Ascencia Business School in Malta is an MFHEA-licensed private institution offering accredited business and management programs from diploma level through to postgraduate degrees, all taught in English at its Floriana campus. Founded in 2020, Ascencia Malta offers higher education qualifications across MQF Levels 4 through 7 on ApplyBoard—allowing students to progress seamlessly from undergraduate diplomas through master's degrees. While the institution itself also offers a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) at MQF Level 8 directly through the campus, ApplyBoard provides full application access for its undergraduate and postgraduate programs. With over 300 international students, Ascencia delivers a multicultural learning environment in one of Europe’s most accessible study destinations.
Intakes
Ascencia offers four intakes per year, giving you more flexibility to start your studies than most institutions in Malta. Each intake closes approximately three months before its start date to allow enough time for Malta's student visa process, which takes 12 to 15 weeks.
Note: Malta's student visa process takes 12 to 15 weeks. Ascencia closes each intake to new applications approximately three months before the start date. Apply as early as possible to avoid missing your preferred intake.
Tip! Ascencia is one of the few institutions in Malta with a July intake. If you have missed a January or April start, you do not need to wait until the following year.
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Programs at Ascencia Business School?
Ascencia offers programs across two categories on ApplyBoard: higher education programs ranging from diploma level through to doctoral degrees, and English language programs for students looking to improve their English before or alongside their studies. All programs are taught in English at the Floriana campus.
Higher Education Programs
Note: Ascencia offers one of the most complete academic pathways available in Malta — you can progress from a Diploma all the way through to a DBA without changing institution. This makes Ascencia a strong option if you are planning a long-term study pathway in Malta.
English Language Programs
Ascencia's English language programs are designed for students who want to strengthen their English in a professional, business-focused environment. Both programs are available as 1-year courses and can be extended depending on your goals.
Tip! If your English is not yet at the level required for a higher education program, starting with General English or Business English at Ascencia is a practical pathway — you study in Malta, improve your English, and can progress into a Diploma or Bachelor's degree at the same institution.
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Cost to Study at Ascencia Business School?
Ascencia publishes fees on each program page. There is no application fee — applying through ApplyBoard is free. Fees vary by program level and by whether you are an EU or non-EU student. The table below shows the verified non-EU fee range based on published program pages.
Note: Fees shown are non-EU indicative rates sourced from Ascencia's program pages. Your exact fee depends on your program and country of origin. ApplyBoard can confirm the fee that applies to your specific application before you commit.
Tip! There is no application fee to apply. You can explore programs and get a fee confirmation before paying anything. Graduates who stay and work in Malta may also be eligible for the Get Qualified Scheme, which can return up to 70% of tuition fees — up to approximately €17,000 — through income tax credits over up to 10 years.
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Applying to Ascencia through ApplyBoard costs nothing. Get a personalised fee confirmation before you commit.
Admission Requirements
Ascencia assesses every application individually through a mandatory interview. You will need to submit a standard set of documents for all programs, plus English language evidence for higher education programs. Below is a full breakdown of what you need to apply.
The following documents are required for every application, regardless of program level.
- Resume or CV.
- Statement of Purpose — explaining your reasons for applying and your career goals. There is no set word limit or format requirement.
- Complete academic record set, including: 10th standard certificate and transcript, 12th standard certificate and transcript, Bachelor's degree certificate and transcript (if applicable), Master's degree certificate and transcript (if applicable), and any provisional certificates for qualifications in progress.
- Copy of your valid passport.
- One passport-size photograph.
Important: Predicted or in-progress results are not accepted under any circumstance. You must have fully completed your prior studies and hold final documentation before applying.
All higher education programs — Bachelor's, Master's, MBA, and DBA — require B2-level English proficiency. Ascencia verifies English proficiency primarily through a mandatory interview, which carries more weight than a submitted test score.
- IELTS: minimum overall score of 6.0, with no individual band below 5.5.
- PTE: accepted at the B2-equivalent score.
- TOEFL: accepted where scores correspond to B2 level.
- Duolingo: not accepted.
- Native English speakers: no test score or Medium of Instruction letter is required. Confirm your specific case with your ApplyBoard counsellor before applying.
Note: If your English proficiency does not meet the B2 level at interview, Ascencia will not issue an offer for your intended program. Instead, you will be recommended to apply for the 1-year General English program first. After completing it, you can re-apply for your original program — progression is not automatic and a fresh application is required.
Ascencia applies a consistent set of academic eligibility rules across all nationalities.
- Minimum GPA: 50%, assessed against your own country's local grading scale.
- Academic backlogs: a maximum of 2 backlogs are accepted. More than 2 is not standard and rarely considered.
- Study gaps: accepted with no fixed limit. Applicants should generally be no older than approximately 42–43 years old.
- Bachelor's degree length for postgraduate entry: 3-year and 4-year Bachelor's degrees are accepted. 2-year Bachelor's degrees are not accepted for postgraduate program entry.
- Applying for a second Master's: accepted without issue — holding multiple Master's degrees is common among applicants.
- Applying for a second Bachelor's: technically accepted, but may reduce your chances of visa approval, as visa officers may question the rationale.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. Ascencia is licensed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) under licence number 2021-018. All higher education programs are accredited under the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF) at Levels 4 through 8. The English School is separately accredited by the ELT Council. Ascencia is also a member of AACSB Business Education Alliance and EFMD Global.
Ascencia has four intakes per year: January, April, July, and October. Each intake closes approximately three months before its start date to allow time for Malta's student visa process, which takes 12 to 15 weeks. Apply as early as possible to secure your preferred intake.
Yes. Ascencia is one of the few institutions in Malta offering a complete academic pathway from MQF Level 4 (Diploma) through to MQF Level 8 (Doctorate of Business Administration). You can progress through multiple qualification levels at the same institution without transferring.
Ascencia accepts IELTS (minimum 6.0 overall, with no individual band below 5.5), PTE, and TOEFL at B2-equivalent scores. Duolingo is not accepted. Native English speakers do not require a test score — confirm your specific case with your ApplyBoard counsellor. Note that Ascencia verifies English proficiency primarily through a mandatory interview, which carries more weight than a submitted test score.
If your English proficiency does not meet the B2 level at interview, Ascencia will not issue an offer for your intended higher education program. Instead, you will be recommended to apply for the 1-year General English program. After completing it, you can re-apply for your original program — a fresh application is required and progression is not automatic.
A maximum of 2 academic backlogs are accepted. More than 2 backlogs is not standard and is rarely considered.
No. There is no application fee to apply to Ascencia. You can explore programs and receive a fee confirmation before paying anything.
Gaduates 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.
Yes. International students in Malta are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week while studying on a valid student visa. Learn more about the requirements in our guide: Can I Work Part-Time in Malta? Rules and Regulations for Non-EU Students
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