Studying in Malta: an English-speaking EU option, explained

Malta is one of the few countries in the European Union where English is an official language and the main language of university teaching. It is small, safe and warm, and it is part of the Schengen area. But it is also a market where some providers are much stronger than others, and where "study and work" offers need careful checking. This guide explains the system from the start, including the risks.

Malta in one minute

Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean, south of Sicily. It joined the EU in 2004 and uses the euro. For a Bangladeshi student, its main attractions are:

• English-taught degrees in an EU country, without needing to learn a new language for daily life.
• A study residence permit that allows limited part-time work.
• A 9-month permit to look for work after graduating from a course at MQF Level 5 or above.
• Schengen membership, which makes short trips to other European countries easier once you have a residence permit.

Its main limits are just as important. Malta is small, so the job market is small. Rents have risen, and the quality of private providers varies. Malta suits students who choose a recognised course with a clear career link, and who have realistic expectations about work.

Universities, colleges and how to check a provider

The main public institutions

• The University of Malta (UM) is the country's main public university. It has around 12,000 students, including about 2,800 international students from more than 144 countries, according to UM's facts and figures. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees across 14 faculties. Fees for non-EU students are shown on each course page. For example, full-time doctoral study for non-EU students is listed at €11,000 a year on UM's fees page.
• MCAST (the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology) is the state vocational and professional college. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses, all taught in English, in fields such as health sciences, nursing, software development, business and engineering, according to MCAST.
• ITS (the Institute of Tourism Studies) is the public institute for tourism and hospitality.

Private providers

Malta also has many private colleges and higher education institutions. Some are good and well established. Others are small and new. Every provider of further or higher education must be licensed by the MFHEA.

What is the MFHEA?

The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) licenses institutions and accredits programmes. It places qualifications on the MQF, the Malta Qualifications Framework, which runs from Level 1 to Level 8. A bachelor's degree is usually MQF Level 6 and a master's is Level 7. Check any provider and course on the MFHEA website before you pay.

This matters for your visa. Identità says a study residence permit is for full-time courses at MQF Level 5 or higher at MFHEA-licensed institutions, according to its study FAQ.

The student visa and residence permit

Malta uses a two-stage process for long courses.

Stage 1: the national (Type D) visa

To come to Malta to study for more than three months, you need a long-stay national visa (Type D). Since 1 March 2024, this applies even to nationals of visa-free countries, according to the University of Malta's visa guidance.

Applying from Bangladesh. Malta does not have an embassy in Dhaka. Identità publishes a list of visa representation agreements, which shows another Schengen country handling Maltese visas in Dhaka. However, that list is mainly for short-stay (Schengen) visas. Ask your university's international office exactly where and how to lodge a national D visa from Bangladesh, and follow the latest instructions from Identità.

For the D visa, UM's guidance lists:

• proof of funds of at least 75% of the national minimum wage for every month, or a daily amount of about €18 to €26, depending on your accommodation;
• bank statements for the last three months, showing transactions;
• your unconditional offer letter, passport, health insurance and proof of accommodation.

Stage 2: the residence permit after arrival

After you arrive, you apply for a study residence permit (an e-residence card) through Identità. According to UM:

• you must show at least €950 for each month of your stay;
• the application fee is €50, paid online;
• you must have a health screening at an approved clinic within four weeks of arrival, which can include a chest X-ray for students from countries with high tuberculosis (TB) rates.

Identità's own FAQ describes the funds test in a different way, as a share (60%) of the national minimum wage or poverty line, adjusted for household size and length of study. Different pages show the same rule in different ways, so always confirm the current amount with your university and Identità before applying.

Health insurance and accommodation

Identità says private health insurance must cover at least €100,000 for medical treatment. Different arrangements apply to students at UM, MCAST and ITS. For accommodation, you usually need a signed lease registered with the Housing Authority and a notarised attestation form from the landlord. University housing needs only a simpler declaration.

1. 1
   9–12 months beforeChoose a licensed provider and course

   Check the provider and course on the MFHEA website. Aim for MQF Level 6 (bachelor's) or Level 7 (master's).

2. 2
   6–9 months beforeApply and get an unconditional offer

   Check the English requirement (for example, an IELTS score) on each course page.

3. 3
   4–6 months beforePrepare three months of bank statements

   Keep the money steady in the account. Avoid unexplained large deposits.

4. 4
   3–5 months beforeApply for the national D visa

   Confirm the right place to apply from Bangladesh with your university first.

