Study in Malta from Nepal: Cost, Visa & Universities

Malta doesn’t come up as often as the UK, Australia, or Canada when Nepali students talk about studying abroad. That’s exactly why it’s worth a closer look smaller applicant pools, English-taught programs, and a lower cost of living than most of Western Europe.

This guide covers what actually matters if you’re considering it: real costs, how to check if a college is legitimate before you pay a rupee, and the visa process from Nepal specifically. For a full overview of your options in Malta, see our Study in Malta page.

Why do Nepali students choose Malta?

A few reasons keep coming up:

• English is an official language. Nearly all higher education programs are taught in English, alongside Maltese.
• It’s part of the EU and the Schengen Area, so a Malta qualification carries EU-wide recognition, and you can travel across most of Europe without a separate visa.
• Lower cost of living than the UK, Germany, or the Netherlands, while still offering a European degree.
• Smaller student population, which usually means smaller class sizes and less competition for places compared to bigger, more popular destinations.

How much does it cost to study in Malta from Nepal?

Here’s where a lot of blogs give you one clean number that sounds precise but isn’t telling you the full story. The real answer is: it depends heavily on public vs. private, and on your course.

• University of Malta (the public university): roughly €1,080–€1,360 per semester for non-EU students, the most affordable route by far, if you’re eligible.
• Private colleges (MCAST, GBS Malta, and similar): typically €4,000–€9,000 per year for undergraduate courses, and up to €10,000–€15,000 for some Master’s programs.
• Living expenses: commonly estimated between €300 and €800 per month, depending on whether you’re in Valletta/Sliema (more expensive) or a quieter town, and how you manage accommodation and food.

Put together, a realistic first-year budget for a private-college undergraduate program lands somewhere around €14,000–€24,000, all costs included. That range is wide because a public-university student and a private-college student in an expensive program are genuinely having two very different financial experiences not because anyone’s numbers are wrong.

Do you need IELTS to study in Malta?

Not always, and this is one of Malta’s real advantages if your English test scores aren’t ready yet.

Many Maltese institutions accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate proof that your previous education was taught in English instead of a formal test score. This varies by institution and course, so it’s not a blanket rule.

That said, if the specific program you want does require a test score, it’s worth having one ready rather than assuming you’ll qualify for the waiver. If you do need IELTS, preparing early keeps this from becoming the one thing that delays your whole application.

How do you check if a Malta institution is actually legitimate?

This is the part most guides skip, and it matters more than almost anything else on this list.

Malta has a real, growing number of private colleges, and not all of them stay accredited. The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) is the official body that licenses and accredits every higher education provider in the country and it does actually revoke licenses when a college fails to meet standards. This isn’t a hypothetical risk: MFHEA has published notices revoking a university’s operating license after a quality audit found it no longer met requirements.

Before you commit to any Malta institution, two things are worth doing:

1. Check the institution against MFHEA’s list of licensed providers and accredited programs, not just the college’s own marketing.
2. Ask directly whether the specific program (not just the institution generally) is accredited accreditation can apply at the course level, not only the institution level.

This is exactly the kind of check a counselor should be doing for you, not something you find out after enrolling.

What’s the Malta student visa process from Nepal?

Nepali students need a Type D National Long-Stay Visa before traveling, followed by a student residence permit after arrival.

Here’s a detail most Nepal-focused guides get wrong: Malta visa applications from Nepal aren’t only handled through a distant embassy. VFS Global operates a visa application center in Kathmandu that processes applications on Malta’s behalf, with visa fee payment made through a designated NIBL bank counter inside the center. That’s a meaningfully shorter process than applying through New Delhi directly.

Typical documents needed:

• A valid passport (at least 6 months beyond your intended stay)
• Confirmed offer/acceptance letter from an MFHEA-accredited institution
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living costs
• Health insurance covering at least €30,000
• Accommodation confirmation in Malta
• A clean police record certificate

Processing typically takes several weeks, so it’s worth starting well ahead of your intended intake. Malta runs multiple intakes across the year, which gives you more flexibility than a single fixed start date.

Which universities in Malta should Nepali students consider?

• University of Malta: the country’s only public university, and the most affordable option for eligible programs.
• MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology):  vocational and practical programs, popular for business, IT, and applied fields.
• GBS Malta, Global College Malta, and similar accredited private colleges: a wider range of specialized business, IT, and hospitality programs, at a higher cost than the public university.

Whichever you’re considering, run it through the MFHEA check above before applying it takes a few minutes and can save you from a very expensive mistake.

Frequently asked questions

Is Malta a good option compared to the UK or Australia?

It depends on your priorities. Malta is generally more affordable and less competitive to get into, but it has far fewer globally ranked universities than the UK or Australia. It suits students prioritizing cost and an EU pathway over university prestige.

Can I study in Malta without IELTS? 

Often, yes many institutions accept an MOI certificate instead, though this varies by program. Confirm the specific requirement for your chosen course rather than assuming.

How do I know if a Malta college is legitimate? 

Check it against the MFHEA’s official list of licensed providers and accredited programs before applying or paying any fees.

Where do I apply for a Malta student visa from Nepal? 

Through the VFS Global visa application center in Kathmandu, which processes Malta visa applications on the country’s behalf, rather than only through the embassy in New Delhi.

How many intakes does Malta have per year? 

Most institutions run multiple intakes annually, which gives more flexibility than destinations with a single fixed start date though exact intake months vary by institution and program.