Malta 2013/14 - student fees and grants

National student fee

1st cycle: No fees apply for Maltese and EU students following first-cycle full-time courses at the University of Malta and the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). Part-time courses are only offered by the University of Malta. Fees for part-time studies range from EUR 350 to 1 200/semester. The most common value is EUR 350/semester.

2nd cycle: An annual enrolment fee of EUR 400 applies for all Maltese and EU students following second-cycle full-time day courses at the University of Malta. Students following second-cycle degree courses offered jointly by foreign universities pay higher fees which are not quoted in the table. MCAST does not provide second-cycle degree courses. Full-time evening courses range from EUR 1 100 to 1 600/semester (most common EUR 1 450) and part-time studies from EUR 550 to 2 600/semester (most common value EUR 725).

International students pay fees for both first-cycle and second-cycle degree programmes, which fees are higher than those paid by Maltese and EU nationals.

Student grants

Student maintenance grants are provided to all Maltese students following a full-time first-cycle degree course. EU students who fulfil the relevant eligibility criteria also receive this maintenance grant. These eligibility criteria are neither need- nor merit-based but refer to regulations having to do with citizenship, years of residence in Malta, completion of compulsory education, age, regularity of attendance and progress being made in studies. Students receive a one-time grant of EUR 465.87, EUR 83.86 every four weeks between October and June and an annual grant of EUR 465.87. Students studying for a Science, Mathematics or IT-related courses (known as ‘prescribed programmes’), receive a one-time grant of EUR 698.81, EUR 146.75 every four weeks and an annual grant of EUR 698.81.

Students who, due to proven hardship are deemed to qualify for a supplementary maintenance grant, receive a higher grant than that referred to above. They receive a one-time grant of EUR 582.34, a grant of EUR 251.57 every four weeks from October to June and an annual grant of EUR 582.34.

Grants are offered in some second-cycle degree courses which are required for the practice of a regulated profession.

Several scholarship schemes are available to students who wish to take up undergraduate studies abroad or postgraduate studies in Malta or abroad. These schemes are issued regularly and include the Malta Government Scholarships Scheme (MGSS – Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies in all areas), the Malta Arts Scholarship (MAS) scheme and the Malta Sports Scholarships (MSS).

The ‘Youth Specialisation Studies Scheme’ (YSSS) provides the opportunity for young Maltese people, aged between 18 and 30 years, to apply for a soft loan at a subsidised rate of interest to further their studies abroad or follow distance learning courses, provided that such courses are not available in Malta.

Tax benefit for student's parents

Tax benefits of students’ parents: As from 1 January 2012 the Government of Malta introduced a new tax band category called ‘parent computation’. This tax computation is aimed at parents supporting children who are not gainfully employed up to the age of eighteen and at parents of children up to the age of 21 years who are still in tertiary education. By means of this computation parents will save between EUR 150 and EUR 840 in income tax annual payments.

Family allowances

No family allowances.