IB Diploma: University Admission in Malta
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
The University of Malta (UM) counts the IB Diploma as a local qualification, together with the Matriculation Certificate and the European Baccalaureate. That helps you: the IB is assessed by published rules, not case by case as an unfamiliar foreign certificate. The rules below come from UM's pages in October 2026. Course pages can add their own requirements, so check yours.
How to apply with the IB
In the online application, choose your course and then select the qualification type Local Qualifications. Local applicants pay a lower application fee than applicants with overseas qualifications: €35 before the first deadline, €75 if late. See how to get into a university in Malta for deadlines and the application steps.
The general entry requirement
UM's comparison page sets the IB Diploma's minimum for general entry at:
- at least 28 points in total;
- passes of 3 points or better in a language, a science and a humanistic subject;
- the equivalent of an SEC pass in Mathematics, English Language and Maltese: SEC Level 3 or GCSE grade 4 or better. IB subjects can satisfy these if they are judged comparable.
Maltese is covered by UM's admissions regulations. The admissions FAQ says an applicant educated entirely abroad may, with the Admissions Board's approval, offer another language (not English) in place of Maltese. Medicine has a separate Maltese requirement, described below.
Special course requirements: HL, SL and grades
Many degrees name MATSEC subjects and grades. UM translates them to IB like this:
- Higher Level subjects are normally accepted where a MATSEC Advanced Level is required.
- Standard Level subjects are normally accepted where a MATSEC Intermediate Level is required.
- Ab initio subjects are not comparable to any admission requirement.
| IB points | Equivalent MATSEC grade |
|---|---|
| 7 | A |
| 6 | B |
| 5 | C |
| 4 | D |
| 3 | E |
Where a course asks only for a "pass", 3 points in the same IB subject is enough. As an example of how this works, the Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree asks for Advanced Level grade C in Pure Mathematics and Physics, which by the table corresponds to HL Mathematics and HL Physics at 5 points or more. For your own course, ask UM's admissions office how it applies the table to your subjects.
Limited-place courses
For courses with limited places, UM ranks applicants by grade combinations. The comparison page notes that a MATSEC grade C is higher than 5 IB points, grade B is higher than 6 and grade A is higher than 7, which means a top IB result is placed below the equivalent top MATSEC grade. The combinations, in order, with IB points in brackets, are:
- AAA (777)
- AAB (776)
- ABB (766)
- BBB (666)
- BBC (665)
- BCC (655)
- CCC (555)
Where the places are limited, ranking takes place in September, and a course page tells you whether it is limited-number. Late applications are not accepted for those courses.
Certificate courses
Courses that ask for 36 points in the Matriculation Certificate require 23 IB points. All other entry requirements still apply.
Medicine and dentistry
UM's published evaluation criteria for the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery state that they do not apply to applicants with the IB or European Baccalaureate Diploma. Read the course page for the special requirements: it asks for Advanced Level grade B in Biology and Chemistry, which is HL 6 or higher by the table above. Non-Maltese applicants need the Medical Maltese Proficiency Certificate, or a pass in Medical Maltese within the Certificate in Foundation Studies in Medical and Dental Sciences, before they start. Check with UM whether any exemption applies to you. For non-EU applicants who need a visa, the October 2026 deadline was 1 July 2026. For wider context, see study medicine in English in Europe.
Other universities
MCAST and the private colleges set their own rules. MCAST treats anyone who is not Maltese as an international applicant: see document recognition for Malta. For other countries, see IB Diploma universities in continental Europe.
Where to look next
Official sources
- University of Malta: comparing your International Baccalaureate
- University of Malta: comparing your European Baccalaureate
- University of Malta: local qualifications
- University of Malta: admissions FAQs
- University of Malta: Doctor of Medicine and Surgery
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.