Choosing masters in Malta for international students means studying in English, inside the EU, on a small Mediterranean island with one main public university and a national college of applied studies. It also means navigating course-by-course fees, a residence permit with strict full-time rules, and dissertation regulations that changed in October 2026. This guide brings the official requirements together so you can compare programmes and apply with fewer surprises.

This guide works from primary sources rather than secondary summaries: the University of Malta’s (UM) General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards as amended in 2026, UM’s admissions and fee pages, the admissions guidance of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), and the study-permit rules of Identità, the agency that issues residence permits. Every figure is attributed to the body that sets it. Rules and fees change, so treat this as a map and confirm the details on the linked official pages before you pay or apply.

Why consider a master’s in Malta?

Language is the first reason to look at masters in Malta for international students. The University of Malta states that all lectures are taught in English, which is one of Malta’s two official languages (UM: study in Malta). For students who want a European degree without learning a new language of instruction, that removes a major barrier.

The second reason is structure. Under UM’s General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, a master’s degree carries 90 or 120 ECTS credits, includes a dissertation of at least 30 credits, and runs between three and four semesters of full-time study. That makes Maltese master’s degrees easy to compare with programmes elsewhere in Europe. If you are weighing several countries, our studying abroad guide for the UK, US, EU, Australia and Canada sets out the main alternatives, and our master’s degree UK guide to costs and funding is a useful benchmark for fees.

Which institutions offer accredited master’s degrees?

Malta’s two public providers covered here, UM and MCAST, serve different goals.

MCAST lists its master’s as MQF Level 7 at 90 ECTS and notes that fees apply for external candidates, with details through its MG2i section (MCAST master’s programmes). Its 2024–25 international admissions FAQ adds a point that matters for visas: master’s programmes are delivered by default on a part-time basis, a programme must be full-time if a study visa is required, and it will run full-time only if there are enough eligible applicants (MCAST international admissions FAQ).

Private colleges also operate in Malta. Before you enrol anywhere other than UM or MCAST, confirm that the institution and the specific course are licensed and accredited by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). This matters for immigration too: Identità requires the qualification to be recognised by the Malta Qualification Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC) at MQF level 5 or higher.

What are the entry requirements for masters in Malta for international students?

Academic entry requirements for masters in Malta are set course by course. Taking UM’s M.Sc. in Economics for 2026–27 as an example, applicants can qualify with a relevant economics degree or with “a degree with at least Second Class Honours or Category II, in any other area deemed relevant by the Board of Studies”, and some may be required to pass supplementary study-units worth up to 12 ECTS (UM M.Sc. in Economics course page).

1. Check the course page first. Each UM course overview lists eligibility, study units, the dissertation and fees.
2. Translate your grades. Requirements such as Second Class Honours are UK-style classifications. Our guide to GPA, UK degree classifications and ECTS grades explains how different systems line up.
3. Budget for the application. UM charges an application processing fee of EUR 100 for applicants with overseas qualifications, and EUR 200 for late applications to courses that still accept them (UM fees and funding).
4. Prepare documents early. Transcripts, degree certificates, English test results and your passport are needed for the application and later for the residence permit.

English requirements: can you apply without IELTS?

Yes, in two ways: by taking a different accepted test, or by qualifying for an exemption. UM’s English language requirements for postgraduate and doctoral applicants are set out below (UM English language requirements).

UM may exempt applicants who are nationals of listed English-speaking countries and completed their secondary education there, or who completed a full degree at a recognised higher education institution in those countries. The list includes Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, among others, and non-Canadian nationals with a Canadian degree must show that it was taught and assessed in English (UM English language exemptions). Some programmes set higher scores: postgraduate courses in UM’s English department ask for Academic IELTS 7.5 in writing and 6.5 in the other elements (UM English department postgraduate requirements), so always read the course page. MCAST also asks international applicants for proof of English proficiency, set according to the MQF level of the course.

Fees for EU and non-EU students

Tuition is the biggest variable when comparing masters in Malta for international students. At UM, tuition fees, where applicable, are shown on each course overview for both non-EU/non-EEA and EU/EEA citizens; the page displays non-EU fees by default and lets EU/EEA nationals switch to their own rate. The UM examples below are non-EU totals published for 2026–27 intakes; the MCAST range comes from its 2024–25 guidance.

Sources: the UM Master of Social Work course page, the M.Sc. in Economics page and the MCAST FAQ linked above. EU/EEA nationals should switch the fee view on the UM course page, because EU/EEA rates are listed separately. For any programme, check the current course page before you budget, and add the cost of living, which is covered below.

Student visa and residence permit basics

Identità’s study residence permit applies to non-EU (third-country) nationals, and its rules are specific. The steps below summarise Identità’s study permit page and its study FAQ (Identità study residence permits; Identità study FAQ).

