How to Apply to Universities in Malta: Requirements, Deadlines and Portals
By Muntasir • Published Jul 28, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Guides, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides, Admissions & Applications
Apply to University of Malta online through the course finder, submit your application right after your first result slip, and beat the late deadline of 15 September 2026 for October 2026 entry.
📩 Local applicants (Malta's Matriculation Certificate, IB, or European Baccalaureate) apply straight after their first result slip.
🎓 International applicants need qualifications judged comparable to Malta's entry standard, checked course by course.
💶 Application fees run EUR 35-200 for local qualifications and EUR 100-200 for qualifications from outside Malta.
⏱ Non-EU students needed a student visa in place by 1 July 2026 for the October 2026 intake.
Non-native English speakers sit the International Student English Test (ISET) or submit another accepted qualification.
Step 1: Choose your course and check entry requirements
Search programs on the University of Malta course finder. Each course lists its own entry requirements, so check subject prerequisites and grade thresholds before applying. From 2025, applicants presenting SEC-level qualifications need Level 3 passes rather than the older Grade 5 system, according to the university's admissions advice page . Some courses, such as those requiring portfolios, auditions, or subject-specific entry tests, list extra steps beyond grades. Read the full entry profile on the course page, not only the headline grade requirement.
Step 2: Confirm which applicant category you fall into
UM splits applicants into two groups. Local applicants hold Malta's Matriculation Certificate (MATSEC), the International Baccalaureate, or the European Baccalaureate. International applicants hold other qualifications, such as GCE A-levels or equivalents from another country's school system. The university accepts these when they give access to recognised universities in your home country and match a comparable standard.
If your prior learning does not fit the standard categories, ask about Recognition and Accreditation of Prior Learning (RPL), which UM's Student Advisory Services guides you through.
Step 3: Apply online and submit results early
Applications run through UM's online system. If you apply with MATSEC results, submit your application immediately after your first result slip arrives, then update it once your full results come through. Do not wait for every subject grade before you start the application.
Most courses ask for certified copies of your school transcripts and final certificates, a valid passport or ID, and any subject-specific documents such as a portfolio or reference letter. Translate any documents not already in English or Maltese before you upload them.
Step 4: Pay the application fee
| Applicant type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Local qualifications | EUR 35-200 |
| Qualifications from outside Malta | EUR 100-200 |
Fees rise closer to the late deadline, so apply early to pay the lower end of the range, per the university's fees and funding page .
Step 5: Meet the deadlines for your intake
UM's main intake starts every October, with a smaller second intake in February for some courses. The late application deadline for the October 2026 intake is 15 September 2026 at 14:00, according to the dates and deadlines page . Some courses close earlier and do not accept late submissions, so check your specific course page. Non-EU applicants needed a valid student visa arranged by 1 July 2026 for the October 2026 start, so apply for your visa as soon as you get an offer.
Selective programs run their own timeline. Medicine and Surgery applicants with qualifications from outside Malta faced a 30 January 2026 deadline, and applicants with local qualifications holding the Medical Maltese Proficiency Certificate faced 16 March 2026, per the same source.
Step 6: Get your foreign diploma recognised
Malta's national body for qualification recognition is the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE), the country's ENIC-NARIC contact point. If your secondary school diploma falls outside the recognised local categories, NCFHE or UM's own admissions team checks it against Malta's entry standard as part of your application.
Step 7: Prove your English level if needed
If English was not your language of instruction at school, sit UM's International Student English Test (ISET) or submit another accepted English qualification before your place gets confirmed.
Step 8: Accept your offer and arrange your visa
Once UM makes an offer, confirm your place by the date given in your offer letter, and pay any deposit or first instalment required to secure your spot. Missing this window risks losing your place to another applicant on the same course.
Non-EU students need a residence permit to study in Malta once they arrive, on top of any entry visa arranged before travel. Start this process early, since it usually needs proof of enrolment, accommodation, and available funds.
Start the whole process at least six months before the October intake if you need a visa, a recognition check, or an English test. If you already hold local Maltese qualifications, you move faster, since results, applications, and offers often complete within the same few weeks each summer.