University of Malta
L-Università ta' Malta
Malta's national university, tracing back to 1592 and teaching in English, free for EU students.
- Students
- 12,000
- International
- 23%
- of students
- Tuition
- €8,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1769
About UM
The University of Malta is the country's national university. It traces its origins to the Jesuit Collegium Melitense, founded in Valletta on 12 November 1592, and was formally constituted as a public university on 22 November 1769 by Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. Its main campus is in Msida, with further campuses in Valletta (the Old University Building of the original college), Marsaxlokk and Gozo.
More than 12,000 students study there, including around 2,800 international students from 144 countries. Teaching is in English, which is one of the main draws for international applicants. The university is organised into faculties including Arts, the Built Environment, Dental Surgery, Economics, Management and Accountancy, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, ICT, Laws, Media and Knowledge Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Science, Social Wellbeing and Theology, plus many institutes and centres, from Aerospace Technologies and Digital Games to Islands and Small States and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies.
Undergraduate study is free for Maltese and other EU/EEA students, while non-EU students pay course fees, typically 8,500 to 10,800 euros a year and 26,000 euros for medicine. It suits students who want an English-taught degree in a small, sunny EU country, especially in law, medicine, health sciences or diplomacy and who are happy on a compact campus without guaranteed university halls.
Why students choose UM
All teaching is in English, and undergraduate degrees are free for EU/EEA students.
The Doctor of Medicine and Surgery is a five-year English-taught MD, with a January deadline for applicants with overseas qualifications.
The Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies has trained diplomats such as Vanessa Frazier, Malta's UN ambassador from 2020 to 2025, and Cyprus's president Nikos Christodoulides.
Public transport is free for students holding a Maltese e-residence permit, and the Campus Hub residence is right next to the Msida campus.
Admissions
October 2027 intake
Selectivity
UM publishes no acceptance rate. Applicants who meet the general entry requirements and each course's special requirements are generally accepted, subject to places on limited-intake courses; courses start only if enough qualified applicants apply. Medicine is the most competitive route.
Typical entry requirements
| Maltese Matriculation Certificate, IB or European Baccalaureate (local qualifications) | Matriculation Certificate plus SEC passes (Level 3 / grade 5) in English, Maltese and Mathematics, and the course's special requirements |
|---|---|
| Overseas qualifications (e.g. A-levels, Esame di Stato, VWO) | Qualifications that give access to recognised universities at home and are of a comparable standard, checked against UM's country-specific list, plus course-specific requirements |
| English language (international applicants) | IELTS Academic 6.0 (6.0 writing, 5.5 in other bands) or TOEFL iBT 80 (writing 20) for undergraduate courses |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 Undergraduate minimums: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in reading, listening and speaking; TOEFL iBT 80 with 20 in writing (4 / 4.5 on the new scale from January 2026). Scores must be issued within two years of the course start. Postgraduate courses need IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 95. |
Deadlines
- Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (overseas qualifications) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months15 January 2027, 14:00
No late applications for the MD.
- Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (IB/EB holders taking the Medical Maltese Proficiency course) Non-binding In ~5 months15 March 2027, 14:00
Also applies to Maltese applicants exempt from the SEC Maltese requirement.
- Non-EU applicants requiring a visa Non-binding In ~9 months1 July 2027, 14:00
Earlier deadline to allow time for visa and e-residence permit applications.
- Main deadline (local and overseas qualifications) Non-binding In ~9 months21 July 2027, 14:00
Application fee 100 euros (overseas) or 35 euros (local).
- Late applications Non-binding In ~11 months15 September 2027, 14:00
Only for courses that accept late applications; fee 200 euros (overseas) or 75 euros (local).
These October 2027 dates are published in UM's Undergraduate Prospectus. Applications open from the previous November; a smaller intake starts in February for some courses.
How to apply
Apply online directly to UM for your chosen course, selecting 'Overseas Qualifications' if you hold a non-local qualification, uploading the documents required for that course and paying the application fee (100 euros for overseas qualifications, 35 euros for local ones). The Office of the Registrar evaluates each application and issues a decision letter. Maltese Matriculation candidates apply after receiving their first MATSEC result slip.
What admissions looks for
- Qualifications that give access to recognised universities in your home country and are of a standard comparable to UM's requirements.
- The special course requirements for your chosen course, such as specific subjects at advanced level.
- Proof of English at the level UM requires, since all teaching is in English.
- For medicine, a strong academic record against a limited number of places.
Tips for applying to UM
- 1 Apply for medicine early: the deadline for overseas qualifications is 15 January 2027, and late applications are not accepted.
- 2 If you are a non-EU applicant needing a visa, your deadline is 1 July, three weeks earlier than everyone else's.
