
Does a scholarship let me live or work in Malta?
No. Scholarship funding and immigration permission are separate. Visa, residence and work requirements depend on your nationality, course, duration and circumstances; check your situation directly with Identità.
Is Get Qualified a scholarship?
No. It is a tax-credit scheme for eligible study expenses, not an upfront scholarship. Check the detailed rules and qualifying expenses to see whether you qualify.
Sources
- Government of Malta — TESS
- Ministry for Education and Sports — TESS Regulations 2026
- University of Malta — Scholarships
- University of Malta — Palestinian Scholarships
- University of Malta — Islands and Small States Institute Scholarships
- Maltalingua — IELTS Scholarship
- Servizz.gov — Students’ Maintenance Grants
- Ministry for Education and Sports — Live the Language
- Identità — Study FAQ
- Government of Malta — Get Qualified Scheme announcement
Rules, fees and eligibility can change. Confirm current requirements with the named authority or institution before applying or paying.