Study in Malta Without IELTS: Accepted Tests & the MOI Route
Studying in Malta without IELTS is possible only if you pass an accepted equivalent test or hold a qualifying certificate from a small set. The University of Malta accepts TOEFL iBT (minimum 80 for bachelor's), PTE Academic (minimum 65), Cambridge B2/C1/C2, Trinity ISE, and its own ISET. African students are not exempt — nationality alone grants no waiver at UM.
Which English tests does the University of Malta accept?
UM accepts the following Standardised English Language Tests (SELTs) as of June 2026 (verify before applying, as the list may be updated):
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Pearson PTE Academic
- Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency)
- Trinity ISE (Integrated Skills in English)
- UM’s own ISET (International Student English Test — sat on campus)
Test results for IELTS and TOEFL must be no more than two years old from the start of your course.
Bachelor’s degree thresholds (as of June 2026)
| Test | Minimum overall | Minimum sub-score |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | Writing 6.0; Reading, Listening & Speaking each 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 (new scale 4) | — |
| PTE Academic | 65 | — |
| UM ISET | Band 5 | — |
| Cambridge B2/C1/C2 | B2 First (pass) | See UM’s exemptions page |
| Trinity ISE | ISE II (pass) | — |
Master’s and doctoral thresholds (as of June 2026)
| Test | Minimum overall | Minimum sub-score |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | No band below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 95 (new scale 5) | — |
| PTE Academic | 71 | — |
| UM ISET | Band 6 | — |
Catch: the master’s bar is meaningfully higher than the bachelor’s bar. If you are planning to apply directly to a taught master’s, budget extra preparation time — a score that was enough for your undergraduate application will likely fall short.
Foundation Studies threshold
UM’s Foundation Studies programme (MQF 4) accepts IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 61, PTE 59, or ISET Band 4. The Foundation route is relevant for African applicants whose school-leaving certificate does not yet meet UM’s matriculation equivalent.
Can you study in Malta without IELTS entirely? The MOI question
“MOI” stands for medium of instruction. If your prior education was delivered in English, some universities accept a letter or certificate confirming this in place of a formal test. At the University of Malta there are two distinct MOI-type routes.
Route 1 — the nationality-based waiver (not available to most African applicants)
UM grants an automatic exemption to nationals of a named list of English-speaking countries who completed their secondary education in one of those countries. The list includes the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and certain Caribbean and Pacific states.
Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa are not on this list.
This is a common source of confusion. Agencies sometimes tell students from these countries that they are automatically exempt because English is an official language. That is incorrect. UM’s policy requires both nationality and secondary schooling in a listed country. None of the six African origins qualifies under this route.
Route 2 — the qualification-based waiver (open to any nationality)
Separately from nationality, UM grants an exemption based on specific qualifications regardless of the applicant’s passport. The qualifying certificates are:
- UK GCE A-Level English Language at grade D or above
- UK GCE AS-Level English Language at grade E or above
- UK GCE GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C) or above
- MATSEC English (Malta’s own school-leaving certificate, included for completeness)
- IB English at grade 4 or above
What this means for African students: students who attended a Cambridge-system school in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, or Kenya and passed O-Level or IGCSE English at the required grade may qualify for the qualification-based waiver — even though they do not qualify for the nationality waiver. Check your certificate carefully; the subject must be English Language (not Literature).
Practical advice: if your GCSE or O-Level English result is borderline, or if the grade on your certificate is expressed in the old A–G system rather than 9–1, confirm with UM Admissions before relying on it as your sole evidence. Submitting an IELTS result alongside avoids any ambiguity.
What is the ISET, and should you use it?
The ISET (International Student English Test) is UM’s own proficiency assessment. Unlike IELTS or TOEFL, you do not register for it before arriving in Malta — it is sat on campus.
This has a practical implication: to sit the ISET you first need to be admitted to UM and arrive in Malta. For non-EU students that means you will need to obtain your entry D-visa first, which in turn requires submitting an accepted SELT with your application.
The ISET is therefore most useful for:
– Students already in Malta (e.g., on a previous permit) who are applying to progress to a higher-level UM programme.
