Study Medicine in Malta in English: Fees, Entry and Honest Reality
The University of Malta charges €26,000 per year for its Doctor of Medicine & Surgery (MD) — the official non-EU rate under Subsidiary Legislation 327.177, as of June 2026. A hard January deadline and a Maltese proficiency requirement catch many applicants out. A private option exists via Queen Mary University of London's Barts branch on Gozo, with tuition unpublished.
University of Malta MD: what you are actually paying for
Tuition and total costs
The University of Malta is the only Maltese institution to hold a QS World University Ranking placement (band 741–750 in 2026). Its Faculty of Medicine & Surgery is the oldest and most established medical school on the island.
Under SL 327.177 (official non-EU fee schedule), the MD costs €26,000 per year. The programme typically runs for five years. A Medical Foundation Studies programme is available for applicants whose school-leaving qualification does not meet direct entry requirements — this costs €16,000 per year (non-EU).
On top of tuition, the University of Malta’s own living-cost guide (as of June 2026) gives the following monthly breakdown for students sharing accommodation:
| Cost item | Monthly (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Shared accommodation (2–3 sharing) | €550–700 |
| Food and beverages | ~€450 |
| Public transport | Free (with e-Residence permit) |
| Mobile/Wi-Fi | ~€30 |
| Electricity/water | ~€50 |
| Laundry | €80–100 |
| Other | €200–300 |
| Indicative monthly total | ~€1,400–1,600 |
UM notes these figures are higher than the minimum proof-of-funds thresholds required for the visa and residence permit. Plan to the living-cost figures, not to the visa minimum.
A rough five-year cost (tuition + living only, assuming no fee increases):
| Year | Tuition | Living (mid-estimate) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €26,000 | ~€18,000 | ~€44,000 |
| 2–5 (×4) | €26,000/yr | ~€18,000/yr | ~€44,000/yr |
| 5-year total | €130,000 | ~€90,000 | ~€220,000 |
These are indicative. Tuition under SL 327.177 is described as the rate fixed for 2016/17 and continuing absent new regulations — individual course pages may differ. Verify per course before committing.
Entry requirements
The MD at UM is open to students holding a recognised secondary school-leaving certificate equivalent to the UM Matriculation Certificate. For most African applicants from WASSCE/NECO (Nigeria), KCSE (Kenya), Cambridge O-Level/A-Level systems (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, South Africa), the qualification is assessed for equivalence by UM Admissions.
You will need strong science grades — specifically in Biology and Chemistry. UM assesses applicants competitively.
English language: UM requires an accepted SELT. For a bachelor’s-level entry the minimum is IELTS 6.0 overall (Writing 6.0; no sub-band below 5.5) or the equivalent in TOEFL iBT (80), PTE Academic (65), or UM’s own ISET (band 5). Confirm with UM whether the MD carries a higher English bar — longer professional programmes sometimes do.
The 30 January deadline for overseas (foreign-qualification) applicants is firm. The general October-intake deadline for non-EU students is 1 July; the medical deadline is more than five months earlier.
The Maltese proficiency requirement: the catch you need to know
Malta’s language situation is unique. The island has two official languages: English and Maltese. The University of Malta teaches its medical curriculum in English — but clinical placements are conducted in real Maltese hospitals and clinics, where patients and many staff interact primarily in Maltese.
UM explicitly requires a Maltese proficiency certificate (or SEC Maltese) for Medicine and Dental Surgery clinical placements.
For African applicants this is a genuine commitment: you will need to learn a language with no African cognates, from scratch, while also studying a demanding medical curriculum. It is not impossible — hundreds of non-Maltese students have done it — but it is a real cost in time, money, and cognitive load that agencies rarely mention.
Practical implication: factor Maltese language classes into your first year or two. UM and private language schools in Malta offer Maltese courses for non-speakers.
The Medical Foundation Studies pathway
If your school-leaving certificate does not meet the direct-entry standard for the MD, UM offers a Medical Foundation Studies programme at €16,000 per year (non-EU). Successful completion leads to entry into Year 1 of the MD.
English requirement for Foundation: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 61, PTE 59, or ISET Band 4.
The deadline for Foundation is the same early-January window for medicine. Check UM’s dates and deadlines page annually — these dates are set per academic year.
Other English-medium medical options in Malta
Queen Mary University of London — Barts Medical School Malta (Gozo) is a branch campus of QMUL operating on the island of Gozo. It offers a UK-registered MBBS degree taught in English. Tuition fees are not published on the public-facing pages reviewed as of June 2026 — contact the school directly for a current fee schedule. As a UK-affiliated programme the degree structure and standards are governed by QMUL.
