Saint Martin's Institute of Higher Education (SMI) in Malta is a licensed private institution offering University of London degrees in business and computing to international students. SMI was established in 1985 and has been delivering University of London International programmes since 2000. As one of only 28 University of London Affiliate Institutions worldwide, SMI combines internationally recognized qualifications with Malta's lower cost of living — making it a practical and affordable path to a British degree. Whether you are from South Asia or Africa, SMI gives you a route to study in Europe, earn a globally respected qualification, and build your career.
Intakes
SMI has one intake per year, starting in late September. If you are planning to study at SMI, you need to apply for the Autumn intake.
Note: SMI follows the University of London academic calendar. This means you sit your exams at the same time as University of London students in the UK — your degree timeline is fully aligned with your peers worldwide.
Warning! International students at SMI must study full-time during daytime hours. Part-time and evening study are not available to this cohort under Maltese law.
Programs at Saint Martin's Institute
SMI offers undergraduate programs in two fields: Business and Computing. All programs follow the same 3-year structure — a 1-year Diploma (MQF Level 5) followed by a 2-year degree (MQF Level 6).
How the Degree Structure Works
Year 1: Diploma
You complete SMI's own Diploma, which substitutes for Year 1 of your degree. This year is mandatory for all students — there is no direct entry into Year 2.
Years 2–3: Degree
On passing the Diploma, you automatically progress into your chosen degree. No separate application to the University of London is required.
Diploma as a standalone
You can also complete the Diploma as a standalone 1-year qualification — for example, to return home or transfer to another institution.
Business Programs
Computing Programs
Note: Computing students do not need to choose between the University of London and SMI homegrown routes right away. You complete the same shared Diploma in Computing in Year 1, then select your degree route at the start of Year 2.
Tip! The SMI homegrown BSc (Hons) Computing routes cost approximately €8,000 less over 3 years than the University of London routes, as they do not include University of London registration and examination fees.
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Cost to Study at Saint Martin's Institute
SMI charges a flat annual tuition fee for all full-time undergraduate programs. International students (non-EU) pay a one-time administration fee on top of tuition to cover student visa processing. Below is a full breakdown of what to budget for.
Tip! After graduating and working in Malta, you may be eligible to reclaim up to 70% of your tuition fees — up to approximately €17,000 — through the Maltese government's Get Qualified Scheme. See the scholarships section above for full details.
Scholarships
SMI does not offer its own scholarships. However, graduates who stay and work in Malta after completing their degree can benefit from a Maltese government tax rebate scheme that significantly reduces the effective cost of their studies.
Get Qualified Scheme
The Get Qualified Scheme is a Maltese government programme that reimburses a portion of your tuition fees through income tax credits after you graduate and work in Malta. It is not a bursary or upfront discount — the rebate is applied to income tax you pay as an employee after graduation.
Tip! Applied against a total 3-year University of London-route cost of approximately €30,000, the Get Qualified rebate can bring your effective net cost down to roughly 30–50% of your original spend over the 3 to 4 years following graduation.
Note: The Get Qualified Scheme is a Maltese government programme, not an SMI scholarship. Eligibility rules and rebate caps may change. Check the latest conditions directly with Malta Enterprise before applying.
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Admission Requirements
SMI assesses every application individually. Requirements are straightforward — you need a secondary school qualification, a basic level of English, and you must be between 17 and 23 years old. Below is a full breakdown of what you need to apply.
You need a GCSE-equivalent qualification — that is, proof that you have completed secondary school. The exact requirement depends on your country of education. For example, Indian applicants need Year 12 board results with a minimum of 50% on a subject-by-subject basis.
Contact ApplyBoard to confirm the specific entry requirement for your country.
- Minimum age: 17 at the time of application.
- Maximum age: 23 — you must not turn 24 before the academic year starts on 22 September.
- Study gaps: accepted with no formal limit, provided you are still within the 17–23 age window.
- Already hold a diploma or degree? You can still apply if you are within the age limit, but you cannot skip SMI's mandatory 1-year Diploma. Direct entry into Year 2 is not available under any circumstance at SMI.
- Portfolio: not required for Business or Computing programs.
Note: All applicants must attend an admissions interview with SMI's Admissions and Advisory Board (SAAB) as part of the application process.
SMI accepts IELTS as its only English proficiency test. PTE, Duolingo, and TOEFL are not accepted.
- Minimum IELTS score: 5.0 overall.
- Band scores: must be reasonably balanced across all four skills. A highly skewed profile — for example, 8.0 in Listening and 2.0 in Writing — will not be accepted even if the overall average reaches 5.0.
- GCE British English qualification: accepted directly in place of IELTS.
- Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter: not automatically accepted. A case-by-case exception may be granted by the Registrar on request — this must be requested directly and is not guaranteed.
- Native English speakers: there is no automatic waiver. Every applicant is assessed individually at the Registrar's discretion.
Tip! You do not need your IELTS certificate before you apply. SMI can issue a conditional acceptance and allow you to submit your certificate up until just before the December exams — well after the September start date. You can even complete an IELTS preparation course after arriving in Malta.
Along with your academic and English language documents, you will need to submit the following as part of your application.
- Official academic transcripts from your secondary school.
- A copy of your valid passport.
- A motivational statement outlining your reasons for applying and your career goals.
- Two recent passport-sized photographs.
Note: ApplyBoard will verify your documents before submitting your application to SMI. SMI may request further verification if it has specific concerns about any document.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. SMI is licensed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) under license number 196. All programs are accredited under the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) at Levels 5 and 6. University of London degree routes are independently examined and awarded by the University of London — one of the world's most recognized universities.
It depends on the program you choose. Business programs are awarded exclusively by the University of London. For Computing, you can choose between a University of London route or SMI's own homegrown BSc — both are valid, accredited degrees. You do not need to make this choice until after you complete your shared Diploma year.
No. SMI's 1-year Diploma is mandatory for all students regardless of prior qualifications. There is no direct entry into Year 2 at SMI under any circumstance. If you hold a prior qualification and are within the 17–23 age limit, you are still welcome to apply — but you must complete the Diploma year first.
You must be between 17 and 23 years old at the time of application. You must not turn 24 before the academic year begins on 22 September. This age limit applies to SMI's current undergraduate-only offering.
SMI accepts IELTS only, with a minimum overall score of 5.0. PTE, Duolingo, and TOEFL are not accepted. A GCE British English qualification is accepted in place of IELTS. Medium of Instruction letters are not automatically accepted — a case-by-case exception may be requested directly from the Registrar but is not guaranteed.
Yes. SMI can issue a conditional acceptance while you complete your IELTS. You have until just before the December exams to submit your certificate — well after the September start date. You can even complete an IELTS preparation course after arriving in Malta.
SMI has one intake per year, starting on 22 September. If you miss this intake, you will need to wait until the following academic year. Apply as early as possible to allow time for visa processing and document preparation.
No. International students must study full-time during daytime hours. Part-time and evening study are not available to non-EU students under Maltese law.
SMI does not offer its own scholarships. However, graduates who stay and work in Malta after completing their degree may be eligible for the Maltese government's Get Qualified Scheme, which can reimburse up to 70% of tuition fees paid — up to approximately €17,000 — through income tax credits over up to 10 years. The scheme is open to all nationalities, including non-EU students.
EU students who withdraw after the academic year begins are charged a penalty of 25% of that year's tuition fee, minus any payments already made. Non-EU international students are not eligible for a refund of tuition fees once the academic year has started. In both cases, your withdrawal is only effective from the date the Registrar receives it in writing.
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