1. Enrol on a full-time course. The course must lead to a higher education qualification at MQF Level 5 or higher, and part-time courses are not eligible.
2. Get the right visa before travelling, if you need one. Nationals who need a visa must obtain a National Long-Stay Visa (Type D) for study purposes. Visa-exempt nationals must submit their residence permit application within three months of entry.
3. Apply in Malta, online. Applications go through the Expatriates Unit Portal, and Identità states that you cannot apply for the residence permit from abroad. Your passport must have at least six months of validity when you submit.
4. Show sufficient funds. The minimum is 60% of Malta’s annual national minimum wage or poverty line.
5. Arrange health insurance if required. Students at the University of Malta, MCAST or the Institute of Tourism Studies are exempt from the health insurance requirement.
6. Pay the fee and diarise renewal. Identità lists a fee of €50 for study applications, and a first-time study permit is typically valid for one year.

Identità’s FAQ also states that after the first 90 days of your stay, students are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week. For the wider practical side of relocating, including housing searches, registering and day-to-day admin, this step-by-step guide to moving to Malta is a helpful companion to the official pages.

Dissertation requirements at master’s level

The dissertation is where Maltese master’s degrees are most tightly regulated. UM’s General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, as amended in 2026, set the following rules (UM postgraduate regulations):

1. Every master’s includes one. All master’s programmes include a dissertation of at least 30 credits, although Senate may approve a portfolio or project report instead where the nature of the study requires it.
2. Research master’s go further. A master’s mainly by research requires a dissertation of at least 60 credits.
3. Word limits apply from October 2026. Unless the course bye-laws say otherwise, dissertations run between 15,000 and 20,000 words for 30 credits, 20,000 to 30,000 words for 60 credits, and 30,000 to 35,000 words for 80 credits, excluding references and appendices.
4. Language. Dissertations are written in English, except where the area of study is a language or Senate approves another language.
5. Oral examination for larger dissertations. For dissertations of 60 ECTS or more, the Board of Examiners calls the student to an oral examination after marking; the version applicable from October 2026 drops the earlier exception for dissertations judged of poor quality. Below 60 ECTS, an oral is held when the study-unit’s method of assessment provides for one.
6. Integrity and ethics. You submit a signed declaration of authenticity and confirm that you followed the university’s research ethics review procedures. The minimum pass mark for dissertations is 50%.

Timing matters as much as length. On the M.Sc. in Economics, work on the dissertation is expected to start in the first semester, so arrive with a provisional topic in mind. For context on how these word limits compare internationally, see our guides on how long a master’s thesis should be and average dissertation length by degree and discipline.

Before you settle on a topic, read the work of earlier cohorts. UM’s library catalogues dissertations in its institutional repository, OAR@UM: titles and abstracts are available in open access, while full texts, with the exception of Ph.D. and Grade A master’s dissertations, are restricted to UM registered users (UM Library dissertation FAQs). Browsing past abstracts from your department shows the scope, methods and referencing conventions your examiners are used to, which is one of the quickest ways to calibrate a research proposal.

Scoping the research to the credit weighting

Treat the credit weighting as a design constraint. A 30-credit dissertation of 15,000 to 20,000 words usually suits one focused research question and a single, well-justified method, while a 60-credit research dissertation leaves room for a fuller literature review and more extensive data collection. The regulations require all students to follow UM’s Research Ethics Review Procedures, so build the ethics review into your timeline before any data collection with human participants. Run your literature search in Google Scholar and in the subscription databases your library provides, and meet the format and length requirements in your course bye-laws and faculty guidelines, which the regulations require you to fulfil.

A structured workspace helps when the dissertation starts in semester one and the word bands are fixed. Tesify helps you structure and organize your dissertation chapter by chapter, while the writing stays your own.

Cost of living in Malta for students

Budgeting for masters in Malta for international students means adding living costs to tuition. UM’s International Office publishes approximate monthly living costs and notes that they are higher than the amount required as proof for a visa or residence permit, but more realistic (UM living costs for international students).

UM also lists public transport at no cost for e-residence permit holders, and stresses that these are only approximations because your monthly bill depends on your lifestyle. Shared housing is the single biggest lever on your budget, so start looking for housemates as soon as you have an offer.

What is student life in Malta like?

Malta is small, which makes it easy to get around and to keep running into the same people. The flip side is that much of social life happens through clubs, associations and shared interests rather than through sheer numbers. If you want a head start, this overview of clubs and groups for meeting people in Malta lists practical options, from sports and volunteering to language exchanges.

How to settle in during your first weeks

The first month sets the pattern for the rest of your degree, socially and academically. Four habits make the transition smoother.

1. Use your institution first. Orientation, student organisations and departmental events are the easiest way to meet classmates in your first weeks.
2. Join something weekly. A recurring activity, such as a sports club, a choir or a volunteering shift, builds friendships faster than one-off events.
3. Look beyond campus. Many international residents live and work on the island, and meeting them broadens your network for internships and life after graduation. This guide to finding people to hang out with in Malta covers ways to connect with locals and expats around shared interests.
4. Protect your study time. With the dissertation starting early, set fixed writing blocks each week from the first semester so that settling in does not push your research back.

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