- 3 Book the Campus Hub residence as soon as you are accepted: UM says private rentals can delay your e-residence permit paperwork.
- 4 Note that UK A-levels count as overseas qualifications, while the IB and European Baccalaureate count as local ones.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
EU/EEA undergraduates pay no tuition, and the Maltese government offers stipends and scholarships to local students. For international students UM lists specific scholarships, for example for Tunisian and Palestinian nationals and through the Islands and Small States Institute.
- 100 euros (overseas qualifications), 35 euros (local)
- Application fee
- Free for e-residence permit holders
- Public transport
- 26,000 euros per year (2026/27)
- Non-EU MD fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (academic year starts in October; smaller February intake)
Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MD)
Five-year, 300-ECTS English-taught medical degree; free for EU students, 26,000 euros a year for non-EU students.
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Four-year LLB covering public, civil, criminal, international, EU and technology law, with an Erasmus+ semester encouraged in the final year; Roberta Metsola studied law here.
Diplomatic Studies (Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies)
Postgraduate diplomacy programmes whose graduates include diplomats and heads of state.
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
English-taught, free for EU students and 10,800 euros a year for non-EU students.
Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical and more)
BEng (Hons) degrees taught in English at the Faculty of Engineering.
Digital Games
UM runs a dedicated Institute of Digital Games alongside its engineering and ICT faculties.
Research
- A 47 million euro 'living laboratory' being built at UM as a testing ground for energy, water and other sustainable technologies (2026).
- Institutes for Space Sciences and Astronomy, Sustainable Energy, Earth Systems and Aerospace Technologies.
- THINK, UM's research magazine, and the annual Science in the City festival bring research to the public.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty for the Built Environment
- Faculty of Dental Surgery
- Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Information and Communication Technology
- Faculty of Laws
- Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
- Faculty of Science
Student life
The Msida campus is compact, and UM recommends that international students book the privately run Campus Hub residence next to the main campus, partly because it simplifies e-residence permit paperwork. Student life revolves around the Kunsill Studenti Universitarji (KSU), the students' council, and a wide range of student societies, including the Malta University Historical Society founded in 1963, plus a freshers' week and a UM Sports Week each autumn. DegreePlus offers extra-curricular courses alongside your degree, and public transport is free for international students with an e-residence permit.
- Freshers' week and the UM Sports Week (26 October-1 November 2026).
- KSU, the students' council, represents all UM and Junior College students.
- Malta University Historical Society, founded in 1963, one of the oldest student societies.
- DegreePlus extra-curricular courses alongside your degree.
Housing. UM has no guaranteed halls of its own; it urges international students to book the third-party Campus Hub Residence next to the Msida campus as soon as they are accepted.
Location
Malta is a small Mediterranean EU island state of just over 300 km2, long a crossroads between Europe and Africa. The main campus is in Msida, while the university's historic Old University Building in the capital Valletta, the original home of the 1592 Collegium Melitense, now hosts conferences and events. Living costs are significant: UM's guide puts shared accommodation at 550-700 euros a month, though public transport is free for residence-permit holders.
Nearest airport: Malta International Airport (MLA)
Notable alumni
- RM Roberta MetsolaPresident of the European Parliament; law graduate of UM (2003)
- EB Edward de BonoOriginator of 'lateral thinking' and Six Thinking Hats; medical degree from UM
- DM Dom MintoffPrime Minister of Malta; BSc and qualification as architect and civil engineer at UM (1937)
- DC Daphne Caruana GaliziaInvestigative journalist; BA (Hons) in archaeology from UM (1997)
- NC Nikos ChristodoulidesPresident of Cyprus; postgraduate diplomatic studies at UM's Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies
- VF Vanessa FrazierMalta's Permanent Representative to the UN (2020-2025); master's in diplomatic studies from UM
- OA Oľga AlgayerováFormer Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe; MA in contemporary diplomacy from UM
Frequently asked questions
Is the University of Malta free for EU students?
Yes. Maltese and other EU/EEA nationals pay no fees for full-time undergraduate courses, including medicine.
How much does the University of Malta cost for international students?
Non-EU fees are set per course: for 2026/27, for example, 8,500 euros a year for Law, 10,800 euros for Psychology or Engineering and 26,000 euros for the MD.
What is the University of Malta application deadline for 2027?
21 July 2027 for most courses (1 July if you need a visa), 15 January 2027 for medicine with overseas qualifications, and 15 September 2027 for late applications where accepted.
What IELTS score does the University of Malta require?
For undergraduate courses, IELTS Academic 6.0 with 6.0 in writing, or TOEFL iBT 80 with 20 in writing.
Are courses at the University of Malta taught in English?
Yes, English is the language of instruction and communication at UM.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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