Study in Malta

STUDY IN MALTA FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Study in Malta: Get Admitted to the Right University or College

You can study in Malta if a licensed Maltese institution accepts you into a full-time course at MQF level 5 or higher, you pay your fees, and you can show enough money to live without public help. AIA checks all three with you first, applies for you, and charges no fee for admission.

No admission fee. We apply for you.

35+ Years of Immigration Experience|25,000+ Clients Guided Since 1991

AIA supports your admission. Visa and residence permit applications are separate and are made by you with Identità Malta.

2026 Canadian Choice Award

Independently verified excellence

35+

Years in immigration

25,000+

Clients guided

3 offices

Toronto, Dubai, Karachi

On this page

Why Malta Admission Language Money Work Start dates How it works Who we are Visa Questions Check my chances

The key facts at a glance

Study levels: Diploma (MQF level 5), bachelor, master and doctorate at licensed institutions
Language: Set by each institution
Money to show: Course fees paid, plus funds of at least 60% of the annual national minimum wage or poverty line, pro-rated (October 2026)
Insurance: At least EUR 100,000 of health cover, unless you study at the University of Malta, MCAST or ITS
Permit fee: EUR 50 for the study residence permit
Work in term: Up to 20 hours a week with a work permit, from the first year on a full-time higher education course
After you graduate: One-time post-study permit of up to 9 months to look for work or start a business
Start dates: Set by each institution. Check the course page.
AIA fee for admission: None
Last updated: October 2026

Why do students choose Malta?

Students choose Malta because English is an official language, you can work part-time while you study, and graduates can stay to look for work. Students on a full-time higher education course can work up to 20 hours a week with a work permit, and after you graduate you can stay up to 9 months to look for work or start a business (Identità Malta, October 2026).

Three reasons come up most often:

English is an official language: each institution sets the language level and language of teaching for its course.
Work while you study: up to 20 hours a week with a work permit, and a job related to your studies makes the permit application more favourable.
A route after study: a one-time 9-month permit lets you look for a job or start a business after you graduate.

Can I get admitted? What do I need for each study level?

To be admitted, you need the right education for the level, the language level the institution asks for, and a place in a full-time course at a licensed institution. Each institution sets its own entry rules, so the course page has the last word. Use the table as a starting point.

Study level	Education usually needed	Language	What to know
Diploma (MQF level 5)	Finished secondary school	Set by the institution	The lowest level that qualifies for the study permit and for part-time work.
Bachelor (MQF level 6)	Finished secondary school with good results	Set by the institution	You apply directly to the institution. It sets the entry marks.
Master (MQF level 7)	A bachelor degree	Set by the course	You apply directly to the institution.
Doctorate (MQF level 8)	A master degree	Set by the institution	Check the institution for its research requirements.
Courses below level 5	Varies	Set by the institution	These need a one-year national visa (Type D) and do not allow part-time work.

The examples come from Identità Malta and Maltese law (S.L. 217.22), read in October 2026. Your institution sets the final requirement.

Popular program types

Business and hospitality

Diploma, bachelor or master. Check each course for its language level.

Information technology

Bachelor or master. Check each course for its entry marks.

Gaming and digital media

Bachelor or master. Check each course for extra entry steps.

Health sciences

Check each course for extra entry steps.

Finance and law

Bachelor or master. Check each course for its entry marks.

Arts and sciences

Bachelor or master. Many institutions offer both.

Fees vary by institution and course. We show your exact first-year fee when we match you.

What language level do I need to study in Malta?

Each institution sets its own language level, and the law asks you to show enough knowledge of the language of the course. Your acceptance letter must confirm that you meet the language requirement, where one applies.

Where language matters	What it means
The institution	Sets its own language level for each course.
The acceptance letter	Must confirm that you meet the language requirement, where one applies.
Language courses	Courses below MQF level 5 follow a different route, with a one-year Type D visa and no part-time work.

Check each institution’s rule before you book a test, because the accepted tests and scores differ.

How much money do I need to show?

You must show that you have paid your course fees and that you have enough money to live without public help. Identità sets the amount as 60% of the annual national minimum wage or the poverty line, whichever is higher, pro-rated to the length of your studies (Identità Malta, October 2026). Bank statements from the last 3 months are usually needed.

What you must cover	Amount (October 2026)
Your course fees	Proof of payment is needed, at least for the first semester or year
Living costs	At least 60% of the annual national minimum wage or the poverty line, whichever is higher, pro-rated to your studies
Bank statements	The last 3 months, showing steady funds
Money held abroad	You must show you can reach it in Malta, for example with an international card and ATM receipts
If a sponsor pays	Signed declaration, sponsor ID and proof of the sponsor’s finances
Health insurance	At least EUR 100,000 of cover for the whole stay, unless you study at the University of Malta, MCAST or ITS
Health screening	Needed after arrival if your course lasts over 3 months
Study permit fee	EUR 50
Documents	In English or officially translated, and legalised or apostilled where Identità asks

What proof works: recent bank statements that show steady funds. If your money is in a bank abroad, show that you can reach it in Malta, for example with an international card and ATM withdrawal receipts. Scholarships and stipends count if you add the official letters.

