Higher education funding

Funding

In Malta, MCAST and ITS offer higher non-tertiary education courses of study and are entirely financed through public funds. The Government also funds all daytime undergraduate courses offered by the University of Malta (UOM), the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS). No registration fees are charged.

Government’s goal is to make this level of education accessible to all those interested in furthering their studies irrespective of age, culture, ability and/or socio-economic status. This is coherent with Malta’s commitment to reach the target of having 33% of those aged 30-34 years with a tertiary education qualification by 2020, to develop new fields of study and research as well as to invest in a highly skilled workforce for Malta’s economic sectors.

Financial Autonomy and Control

The UOM, MCAST and ITS receive annual funding from the Government. These funds are managed and controlled by the respective institution’s senior management team and the different faculties/departments. Annual financial reports are compiled by each head of faculty/department and are forwarded to the senior management team.

Academic staff at UOM is also entitled to two types of funds: the Academic Research Fund and the Academic Resources Fund. These funds are intended to support academics in their professional development and academic research by covering expenses to include academic literature, participation in academic conferences both locally and abroad and other expenses such as the purchasing of digital hardware and software.

Fees within Public Higher Education

Maltese and EU students attending MCAST, ITS and the UOM do not pay tuition and registration fees meaning that all qualifying full-time post-secondary and first cycle tertiary courses in Malta are provided free of any tuition charges. However, students are required to pay the relevant examination registration fees existent at the time of application for examinations such as those organised by the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) in the case of MCAST and MATSEC in the case of UOM. However, students attending courses run as evening/part-time courses at MCAST, ITS and at UOM pay tuition fees. Non-EU students wishing to attend the UOM are required to pay tuition fees[1].

Financial Support for Learners’ Families

In the Financial Estimates for 2012 Government introduced a new tax rebate to parents of children up to the age of 21 years who are following courses at tertiary level. This measure was then amended in 2014 and extended to children up to the age of 23.

Financial Support for Learners

Students attending undergraduate courses at the UOM are entitled to a maintenance grant which is given on a smart card at the start of each academic year together with a stipend every four weeks to cover part of their on-going expenses. The Smart Card is used by the students in approved retail outlets related to students’ needs such as bookshops, stationers and computer outlets. Stipend grants are only available for students reading for their first undergraduate degree and the amount of funds students receive depends on their choice of course.

There are two different types of courses: ‘Normal’ and ‘Prescribed’:

• Students registered on ‘normal’ courses receive a stipend of EUR 85.45 every four weeks from October till June together with a one-time grant of EUR 466 and a sum of EUR 466 every academic year;
• Students registered on ‘prescribed’ courses (courses deemed of national priority) receive EUR 149.54 every four weeks together with a one-time grant of EUR 699 and a sum of EUR 699 every academic year.
• Students who, due to proven hardship, are deemed to qualify for a supplementary maintenance grant, receive an annual grant of EUR 699 plus a grant of EUR 287 very four weeks in addition to the one-off grant payment at the beginning of the course of studies. 

Students attending courses at MCAST and ITS receive an annual maintenance grant  that is credited onto a Smart Card at the beginning of each academic year. Students also receive a four-weekly allowance for the duration of their programme of studies.

Apprentices joining established vocational education and training schemes are entitled to a maintenance grant and stipends, depending on the type of scheme they join. The stipends also vary according to the students’ year of study within the scheme. Apprentices are also entitled to half the annual statutory bonus. Students following other courses may receive a weekly allowance.