Programs & Universities in Malta - Study in Malta

Programs & Universities in Malta

Malta's higher education system is small in scale but distinctive: every program is taught in English, on a sunny EU island, across three clear routes — the public University of Malta (UM), the applied MCAST, and the private American University of Malta (AUM) — plus a large English-language-teaching (ELT) sector that makes Malta a top global destination to learn English. All three institutions award internationally recognised Bologna degrees, but the focus differs: academic and research-led at UM, practice-oriented at MCAST, and US-style liberal arts at AUM. This guide walks you through each institution, what it is known for, and how to choose the right program for your field.

Route 1: The University of Malta (UM)

Founded in 1592, the University of Malta is the country's public flagship and one of the oldest universities in Europe. Its main campus is in Msida, a short ride from Valletta and close to the student areas of Gżira, Sliema, and St Julian's, with around 11,000 students. UM also runs a Valletta campus and a Gozo campus.

What UM is known for

UM is broad and research-led, with particular strengths in:

• Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and health sciences — clinical training at Mater Dei Hospital
• Law — including gaming law and financial-services law, reflecting Malta's economy
• IT, AI, and computer science — strong given Malta's tech and iGaming sectors
• Maritime and ocean studies — a long-standing specialism given Malta's location
• Business, economics, and finance
• The arts, humanities, and social sciences

EU students pay no/low tuition; non-EU undergraduate fees sit around €10,800/year, with postgraduate programs ranging €10,800–18,000. You apply directly through UM's own admissions system.

Route 2: MCAST

The Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST), centred in Paola with sites around the island, is Malta's leading vocational and applied institution. It offers qualifications from foundation level up to degree and master's level, all with a practice-oriented, industry-linked focus and lower tuition than UM.

MCAST is organised into colleges covering:

• Engineering and the built environment
• Information and communication technology
• Business and commerce
• The creative arts, media, and design
• Applied sciences
• Community services and health care

MCAST is the right route if you want a hands-on, work-integrated program that leads directly into Maltese industry — similar to a polytechnic or German Fachhochschule.

Route 3: The American University of Malta (AUM)

The American University of Malta (AUM) is a private institution in Cospicua, part of the historic Three Cities across the harbour from Valletta. It offers a US-style liberal-arts and professional education in English, with smaller class sizes and an American academic model (credit hours, GPA, a general-education core). Programs span business, engineering, computing, architecture, and the arts and sciences.

Tuition runs roughly $16,000–22,000/year. AUM suits students who specifically want an American-style education inside the EU, on a Mediterranean island.

The English Language Sector

Beyond degrees, Malta is one of the world's top destinations to learn English. The island hosts a large sector of accredited English-language-teaching (ELT) schools, attracting students from across Europe and beyond. Many students combine an English course with island life before or alongside a degree — see sprachschule.org for language-school options. This sector also creates part-time and graduate work opportunities in English teaching.

Institutions Compared

Degree Levels and Structure

Maltese degrees follow the European Bologna structure:

• Bachelor's — typically 3 years, 180 ECTS (some, like medicine, run longer as combined programs)
• Master's — 1–2 years, 60–120 ECTS
• Doctoral (PhD) — typically 3–4 years, by research, conducted in English
• MCAST diplomas and applied degrees — foundation level up to degree and master's level, with work placements

All routes award internationally recognised Bologna qualifications, automatically valid across the EU and widely accepted elsewhere.

Choosing the Right Program

Match the route to your goal

• Want academic depth, research access, or a path to a PhD? Look at the University of Malta.
• Want a practice-oriented, work-integrated program that leads directly into industry? Look at MCAST.
• Want a US-style liberal-arts education inside the EU? Look at AUM.
• Want to improve your English before or alongside a degree? Look at Malta's ELT sector via sprachschule.org.

Everything is in English

Unlike most EU destinations, there is no language hurdle: every program is taught in English, and daily life works in English too. This makes Malta especially attractive if you want an EU degree without learning a new language first.

Match the area to your life

• Msida / Gżira / Sliema / St Julian's — UM campus and the heart of student life; the most international, liveliest, and most expensive area
• Paola and central Malta — MCAST sites; more residential and affordable
• Cospicua and the Three Cities — AUM; historic, quieter, harbourside
• Gozo — UM's smaller campus; the calmer second island

How to Read a Program Page

Because you apply directly to each institution, learn to scan their admissions pages quickly:

• Language of instruction — English (confirm, though it is the default)
• Entry requirements — the prior qualification, English level, and any subject prerequisites
• Tuition fee — listed for non-EU/EEA students; EU/EEA students pay €0/low
• Scholarships — Master it!, Endeavour, TESS, Reaching High, and university-specific awards
• Application deadline — note that non-EU deadlines are earlier (to allow visa time)
• Selection — grade-based, interview-based, or with additional tests (medicine, competitive courses)
• Intake — usually October, with some February intakes
• Duration and ECTS — Bachelor's typically 180 ECTS / 3 years

If anything is unclear, the institution's international admissions office is the right contact — and the only safe channel to verify documents.

A Note on Tuition by Route

Tuition varies by route and status. EU/EEA students pay no/low tuition at UM and MCAST and often receive stipends. Non-EU/EEA students pay roughly €10,800/year for undergraduate study at UM (€10,800–18,000 for postgraduate), lower at MCAST, and $16,000–22,000/year at AUM. Crucially, government scholarships — Master it!, Endeavour, TESS, and Reaching High — plus Erasmus+ and university awards can offset costs. Always check the figure and the scholarship options on the specific program page, and use our costs and funding guide to plan the full budget — or run a quick estimate with the cost-of-study calculator.

Rankings — Useful, Not Decisive

The University of Malta is a respected EU institution but, being small, sits outside the very top of the global tables — its strength is in specific fields (medicine, law, IT, maritime) and its long history rather than overall ranking position. Treat rankings as a rough guide, not a verdict. For most students, the specific program, the English-taught delivery, the scholarship options, the climate, and the cost matter far more than a headline number. A strong UM program in your field — especially in Malta's growth sectors of gaming, fintech, and IT — will serve you better than chasing a name-brand ranking elsewhere.

Next Steps

1. Admissions and application — applying directly to UM, MCAST, and AUM, deadlines, requirements
2. Costs and funding — tuition by route, living costs, scholarships
3. Why study in Malta — the honest case, if you are still deciding
4. Student visa — the National Long-Stay (D) visa, step by step