Studying in Malta

What a year costs

Tuition for non-EU students is set per course, and the University of Malta publishes the fee on each course page under its University Fees Regulations (Subsidiary Legislation 327.177). We could not read a current, dated non-EU fee schedule from the University of Malta or MCAST when we checked, so we do not quote one here. Look up the non-EU fee on the course page for your exact programme and start year, and ask the international office to confirm it in writing before you pay.

The University of Malta requires proof that tuition has been paid, or an invoice, as part of the visa file.

Living costs. Official figures are thin. The University of Malta warns that the visa minimum (see below) is not enough to live on and tells students to budget for living expenses well above it. Rent is the largest cost, especially around Msida, Sliema, St Julian's and Gżira, near the main campus. Arrange accommodation before you travel.

The visa

Non-EU students on courses longer than 90 days need a national (D) study visa from Identità's Central Visa Unit, then a residence permit for study once in Malta. Part-time courses do not qualify. Identità handles both.

The money. Identità's official checklist for the student national visa (version 2.1, 13 August 2025) sets the requirement as at least 75% of the national minimum wage for every month of study, shown by three months of bank statements plus a recent bank certificate. The national minimum wage for 2026 is €229.44 a week for full-time adult workers. That works out at roughly €994 a month, so 75% is about €746 a month, or about €8,948 for twelve months. These monthly and annual figures are our own calculation from the official weekly wage; Identità does not publish them.

The University of Malta tells its applicants to show a minimum of €950 for each month of their stay, excluding tuition, for both the visa and the residence permit. If you are going to the University of Malta, show at least €950 a month. If you are going elsewhere, €746 a month is the floor on the official rule, and more is safer.

Sponsors are accepted: you need the sponsor's last three months of bank statements, a signed declaration letter and a copy of their ID or passport.

Fees:

• Visa: €100 on the standard service, €150 on the extended service with next-day appointments, for applicants aged 12 and over (€50 for ages 6-11, free under 6)
• Residence permit application: €27.50 for higher education courses at MQF level 5 and above (€70 for courses at levels 1-4)

Insurance. You need medical insurance with at least €30,000 of cover, valid for the Schengen area and designated for study.

Processing time. Identità quotes 6 to 8 weeks for the long-stay visa. If you are refused, you have about three working days to appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board, so read every decision letter the day it arrives.

On arrival, the University of Malta requires non-EU students to complete a health screening within four weeks.

Working while you study

Up to 20 hours a week, and only with an employment licence, applied for through Jobsplus. Students on a full-time course leading to a higher education qualification recognised by MQRIC can work from their first year. Students on other courses of more than 90 days must wait three months, and the European Commission's summary adds that those on lower-level courses face a labour market test.

Jobsplus sets conditions, including which sectors students may work in, and Identità says applications are viewed more favourably when the job relates to your studies. Working without a licence puts your residence permit at risk.

After you graduate

A post-study residence permit of nine months to look for work or set up a business. Once you have a job, you move onto a single permit or, for qualifying roles, an EU Blue Card.

Confirm eligibility for your level of course with Identità before you rely on it.

Language

English is an official language and the language of teaching at the University of Malta for most programmes. Government services, contracts and most jobs are available in English. Maltese is widely spoken socially, and a small number of programmes and public-sector roles require it.

Your institution sets the English requirement for admission. Check the course page.

When to apply

The University of Malta's academic year starts in October, and applications open the previous November. For the October 2026 intake, applicants who needed a visa had to apply by 1 July 2026 at 14:00, earlier than the general late deadline of 15 September. Expect a similar gap for October 2027 and apply in the first half of the year.

A workable sequence for October: apply between November and March, receive an offer, pay or invoice the tuition, and lodge the visa by June to allow for the 6-8 week processing time.

What to watch out for

Two different funds figures. Identità's rule (75% of the minimum wage, about €746 a month in 2026) and the University of Malta's instruction (€950 a month) differ. Show the higher figure if your institution asks for it. A refusal leaves you three working days to appeal.

Private providers and English language schools. Malta has many private colleges. Check that your institution and your specific course are licensed and accredited by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) and that the qualification is recognised by MQRIC: work rights and the course's visa eligibility depend on it.

Housing. The rental market around the main campus is tight and prices have risen. Arrange accommodation in writing before you travel, and pay deposits only to identifiable landlords or agencies.

The minimum is a legal floor, not a budget. The University of Malta says so itself. Twenty hours a week of licensed work will not close a large gap.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Every figure above carries the date we checked it. Check the official source before you rely on it, and confirm the tuition fee for your course directly with the institution, because we could not verify it.