If a sponsor pays: you need a signed sponsor declaration, a copy of the sponsor’s ID or passport, and proof of the sponsor’s finances.

Fees: Fees vary by institution and course. We show your exact first-year fee when we match you.

Can I work while I study and after I graduate?

Yes, with limits. Students on a full-time course leading to a higher education qualification recognised by MQRIC can work up to 20 hours a week, from their first year of study, once they hold a work permit that refers to S.L. 217.22 (Identità Malta, October 2026). Students on other courses longer than 90 days can work up to 20 hours a week after their first three months, in the sectors Jobsplus allows. Identità says a work permit application is considered more favourably when the job relates to your studies. Working without a permit is illegal and can end your student permit. Do not plan to pay your living costs from work, because you must show your money first.

Malta’s student regulation sets a minimum of 15 hours a week, and Identità states 20 hours. Identità says these limits can change, so check them before you accept a job.

After you graduate, a course at MQF level 5 or higher lets you apply for a one-time post-study residence permit of up to 9 months to look for a job or start a business. You apply while your student permit is still valid, and the permit cannot be renewed or extended. It is not a work permit, so your employer must apply for a single permit once you find a job.

When can I start studying in Malta?

Start dates, deadlines and admission steps are set by each institution, so check yours first. You apply to the institution, pay your fees, get your acceptance letter, and then handle your entry and permit with Identità (Identità Malta, October 2026). Your residence permit application is made in Malta after you arrive.

Step	What to know
1. Choose a licensed institution and course	The institution must be licensed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority, and the course must be full-time at MQF level 5 or higher.
2. Apply to the institution	Most institutions take applications directly. Ask for its entry requirements and dates.
3. Accept your offer and pay your fees	Your acceptance letter must name the course, its MQF level, the dates and full-time study of at least 15 hours a week.
4. Get a visa if you need one	Apply for a Type D education visa at a Maltese embassy or consulate. Visa-exempt students can enter without one.
5. Arrive and apply for your permit in Malta	Apply online with Identità, visit in person for biometrics, and collect your eResidence card. Visa-exempt students apply within 90 days of arrival.

Dates change every year, so check your institution’s current dates before you plan.

How does admission work with AIA?

We find courses that fit your marks, language level and budget, apply for you, and follow each application until you have an offer. There is no fee for this. You only pay what the institution charges, such as an application fee or a tuition deposit.

Step 1: Check your admission chances

Answer seven short steps. You see where you are strong and what to fix first.

Step 2: Send your documents

If you look admissible, we ask for your passport, transcripts and language score through a private link, and send you a short agreement to sign.

Step 3: We apply for you

We submit your applications, follow each task and tell you when an offer arrives. A conditional offer is not final enrolment, so we show you what you still need to meet.

Ready to see where you stand?

Two minutes. Seven short steps. No fee.

“Know where you stand first. Then choose the school.”

Amir Ismail · Founder, Amir Ismail & Associates

Why students choose Amir Ismail & Associates

Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you find programs that fit your marks, language level and budget, and we apply for you at no fee. Schools make the decisions, and your visa stays a separate step that you handle yourself or through a regulated adviser.

Honest admission check

We tell you when a plan does not fit, before you spend money.

Programs that fit you

We match your marks, language level and budget, not a template.

Free for you

Our admission help costs you nothing. You pay only the school’s own fees.

Clear on who does what

AIA supports your admission. You handle the visa yourself or through a regulated adviser.

A real application

We prepare your documents and submit your applications for you.

Since 1991

35+ years in immigration and 25,000+ clients guided.

What about the Maltese student visa and permit?

If your nationality needs a visa to enter Malta, you get a National Long-Stay Visa (Type D) for education from a Maltese embassy or consulate before you travel. If your nationality is visa-exempt and you study longer than 90 days, you apply for the permit within 90 days of arrival. AIA supports your admission. The visa and permit are separate applications you make yourself or through a regulated adviser.

You apply for the study residence permit online in Malta after you arrive, pay the EUR 50 fee, and visit Identità in person for your biometrics and card. You need your acceptance letter, proof of paid fees, proof of funds, health insurance of at least EUR 100,000 unless your institution exempts you, and a health screening if your course lasts over 3 months. Read the full list on the official page: Identità Malta, Study residence permit FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

What marks do I need to study in Malta?

Each institution sets its own entry requirements, so the course page decides. Bachelor courses ask for finished secondary school, and master courses ask for a bachelor degree. Check your chances with AIA to see where you stand.

What language level do I need for Malta?

Each institution sets its own language level and language of teaching, and your acceptance letter must confirm that you meet the language requirement where one applies.

How much money do I need to study in Malta?

You must pay your course fees and show funds of at least 60% of the annual national minimum wage or the poverty line, whichever is higher, pro-rated to your studies. You also need health insurance of at least EUR 100,000 unless your institution exempts you (Identità Malta, 2026).

Can I work while studying in Malta?

Yes. Students on a full-time higher education course can work up to 20 hours a week, from their first year, with a work permit. Students on other courses over 90 days can work up to 20 hours after their first three months, in the sectors Jobsplus allows.

See where you stand

Two minutes. Seven short steps. No fee. We tell you honestly if you are ready to apply or what to fix first.