Study in Malta

Malta has some of the Oldest Structures in the World

But Malta’s ancient wonders aren’t all underwater. Despite being so isolated, civilizations have flourished on Malta for thousands of years.

Malta’s most historic claim to fame is the 5,000-year-old Hagar Qim. This limestone beauty is one of Malta’s celebrated Megalithic temples,  many of which predate the pyramids and even Stonehenge.

These temples are all designated UNESCO World Heritage sites, but they’re not alone on the prestigious UN list – Malta’s capital city of Valletta and the prehistoric Hypogeum are also UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Over 329,000 vehicles are registered in Malta, which is a big number considering the 425,000       or so inhabitants and relatively small road network.

The name Malta may have come from the Greek word Melite

People in the country drive on the left-hand side of the road.

Some other countries where this is the norm include India, Australia, U.K, Ireland, Cyprus, etc. These countries were once British colonies.

The name Malta may have come from the Greek word Melite

Movies Shot in Malta

As well as being famous for its diving, architectural sites, and festivals, Malta is also a popular film location in its own right.

Malta’s dramatic cliffs, stunning landscapes, and ancient buildings make it the perfect backdrop for many feature films and TV shows, particularly those aiming for an antiquated feel. The films ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Troy’ both take advantage of Malta’s classical charm, while the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise passed off a few Maltese landscapes as Caribbean beaches.

‘Game of Thrones’ also contains several scenes filmed around the intensely photogenic capital of Valletta. Game of Thrones fans will also be keen to know that Gozo’s famous, but sadly collapsed, Azure Window provided the backdrop for Daenerys Targaryen’s wedding with Kahl Drogo.

Malta has a reputation as a Diving Hotspot

Malta is famous for its incredible coastline, but you don’t have to be lying on the beach to appreciate the Mediterranean’s unique charm. The archipelago’s famous, crystal clear waters especially make for great diving!

Malta does not have a property tax.

Countries such as Dubai, Monaco, Bahrain and Israel are some of the other countries that also do not levy property taxes.

University

There is one University in Malta – the University of Malta, although a few foreign universities are being set up. UoM is one of the oldest universities in the Mediterranean.

Centrally situated in Msida, UoM is the highest teaching institution on the island. There is no university in Gozo and many Gozitans move to Malta to complete their tertiary education.

Education at tertiary level is publicly funded and is also free, and students receive a stipend as well as an allowance for academic-related expenditure.

Some 11,000 students study at the University. Of these, some 650 are international students hailing from 77 countries. The University regularly hosts a large number of Erasmus and other exchange students. Similarly, many University students here get to go on exchanges to Universities the world over. Almost 3,000 students graduate annually.

The University offers a wide range of full-time and part-time degrees as well as diploma courses. The primary language of instruction at the University is English.

In order to read for a first degree at University you need to have the required ‘A’ level qualifications or equivalent. You can enter as a mature (over 25-year-old) student and the requirements for entry at this level are different than those for people under 25.

Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology

MCAST is a vocational education and training institution. Set up in 2001, the college has grown rapidly over the past few years and is now made up of 10 institutes located around Malta and Gozo.

Students can study a wide range of subjects, from agribusiness, to applied science, art and design, building and construction, business and commerce, community service, electrical and electronics engineering, information and communication technology, mechanical engineering and maritime studies.

The college offers 170 full-time and over 300 part-time vocational courses ranging from certificates to degrees, preparing students for careers in different sectors of the economy of for higher education.

The college collaborates closely with local industries to make sure that students get hands-on experience as well as gain the necessary contacts and exposure to the sector they wish to work in.

The Institute of Tourism Studies

The ITS – located in St Julian’s and with a branch in Gozo – provides training to students who wish to work in the hospitality industry. The organisation trains students aged 16 and over in various disciplines in the tourism industry. Courses include Hospitality and Tourism Management, Hotel Operations, Accommodation Operations, Travel Agency Operations, Travel and Tourism, and Tour Guiding.

• Engineering
• Humanities
• Dentistry
• Nursing
• Medicine
• Natural Science
• Social science
• Computer Science
• Law

The General Entry Requirements are the Matriculation Certificate and a pass at grade 5 or better in the Secondary Education Certificate examinations in English Language, Maltese and Mathematics. A non-Maltese applicant may be allowed to offer another language as approved by the Admissions Board instead of Maltese. The other language cannot be English, and applicants whose mother tongue is English, shall be required to offer a language other than English instead of Maltese.

A non-Maltese applicant may be allowed to offer another language instead of Maltese, as approved by the Admissions Board, provided that it is not English. Applicants whose mother tongue is English shall be required to offer a language other than English, instead of Maltese.

The qualifications you present from your home country in support of your application are independently evaluated by UM to assess the comparability against national framework levels.

If your native language is not English, you must prove English proficiency. Generally, a student must show proficiency of an overall score of minimum 6.5 in IELTS.

