The University of Malta is a pro-bono higher education institution located in the town of Msida. Founded in 1592, it is currently the best university in Malta. Its main campus, based out of Msida, is a facility that spans 194,000 square meters, and houses most of the institution’s faculties and institutions. It also has campuses in Valletta and in Gozo –Malta’s sister-island. Through the agencies of its fourteen faculties, its several institutions and centers, as well as its School of Performing Arts, the university offers undergraduate bachelor’s degrees, postgraduate master’s degrees and postgraduate doctorates (PHD).
The university recently restructured itself in conformity to the frameworks laid out by leading academic bodies such as the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the European University Association, the Utrecht Network, the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP), the European Association for University Lifelong Learning (EUCEN), and the Compostela Group. In doing so, the university has gained membership status in all the aforementioned bodies. According to the Webometrics Rankings of Top Colleges, the University of Malta ranks as the 1019th best university on the global stage. But the 4icu.org world university ranking assigns the University of Malta the 1633rd position.
Faculties
Presently, the university boasts of fourteen faculties: Arts; Economics; Management & Accountancy; Education; Information & Communication; Laws; Theology; Science; Health Sciences; Dental Surgery; Medicine & Surgery; Built Environment; and Engineering. Many of the university’s degree programs are run on the modular or credit systems.
The Administrative Structure
The governing bodies of the University comprise academic, technical and administrative staffers appointed to or elected into various positions. From top down, the administrative hierarchy is composed of the Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, the Rector, the Pro-Rector, the Secretary, and the Registrar. These officers also occupy various positions in the main governing bodies which include the Council, the Senate, and the Faculty Boards.
Admission Requirements
Applicants interested in any of the University’s courses must complete the application form available on the university’s Online Application facility: www.um.edu.mt/apply. Interested international applicants are required to possess qualification levels in the relevant subjects that are comparable to the prescribed Matriculation Certificate Examination scores. The Matriculation Certificate Examination is the standard final examination for students who attend secondary school in Malta. It assesses the student’s level of proficiency in six subjects, and has its cut-off mark placed at 44 points.
Language Requirement
The official language of instruction in the University of Malta is English. International applicants are required to prove that their level of English language proficiency meets the University’s English Language requirement, by showing they’ve passed the Secure English Language Test (SELT) with the required scores. Other equivalents of the SELT honored by the University include TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge. These certifications can also be tendered by interested persons applying for postgraduate courses as substitutes for certain degrees required by the Faculty Admission Committee.
Admission Periods
There are two admission periods in a year for courses offered in the University: The first admission window closes by the ending of February, while the second closes by the ending of October. Exceptions to these schedules include:
– The application deadline which closes by 1st June for visiting students applying for first semester or full academic year, and another which closes by 1st November for students applying for the second semester.
– The application deadline for international applicants applying for the Doctor of Medicine and surgery courses, which closes by mid-March.
INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
The International & EU Office
There are numerous educational and socio-cultural benefits to be gained in studying abroad. The International & EU office of the institution has as its primary objective the aggrandizement of the personal journey and academic experiences of international students of the University of Malta.
Qualification Assessment
The National Commission for Further and Higher Education, which is responsible for assessing qualifications, carries out comparative qualification assessment in line with Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) as well as the Europoean Qualifications Framework for Life Long Learning (EQF). It discharges the assessment of both local and international academic and vocational qualifications through the Qualifications Recognition and Information Center (QRIC). The QRIC determines the level of qualification attained by applicants presenting local qualifications, as well as the the personal qualification of international applicants presenting foreign certifications. Its purview extends beyond the Maltese jurisdiction, as it caters for the recognition of Maltese qualifications in foreign countries.
STUDENT FEES AND COST OF LIVING FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Tuition Fees
What follows is a breakdown of fees for both local and international students:
| Undergraduate | Postgraduate | ||
| Arts-based/Business Related Courses | Local students | €240-900 | Undisclosed |
| International students | €240-900 | Undisclosed | |
| Science-based courses | Local students | €320-1200 | Undisclosed |
| International students | €320-1200 | Undisclosed |
Costs of Accommodation
Each occupant of the university’s hostel rooms, which are designed to house two students at a go, pays an average of €400 per month. Each hostel kitchen is shared by nine students.
Nonetheless, cost of living in Malta, when compared to those of the surrounding European countries, is relatively low. What follows is a rough estimate of cost of living for international students (all things being equal with respect to individual lifestyles.)
| Euro | US Dollars | |
| € | $ | |
| Accommodation | 500 | 589 |
| Meals | 250 | 294 |
| Telephone/ WIFI | 25 | 29 |
| Local Transport | 40 | 47 |
| Books, stationery, etc | 70 | 82 |
| Leisure activities | 170 | 200 |
| Laundry | 20 | 24 |
| Total | 1,075 | 1,265 |
Student Maintenance Grants
Stipends
The stipend is one of the main outlets of the Maltese Government’s scholarship system for students in higher education. Students qualified for the stipend scholarship program receive stipend funds directly through their bank accounts. Please visit the Stipends Office on Campus to get comprehensive information about guidelines and qualification requirements for the stipend program.
Smart Cards
Recipients of a stipend are issued with Smart Cards by the university. These Smart Cards are primarily designed to be used for the purchase of inventories geared towards educational purposes. The amount of funds credited in each Smart Card depends on the holder’s courses and year of study.
Supplementary Maintenance Grant
The Supplementary Maintenance Grant is an extension of the privileges conferred on recipients of the stipend scholarship program. It offers further financial assistance for stipend recipients who are faced with financial challenges that require urgent resolution. It becomes instantly available to the stipend recipient upon the acceptance of the recipient’s stipend application.
There are over 11,500 students currently enrolled in University of Malta. Among them are some 750 international students from over 80 countries. The University of Malta, being a university located in a small town of about 10,000 inhabitants, surely commands admiration and reverence from both home and abroad for achieving such monumental enrollment feat.
