Admission depends on the course. Before committing, verify the provider and programme, then check the current visa, residence and work rules for your nationality and course length. Identità’s student-visa pages give different course-duration thresholds, so confirm your case before travel.
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| Applying to the University of Malta with overseas qualifications | Choose the overseas-qualifications route where applicable. You must meet the chosen course’s entry requirements and the University’s English-language requirement; check its current course information for accepted evidence and deadlines. |
| Third-country national taking a course over 90 days | Identità says a course exceeding 90 calendar days calls for a National Long-Stay D visa, but its FAQ sets a different threshold: courses of at least 105 days. Confirm the visa for your course and nationality with Identità before booking travel. |
| EU, EEA or Swiss student staying more than three months | Residence registration or a residence permit may apply. Check the procedure and documents for your specific nationality; Identità’s EU study checklist includes a limited insurance-document exception for students at the University of Malta, MCAST and ITS. |
| Planning to work while studying | Work rules depend on your nationality and residence status. Third-country national students generally need the relevant Jobsplus employment authorisation; EU/EEA and Swiss nationals have different rules. Check your own status before starting work. |
Applying: your course sets the academic requirements
Yes. International students can apply to universities and higher-education providers in Malta, but there is no single entry standard for every programme. At the University of Malta, applicants with qualifications not treated as local should use the overseas-qualifications route. Applicants must meet the chosen course’s academic and English-language requirements. Check the course page for required qualifications, documents and accepted English-language evidence.
Deadlines vary by course, intake and visa needs. As of September 28, 2026, the University of Malta’s listed October 2026 deadlines have passed: July 1, 2026 at 14:00 for non-EU applicants needing a visa, July 22, 2026 at 14:00 for general applications, and September 15, 2026 at 14:00 for late applications. Check the current course listing or contact admissions about the next available intake.
Check the provider and the exact programme
Before paying fees or accepting an offer, check the provider’s current licence and the status of the specific programme in the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority’s register and qualifications database. A provider’s licence does not mean every programme it offers is accredited; programme accreditation is assessed separately.
An English-language course is not automatically university study or a degree. The ELT Council separately regulates English Language Teaching schools and lists licensed providers. Check the status of the particular provider and course, as well as the immigration route that applies to your stay.
Residence and visas depend on nationality and course length
EU nationals studying in Malta for more than three months must register their presence. Identità’s study checklist asks for proof of enrolment, comprehensive health cover and sufficient resources. It says students at the University of Malta, MCAST or ITS do not need to provide the insurance document under that checklist; do not assume this exception applies to other institutions.
EEA and Swiss students should check the procedure for their own nationality rather than assume every EU document rule is identical. Identità’s materials distinguish EU, EEA and Swiss applicants; its guidance says Swiss nationals staying more than three months should apply for a residence permit. Confirm the current checklist with Identità.
For third-country nationals, Identità describes a study-residence route for full-time study at a licensed institution leading to a higher-education qualification recognised at MQF Level 5. Its guidance also notes that other course levels may have routes under applicable rules. Visa-exempt applicants on the described route must apply for residence within three months of entering EU territory; applicants who need a Schengen visa must hold one issued for education purposes. Identità says the residence application is made in person in Malta.
Identità’s visa guidance conflicts on the course-duration threshold. One page says applicants, including visa-exempt third-country nationals, taking courses exceeding 90 calendar days are to be issued a National Long-Stay D visa. Its FAQ says students other than EU nationals taking courses of at least 105 days must apply for a D-national visa before travelling. The stated thresholds therefore differ for some courses, including those lasting 91–104 days. Confirm the rule for your exact course and nationality with Identità before booking travel.
If you are a British national, check whether you are a beneficiary of the EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement before following the ordinary third-country route. Eligible beneficiaries may retain residence rights in Malta and, if their purpose of stay changes and they meet the conditions for another residence category, may change status, including to student. British nationals who do not qualify for that status generally need to use the applicable non-EU route.
For more on the documents and routes to check, see Malta residence permit requirements.
Can international students work?
Work rules depend on nationality and status. EU nationals may work without a residence card, but their employment must be registered with Jobsplus. EEA and Swiss nationals are generally exempt from the standard employment-licence requirement in Jobsplus’ published guidance; check the current procedure for your own circumstances. Third-country nationals studying in Malta generally need the relevant Jobsplus employment authorisation. Eligible students on qualifying full-time higher-education courses may work up to 20 hours a week from their first year, subject to the required authorisation. Other eligible student categories may only be able to work after their first three months. Check your residence conditions and Jobsplus requirements before accepting a job.
For practical information on finding work and what to check before accepting a job, see part-time jobs in Malta for students.
Fees and scholarships vary
There is no single tuition fee or scholarship rule for all international students. At the University of Malta, fees depend on the course and whether the student falls under the EU/EEA or non-EU/EEA category; the University directs applicants to each course overview for fees. Funding and research opportunities are published through specific calls with their own eligibility rules. Check the course and funding information for the academic year you intend to start.
Questions people ask
Do I need a particular English test score?
Requirements and accepted evidence depend on the course and institution. The University of Malta requires international applicants to meet its English-language requirement; check the chosen course’s admissions information for current evidence and required levels.
Is an English-language school the same as a university?
No. English-language teaching schools are a separately licensed category overseen by the ELT Council. Check the provider and the specific course to establish whether it is a language course or an accredited higher-education programme.
Can third-country students work while studying?
Some students may work subject to eligibility and the required Jobsplus employment authorisation. The applicable hours and when work may begin depend on course and status; do not treat a student visa or residence permission as automatic permission to work.
Can I use one tuition or scholarship estimate for any Maltese course?
No. Fees and funding conditions can depend on the provider, programme, student category, academic year and the terms of a particular funding call. Check the official course and funding information.
Do British students follow the same residence route as other third-country nationals?
Not always. British nationals who qualify as EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries may retain protected residence rights in Malta and may be able to change status if they meet the conditions for another category. Check with Identità whether you qualify; other British nationals generally need to follow the applicable non-EU route.
Sources
- University of Malta — International applicants
- University of Malta — Admissions FAQs
- MFHEA — Enrolment guidelines: How to verify your school in Malta
- MFHEA — List of Licensed Providers and Accredited Programmes
- ELT Council — List of Licensed ELT Schools in Malta
- Identità — Study (EU nationals)
- Identità — EU/EEA/Swiss residence application notes
- Identità — Study residence application form
- Identità — Study, Research, Trainees, Volunteers & Interns
- Identità — Expatriates FAQ: Study for third-country nationals
- Identità — Student Visa: Courses exceeding 90 days
- Identità — Visa FAQ
- Identità — Central Visa Unit Student Visa: Employment
- Identità — Expatriates: EU Nationals FAQ
- Jobsplus — Employment licences guide (version in force from January 19, 2021)
- Jobsplus — Third-country nationals
- Identità — British nationals FAQs
- Identità — Withdrawal Agreement and Citizens’ Rights
- Identità — Withdrawal Agreement FAQ document
- University of Malta — Fees and funding
Rules, fees and eligibility can change. Confirm current requirements with the named authority or institution before applying or paying.