Malta’s MQRIC assesses qualifications for comparability. The right next step depends on whether you need an academic assessment, admission to a course, permission to practise a regulated profession or recognition for a specific employment application.
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| You need an academic assessment | Check MFHEA’s list of already recognised courses first. If the qualification is not listed, you can apply to MQRIC online. Whether you need an assessment depends on the institution, employer or scheme. |
| You want to enter a university course | An MQRIC statement can be considered, but the university separately decides whether you meet that course’s entry requirements. |
| You want to practise a regulated profession | Contact the Maltese authority responsible for that profession. An academic comparability statement is not professional registration, a warrant or a licence. |
| You are a non-EU applicant whose job requires a foreign-issued qualification | Identità says you must obtain MQRIC recognition or submit proof of equivalence. This condition does not mean every job or permit application requires recognition. |
“Recognised” can mean different things
The Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC), within the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), assesses academic and vocational qualifications against the Malta Qualifications Framework and uses the European Qualifications Framework in its comparability advice. MQRIC is Malta’s official ENIC-NARIC centre. Its assessment is not, by itself, university admission, permission to practise a profession or approval of a work or residence application.
A recognition statement may be requested for further study, a job or promotion, a scholarship or another specific purpose. Check with the institution, employer, regulator or application office involved; not every foreign-degree holder needs an MQRIC assessment for every purpose.
Check MFHEA’s list before applying
Search MFHEA’s List of Already Accredited Courses for the specific qualification. MFHEA says that if it is listed, it is recognised and you do not need to submit an assessment application. If it is not listed, you can apply through MQRIC’s online system.
Check the live application instructions for the documents and fee for your application type. MFHEA publishes different fees for different types of assessment, and says the number of fast-track applications is limited, so fast-track submissions may not always be available.
For university study, the institution decides admission
An MQRIC statement does not guarantee admission. The University of Malta says it considers the statement but separately evaluates whether the qualification meets the entry requirements for the particular course. Check the admissions rules of the university and programme you plan to apply to.
For regulated work, contact the profession’s authority
If the job is in a regulated profession, academic comparability is only one part of the process. MFHEA says designated authorities are responsible for individual regulated professions; requirements differ by profession and can also depend on whether you intend to practise permanently or temporarily. Check whether the profession is regulated in Malta and contact its competent authority. An MQRIC assessment is not a professional warrant, licence or registration.
The degree’s country and your nationality are different questions
An EU-awarded degree is not automatically recognised for academic purposes throughout the EU. A national procedure may be needed for further study, and the university still decides whether you meet its course requirements.
For access to regulated professions, the route can also depend on nationality and legal status. The EU Professional Qualifications Directive applies to EU nationals and nationals of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Third-country nationals generally follow national procedures, but some legal statuses may bring exceptions, and specific agreements apply in some cases, including Switzerland. Ask the relevant Maltese professional authority about your circumstances; these rules concern professional recognition, not academic comparison of a degree.
A work or residence application has its own requirements
For non-EU employment, Identità says that if the job requires a qualification issued abroad, you must obtain MQRIC recognition or submit proof of equivalence. That condition does not mean recognition is required for every job or permit application; check the current requirements for the specific role and application route.
Start by identifying what you need the qualification for, then check MFHEA’s list and confirm any additional requirements with the relevant university, employer, professional authority or application office. If you are also checking your right to stay in Malta, see Malta Residence Permit Requirements; residence eligibility is a separate question from academic comparability.
Questions people ask
Does an MQRIC statement guarantee university admission?
No. A university may consider the statement, but it decides separately whether your qualification meets the entry requirements for the course.
Does academic recognition let me practise a regulated profession in Malta?
Not by itself. Contact the Maltese authority responsible for the profession to ask about registration, a warrant, a licence or other requirements.
Are EU degrees automatically recognised in Malta?
No automatic EU-wide academic recognition applies. A national procedure may be needed for further study, and the university makes its own course-admission decision.
Do I need to apply to MQRIC if my qualification is already listed?
MFHEA says an assessment application is not needed if the specific qualification appears in its List of Already Accredited Courses. Check the current listing before applying.
Do non-EU applicants always need MQRIC recognition for a job?
No. Identità says that if the job requires a qualification issued abroad, you must obtain MQRIC recognition or submit proof of equivalence. Check the requirements for your specific role and application route.
Sources
- MFHEA — Academic Qualifications
- University of Malta — Admissions FAQs
- MFHEA — Professional Qualifications
- European Commission — Getting recognition of professional qualifications
- European Commission — Information for third-country nationals
- European Union — Recognition of academic diplomas
- Identità — Expatriates: Non-EU Employment FAQs
Rules, fees and eligibility can change. Confirm current requirements with the named authority or institution before applying or paying.