Malta is one of Europe's most affordable English-speaking study destinations for non-EU international students — offering EQF-aligned degrees, a Mediterranean lifestyle, and the right to work up to 20 hours per week once your residence permit is in place. Here is everything you need to know for 2026.
Why Choose Malta? Safety, History, and the Mediterranean Lifestyle
Malta is widely regarded as one of the safer countries in Europe, which matters when you are moving abroad alone. Sitting at the crossroads of Europe and North Africa, the islands carry a historical record spanning millennia, and a quality of life that makes it easier to settle in and focus on your studies.
Abundant Sunshine
Around 300 days of sunshine a year support a balanced student life.
English Everywhere
English is an official national language, on campus and off.
Multicultural Community
A diverse population makes building a global network natural.
Find programs to study in Malta
Browse accredited programs at Maltese institutions and apply for free through ApplyBoard.
Are Degrees in Malta Taught in English and Recognized Abroad?
The overwhelming majority of degree programmes at Maltese institutions are delivered in English, and the system is structurally aligned with European standards: qualifications are classified on the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF), mapped level-for-level to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), and earned within the Bologna Process's European Higher Education Area. That alignment is what makes a Maltese degree legible to employers and graduate schools across Europe and beyond. Foreign qualifications travel the other way through MQRIC recognition, which confirms how your existing credentials map to the MQF.
How Much Does It Cost to Study in Malta? (2026)
Tuition depends heavily on institution type, so treat single figures with caution. As a planning picture for non-EU students:
Always confirm the exact fee for your programme with the institution or on ApplyBoard; fees can differ by faculty, level, and nationality category.
Malta Student Visa Requirements and Work Rights in 2026
Residence for study is managed by Identità. The core requirements are acceptance into a full-time programme at a licensed institution leading to an MQRIC-recognized qualification (MQF Level 5 or above for higher education), proof of tuition payment, sufficient financial means, and health insurance; see our full Malta student visa guide for the document file.
Working While You Study: Two Tracks, Not One
Work rights depend on which track you are on, and conflating them is the most common error in study-in-Malta content:
- Higher education students (MQF Level 5+, MQRIC-recognized): Plan on no paid work for roughly your first 90 days. The regulations allow up to 20 hours per week from your first year of study, but only once your residence permit (issued under S.L. 217.22, the card institutions often call your Temporary Residence Card or TRC) is in hand and your Jobsplus employment licence, applied for with your employer, is approved. Since the residence card alone takes weeks to months to issue, Identità's own guidance and institutions like GCM both tell students to expect their first three to four months without work income. Applications are viewed more favourably when the job relates to your field of study, and your studies must stay the priority: attendance is mandatory, and permit renewal depends on satisfactory academic performance, so a job that crowds out your coursework can ultimately cost you both.
- Students not covered by S.L. 217.22, on courses exceeding 90 days: This bucket is defined by the regulation, not the subject: it includes language courses, part-time programmes, and courses that do not lead to an MQRIC-recognized higher education qualification. These students may take up employment of up to 20 hours per week only after their first three months of study, subject to conditions imposed by Jobsplus, including which sectors are open to them.
After graduation Graduates can apply for a post-study residence permit under S.L. 217.22, valid for nine months from course completion, to look for work in Malta. Apply before your student permit expires (most students apply right after final exams); you can stay legally while it processes. The nine-month window is a one-off and cannot be extended, so the goal is to secure a job and switch to a single work permit within it. Factor this into your return-on-investment math.
FAQ: Studying in Malta as a Non-EU Student
Yes, up to 20 hours per week, but plan on no paid work for roughly your first 90 days. Higher education students in MQRIC-recognized programmes need their residence permit issued and a Jobsplus employment licence approved first, which together take about three months in practice; language-school students on 90+ day courses may work only after their first three months by rule.
Current guidance points to minimum first-year funding of about EUR 9,000 to 10,000, alongside proof of tuition payment and health insurance. Living costs typically run EUR 800 to 1,300 per month.
Yes. Graduates can apply for a post-study residence permit valid for nine months from course completion to look for work. It is a one-off, non-extendable window, so apply before your student permit expires and aim to transition to a work permit within it.
Yes. Maltese qualifications sit on the MQF, aligned level-for-level with the EQF, within the Bologna Process. See our MQF guide for how the levels work.
Not always. Many private licensed institutions accept alternatives such as MOI letters or strong Class 12 English marks, though the University of Malta requires a SELT. See our guide to studying in Malta without IELTS.
Ready to Start Your Journey in Malta?
If Malta fits your goals, the next step is confirming your program is at an MQRIC-recognized institution, gathering your documents for Identità, and checking application deadlines. Browse available programs on ApplyBoard or read our Malta student visa guide to get started.
Start your Malta journey with ApplyBoard
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Sources
- Identità: Student Visa and Employment (S.L. 217.22 and language-track rules)
- Identità: Study Residence Permits for Third-Country Nationals
- Identità: Study Permit FAQs (9-month post-study residence permit, work rules)
- Jobsplus: Employment Licences
- Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA)
- University of Malta (non-EU fee schedules)