• A copy of passport or ID card
• A passport picture
• A personal statement in English (should contain around 500-800 words answering questions such as: Why and what would you like to study at the university? What are your plans after graduation?)
• Copies of obtained secondary school diplomas, certificates and/or grade lists (uploaded diplomas and/or grade lists which are not in English need to be accompanied by an official English translation)
• Transcript of records
• Proof of English language proficiency

Some universities may require additional documents, such as:

• CV or resume (including two referees)
• Motivation letter
• Sample of academic written work

Tuition Fee

Tuition costs for 8 credits for international students studying the Arts or Business courses is 1,080 EUROS for undergraduate students and 1,360 EUROS for Science career paths. Full-time undergraduate courses are free of charge to citizens of Malta and the European Union. Also, Maltese students who are enrolled in higher education courses in Malta are entitled to a stipend.

Cost of Living

You can find both private as well as state-run universities in Malta. Public schools are practically free to join, but private universities can be very costly. The actual tuition fees vary wildly depending on the school, but you may be looking at yearly expenses of around €2,000 for private universities – that’s excluding accommodation costs.

When it comes to housing, students usually choose one of the following options:

• Renting a flat, which should cost around €700 in fixed expenses depending the location
• Find a position as a paying guest in a local house, which should cost about €450
• Getting a room at a residence for students, with average cost around €250
• Some students also choose using hostels as their primary residence, to save money.

If you’re planning to study there, keep in mind you will need extra pocket money for travel expenses, for entertainment and similar expenses – local students on average tend to spend somewhere between €100-150 monthly in such activities.

In general terms, anyone who’s planning to study in Malta should plan to spend somewhere between €300-900 per month to cover all their expenses, including tuition, housing, travel and entertainment. You may want to consider getting health insurance to cover any eventual health issues you may have while living in Malta.

Applicants must prepare following documents to Apply for a Malta Student Visa.Visa applications must be legible and wholly completed with all details filled in.

Application Form duly filled in and signed by the applicant

(Visa applications can be submitted 3 months prior to the intended date of travel but not later than 15 days.Online Forms are not accepted by VFS )

Declaration of Proof Form

• One recent Passport size photograph in colour with 80% zoom in white background (3.5cm by 4.5cm). Please do not staple the photographs to the Application Form.
• Passport/Travel document must:

1.  Be valid for at least 3 months after the intended stay;
2.  Be issued within the previous 10 years and not valid for more than 10 years;
3. Have at least 3 blank pages.

• Overseas Travel Medical Insurance valid for all Schengen countries. The insurance must cover the applicant for at least 30,000 Euros( for 3 months)
• Confirmed Travel Itinerary with travel dates (with return flights for courses less than 91 days). Once the Visa is approved, a confirmed return flight ticket may be requested prior to Visa being issued.
• Proof of Sufficient Funds to cover all expenses (tuition fee + daily expenses) during the

entire period of study. Notarised declaration if parents/legal guardian sponsoring.

1. Letter (signed and stamped) from the bank stating the available balance
2. Last 6 months original Bank Statement of student or sponsor
3. ITRs accompanied by the CPC acknowledgement (verified) for the last 3 years,

• • Original Letter of Acceptance from the educational institution in Malta stating: course dates; cost; duration; & title; contact hours per week; amount of credits awarded; whether applicant has been interviewed and accepted for the course; and, monthly rent and address, if accommodation is provided.
  • Course Details: a copy of the time table and a schedule of lessons per every month of study

• Proof of Accommodation for the duration of the course

Either: i) Confirmed Hotel Booking 

Or:    ii) if Applicant have any relative in Malta – ‘Declaration of Proof’ completely filled in, signed by the host and photocopy of host’s Malta ID Card or Passport. All in original and all witnessed  by(Maltese) Legal Professionals.

This is not required if the Letter of Acceptance from the Educational Institution in Malta provides for accommodation and includes the address.

• Proof of Payment:Proof of payment received by the education institution related to the applicant’s course for the entire period of study:

1. For courses of a value of up to €1,000, the original receipt covering full payment;
2. For courses of a value of more than €1,000 but less than €2,500, the original receipt covering at least 75%;

iii. For courses of a value that is equal to or higher than €2,500, the original receipt covering at least 50%;

• • Original Educational Certificates, apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs of the issuing country plus photocopies of the same. Originals will be returned with a passport.

• Original & photocopy of all the pages of current and the last previous passport

• Notarized No Objection Certificate by both parents if applicant is a minor
• Adhaar Card (along with a photocopy)

You must make an appointment with vfs to submit your visa application. You will also be required to give your biometrics. You can visit your nearest VFS application centre to do the same. The processing time of your Application will take a minimum 15 days and it will start from the next day of submission at VFS.

You can track your application with the reference number found on the receipt and last name.

Malta has announced changes to its student visa policy that will simplify and streamline the process for non-EU students and include work rights.

Its aim is to make Malta more attractive for international students while maintaining the reputation of the local education sector, a government statement reads

Non-EU students enrolled in a higher education course for more than 90 days will also be allowed to work 20 hours a week, and international graduates will be able to extend their stay in Malta for six months after graduation to look for work.

English language students on courses longer than three months will also be allowed to work and they will need to apply for a residence permit only if they extend their stay over a year.