No other currently MFHEA-licensed Maltese institution is confirmed as offering a full English-medium medical degree at the time of writing.
Scholarships: the honest picture
Funding options for international medical students in Malta are very limited.
The Endeavour II Scholarships Scheme (EU-funded, Government of Malta) requires foreign nationals to hold a permanent residence permit to be eligible. This rules out students arriving from abroad for the first time.
The Malta MFA Scholarship is available to students from Nigeria and Ghana only (not Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, or South Africa) — and it is not specifically targeted at medicine students.
UM’s institutional scholarships cover master’s-by-research and doctoral (PhD) students, not the taught MD.
Reality check: virtually all non-EU medical students at UM are self-funded or supported by government sponsorship from their home country (for example, Nigerian federal or state government scholarships, or Kenyan government bursaries). Research your home-government options before assuming Malta funding will cover your costs.
The visa process for medical students
The process is the same as for other UM students:
- Apply to UM by 30 January (foreign qualifications) with your SELT, certificates, and supporting documents.
- Receive a conditional offer from UM.
- Apply for a National Long-Stay D-Visa via a VFS centre at least nine weeks before the October start. Fee: €100 (ages 12+). You must show funds of ≥€746/month for each month of study (≥75% of Malta’s national minimum wage, as of June 2026) in your bank account, plus Schengen-valid health insurance of at least €30,000.
- Arrive in Malta, apply for e-Residence permit within 90 days. Fee: €50. Funds threshold rises to €950/month excluding tuition. UM and MCAST/ITS students are exempt from the €100,000 private-insurance requirement that applies to private-college students.
- Complete on-arrival health screening, including a TB chest X-ray within four weeks of arrival (required for students from countries classified as High or Very-High TB risk — this applies to most African origins).
Cost comparison: UM MD vs other African medicine routes
| Destination | Tuition (approx.) | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Malta MD | €26,000/yr | English + Maltese for clinicals | Jan deadline; 5 years |
| Hungary (Debrecen MD) | ~USD 16,900/yr | English | Biology/Chemistry entrance exam |
| Hungary (Semmelweis MD) | ~USD 20,900/yr (billed per semester) | English | Own Moodle entrance exam |
| Poland (Jagiellonian MD) | €16,000/yr | English | Entrance exam (BMAT/MCAT/own test) |
| Ireland MD | up to ~€60,000/yr | English | Highest cost in EU cohort |
Tuition figures as of June 2026 — volatile. See the compare page for side-by-side cost detail.
How World Study Africa helps
We advise on whether UM medicine, a Hungarian medical school, or a Polish English-medium MD is the better fit for your academic profile and budget — honestly, without pushing you toward any one option. Our advisory is free for most students (funded by a 15–25% university referral; no upfront fee to you for placement support).
Check your eligibility for Malta’s medical programme, explore all UM programmes, or message us on WhatsApp to talk through your options.
Frequently asked questions
The University of Malta charges €26,000 per year for its Doctor of Medicine & Surgery (MD) under Subsidiary Legislation 327.177 — the official fee schedule. This is the non-EU rate. You also need to budget roughly €1,400–1,600 per month for living costs (accommodation, food, transport, utilities), making the total annual outlay considerably higher than tuition alone.
UM requires an accepted SELT (IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge, Trinity ISE, or the on-campus ISET). The IELTS minimum is 6.0 overall for bachelor's-level entry, with Writing at 6.0 and no sub-band below 5.5. Confirm the exact requirement for the Medicine & Surgery programme directly with UM Admissions, as longer-cycle professional programmes sometimes carry a higher bar.
Yes, and it is the single most underestimated catch. Clinical placements at the University of Malta require a Maltese proficiency certificate (or equivalent). Students are taught in English, but Maltese is used in clinical settings with patients. You will need to acquire basic Maltese before your placements — factor this into your preparation.
For overseas applicants with foreign qualifications, the deadline is 30 January (for the following October intake). This is much earlier than the general non-EU deadline of 1 July. Missing 30 January effectively means waiting a full year. Build the deadline into your planning well in advance.
Realistic options are limited. Malta's Endeavour II scholarship requires a permanent residence permit — ruling out fresh international applicants. UM's institutional scholarships cover research degrees only, not the taught MD. The Malta MFA Scholarship applies to Nigeria and Ghana (not other African origins) and is not specifically for medicine. In practice, MD students in Malta are almost entirely self-funded or government-sponsored from their home country.