– Students who submitted an external test score for the visa application but whose score improved after arrival and they want to confirm their level.
For most African students applying from their home country, an external test (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic) is the practical route.
When must you submit your English test result?
Deadlines are strict. For non-EU visa applicants, UM requires the English test result to be submitted by:
- October intake: 1 July (non-EU visa applicants)
- February intake: 10 November (non-EU visa applicants)
These dates are earlier than the general application deadlines (22 July for October, 31 January for February) because UM needs time to process your visa documentation. Plan backwards: if you are applying for the October 2027 intake, your IELTS sitting should ideally be by May or early June 2027 to allow time for results delivery.
Five honest things to know before relying on a waiver
1. The GCSE waiver requires the right subject. English Literature does not qualify — it must be English Language. Double-check your certificate before assuming the waiver applies.
2. The same waiver applies at any level, but the test threshold changes. A GCSE English pass of grade 4 (C) exempts you from the test whether you are applying for a bachelor’s or a master’s. However, it is your only proof of English proficiency for a master’s programme — and UM may seek additional evidence in some cases. Confirm directly with UM Admissions.
3. Test validity matters for your visa, not just your admission. The D-visa application to Identità (Malta’s immigration authority) requires proof of English proficiency as part of the admissions documentation. Ensure your test result is within the two-year window at the time you submit the visa, not just at the time of application to UM.
4. IELTS or equivalent is required for the non-EU visa deadline, not just admission. Non-EU students submitting a D-visa must include the English test result in the visa pack. If you are relying on the GCSE waiver, ensure you have the original certificate to submit.
5. Private colleges in Malta have their own English requirements. If you are applying to a private MFHEA-licensed institution rather than UM, check that institution’s own English policy — it is not governed by UM’s thresholds. Some private colleges accept IELTS 5.5 for undergraduate entry; others have higher bars.
Quick test comparison
| Test | Typical cost (approx.) | Results turnaround | BA threshold | MA threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | ~€200–250 | 3–5 days (online) | 6.0 overall | 6.5 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | ~€200–245 | 4–8 days | 80 | 95 |
| PTE Academic | ~€170–210 | 5 days | 65 | 71 |
| Cambridge B2 First | ~€150–200 | ~2 weeks | Pass | (C1 required for MA) |
| Trinity ISE | ~€90–150 | ~2 weeks | ISE II pass | ISE III pass |
Test costs vary by country and test centre. Re-check before you book. None of the costs above is set by UM — they are test-provider fees.
How World Study Africa helps
We check your certificates and test scores before you apply, identify whether the GCSE or IB waiver applies to your specific qualifications, and tell you which test path is most cost-effective given your timeline. Our core advisory service is free (funded by a 15–25% referral from the university on successful enrolment; you pay no fee to us for placement support).
For a personalised assessment, check your eligibility here or message us on WhatsApp for a quick answer.
Ready to go deeper? Explore the full Malta study guide or read about the Malta student visa process.
Frequently asked questions
No. UM's nationality-based exemption list covers only named English-speaking countries (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others). Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa are not on this list. African applicants must submit an accepted test — IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge, Trinity ISE — or sit UM's own on-campus ISET.
The ISET (International Student English Test) is the University of Malta's own on-campus proficiency test. You sit it after arriving at UM; you do not need to arrange it before your application. Band 5 is required for bachelor's entry, band 6 for master's. It is a practical alternative if you prefer not to — or could not — sit an external test before applying.
For a bachelor's degree you need IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, with Writing at 6.0 and no sub-band below 5.5. For a master's or doctoral programme the overall band rises to 6.5, with no individual band below 6.0. Foundation Studies accepts IELTS 5.5 overall.
Yes — for any nationality. UM grants a qualification-based waiver if you hold a UK GCE A-Level English at grade D or above, an AS-Level at grade E or above, or a GCSE English at grade 4 (C) or above. An IB English result of 4 or above also qualifies. This is the most accessible waiver route for students from Cambridge-system schools across Africa.
Non-EU visa applicants must submit their English test result by 1 July — one week before UM's general October-intake application deadline of 22 July. If you are sitting the ISET on campus you arrange that after arrival, so the external-test deadline does not apply.