Bachelor's Degrees in English in Malta: Language Tests and Fields
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Malta is one of the few countries where almost every bachelor's programme is taught in English. Our catalogue lists 226 programmes, and 224 are marked as taught in English, either alone or together with Maltese. This guide covers what that means for your application, the English tests that the University of Malta (UM) accepts and where to look for programmes. See the overview of studying in Malta for the full catalogue.
What "taught in English" means here
UM states that the language of instruction and communication at the university is English. Applicants educated entirely abroad can, with approval, offer another language instead of a Maltese pass for the general entry requirement. The language degrees are the exception in content only: programmes such as German, French, Italian or Spanish and Latin American Studies combine the language being studied with English.
At MCAST, English is one of the two languages of instruction and assessment, besides Maltese. In the catalogue, MCAST programmes are marked with both languages. The catalogue marks two private programmes, in osteopathy and physiotherapy, with no teaching language, and for those you need to ask the college. Private colleges decide their own English requirement.
English requirement at UM
If you completed secondary education overseas you must present a Secure English Language Test (SELT) result, unless your school English qualification is judged comparable to the Maltese SEC or you are exempt as a national of a listed English-speaking country. For undergraduate courses, UM accepts, with results issued within two years of the course start:
| Test | Undergraduate minimum |
|---|---|
| Academic IELTS | overall 6.0, with at least 6.0 in writing, 5.5 in reading, 6.0 in listening and 6.0 in speaking |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 overall, with at least 20 in writing (or 4 overall and 4.5 in writing on the scoring used from January 2026) |
| Cambridge | Advanced Certificate, grade C or better |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 65, with at least 59 in each element |
| Trinity ISE | ISE II with Distinction in all skills, or ISE III with Pass in all skills |
| ISET (UM's own test) | band 5 on a scale of 1 to 7 |
The Foundation Studies programme asks for less: IELTS 5.5 overall, for example. See IELTS and TOEFL for European universities for how the tests work in general.
Test deadlines matter. For the October intake, UM lists 1 July for non-EU applicants who need a visa and 30 September for others, and says applicants who miss them will not be admitted even if they meet every other requirement. For the February intake the dates are 10 November and 31 January.
ISET, the university's own test
The International Student English Test is run by UM's Centre for Academic Literacies and English Communication Skills on campus and assesses reading, listening, writing and speaking. UM bands it from 1 to 7, and undergraduate entry needs 5. Check the ISET page for current dates and requirements.
Where the programmes are
Programmes are concentrated in a few fields. The catalogue has the following, each with a page listing universities and fees:
- Computer science and software: 25 programmes (€10,800 a year for non-EU students, no tuition fee for EU students). See computer science in Malta.
- Business administration: 19 programmes. See business administration in Malta.
- Finance and accounting: 18 programmes. See finance and accounting in Malta.
- Multimedia and video games: 8 programmes. See multimedia and video games in Malta.
- Hospitality and gastronomy: 8 programmes. See hospitality in Malta.
- Nursing: 6 programmes. See nursing in Malta.
- Medicine: one programme, the five-year Doctor of Medicine and Surgery at UM, taught in English (€26,000 a year for non-EU students). See study medicine in English in Europe.
Fees and next steps
EU students pay no tuition fee at public institutions, and non-EU fees depend on the course: see how much it costs to study in Malta. Applying is done directly to each institution: see how to get into a university in Malta.
Official sources
- University of Malta: English language requirements
- University of Malta: International Student English Test
- University of Malta: overseas qualifications
- University of Malta: admissions FAQs
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.