5. 5
   Before you flyHealth insurance and accommodation

   Buy insurance with at least €100,000 cover if required, and get a registered lease.

6. 6
   After arrivalResidence permit and health screening

   Apply for your e-residence permit (€50) and finish the health screening within four weeks.

Working while you study

Third-country students (people from outside the EU) can work part-time in Malta, but only under clear conditions.

According to Identità and its student employment page:

• You can work up to 20 hours a week.
• The usual rule is that you can start after your first 90 days in Malta. Identità's pages describe the timing slightly differently for higher education students, so confirm your start date with your university.
• Your course must be at MQF Level 5 or higher. Students on courses below Level 5 are not allowed to work.
• Your employer must get an employment licence for you through Jobsplus, Malta's public employment service. You cannot just start a job.
• A job related to your studies is viewed more favourably.

Working without a licence, or for more than 20 hours, puts your permit at risk. Self-employment and freelancing are generally not allowed on a study permit.

After graduation: the 9-month job-search permit

Malta offers a post-study permit so graduates can look for work. According to Identità:

• It lasts 9 months.
• It is one time only and cannot be renewed.
• You must have completed a course at MQF Level 5 or higher in Malta and hold a valid student permit when you apply.
• You need a letter confirming you completed your course, and you must show funds for the nine months.

If you find a job, your employer then applies for a Single Permit. This is a combined work and residence permit for non-EU workers, according to Identità. It ties you to that employer and that role.

Example. Sadia completes an MSc (MQF Level 7) in Data Science at the University of Malta. She applies for the 9-month permit before her student permit ends. In month five, a software company offers her a job, and the employer applies for her Single Permit. If she had studied a Level 4 diploma instead, she would not have qualified for the job-search permit or for part-time work.

Cost of living and daily life

The University of Malta's figure of €950 a month for the residence permit is a good guide to the minimum budget. Rent is the biggest cost. Areas near the university and the busy St Julian's and Sliema areas are usually the most expensive.

Tips to keep costs down:

• Share a flat, and check the lease is registered with the Housing Authority. This protects you, and you need it for your permit.
• Use public buses rather than taxis.
• Remember that part-time work is limited to 20 hours a week and only starts after your first months. Don't rely on it to pay tuition.

Travelling in Europe

Malta is part of the Schengen area. With a valid Maltese residence permit, you can usually make short visits to other Schengen countries, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You cannot live, study or work in another Schengen country on a Maltese permit. See the European Commission's Schengen page.

English language schools, and the EC English collapse

Malta is well known for English language schools. But for a Bangladeshi student planning a degree, a language course alone is usually not the right route. Identità ties the study residence permit to courses at MQF Level 5 or higher, and students below Level 5 have no work rights.

In September 2026, EC English, a language school group founded in Malta, announced that it would begin formal insolvency and winding-up processes, citing difficult finances and a failure to find new investment, according to its official statement. The PIE News reported that EC closed all 25 of its schools worldwide on 14 September 2026.

If you had booked or paid for an EC course, contact the school and your bank or card provider about refunds as soon as possible. The wider lesson: check the financial strength of any private provider, and avoid paying large sums far in advance.

Scams and unaccredited providers to avoid

Malta's rules are clear, but bad actors use its good reputation. Watch for these warning signs:

• "Study and full-time work" offers. Students can work only 20 hours a week, with a Jobsplus licence. Anyone promising full-time work on a study permit is wrong or dishonest.
• Providers you can't find on the MFHEA website. If the institution or course is not licensed and accredited, it may not qualify for a residence permit.
• Courses below MQF Level 5 sold as a route to work or residence. They give no work rights and no job-search permit.
• Paying for a job offer. Buying a job offer or a "work permit" is a scam and can lead to a ban.
• Fake or unregistered accommodation. Your lease must be registered with the Housing Authority.
• Pressure to pay everything now. Pay tuition directly to the institution's official bank account, and keep every receipt.

Read more about the others in our Ireland guide and on our Germany destination page.

What to do next

1. Check your provider on the MFHEA website and choose a course at MQF Level 6 or 7.
2. Work through our Malta checklist and read our Malta destination page.
3. Confirm where to apply for the D visa from Bangladesh, in writing, with your university.
4. Check your English level with our free IELTS level check.
5. Compare Malta with Ireland and Germany before you decide, using the table above.
6. Talk to us. See how we work. We help you choose courses and prepare applications. We cannot promise a visa, a job or residence.