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INSTITUTION TYPES &
CREDENTIALS
Types
of higher education institutions:
Universitą (University)
Institute
College
School
leaving and higher education credentials:
Secondary Education Certificate
Matriculation Certificate
Bachelor's Degree
Postgraduate Diploma
Master's Degree
Doctor's Degree
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION
SYSTEM
Pre-higher
education:
Duration of compulsory
education:
Age
of entry: 5
Age
of exit: 16
Structure
of school system:
Primary
Type
of school providing this education: Primary School
Length
of program in years: 6
Age
level from: 5 to: 11
Lower Secondary
Type
of school providing this education: Junior Lyceum/Secondary School
Length
of program in years: 5
Age
level from: 11 to: 16
Upper Secondary
Type
of school providing this education: Higher Secondary School
Length
of program in years: 2
Age
level from: 16 to: 18
Vocational Secondary
Type
of school providing this education: Colleges/Institutes
Length
of program in years: 4
Age
level from: 16 to: 20
School
education:
Primary education lasts for six
years. There are different types of secondary education schools: junior
lyceums, area secondary schools, schools for very low achievers, church and
independent (private) schools. Studies last for five years divided into a
two-year orientation cycle and a three-year cycle of specialization in lyceum
and three-year orientation and two-year specialization in area secondary
schools. Admission to state junior lyceums and some church schools is through
an entrance examination. At the end of this cycle, pupils sit for the
Secondary Education Certificate. Higher secondary schools (sixth forms)
prepare pupils for the Matriculation Certificate which gives access to
university.
Higher
education:
Higher education in Malta is
regulated by the Education Act of 1998 and subsequent amendments. Tertiary
education is mainly provided by the University of Malta. But
higher education is in the process of becoming a binary system following the
foundation of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) which
is aiming at providing ISCED 5 courses.
Main
laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: Education
Act Year: 1998
Concerns: All
education levels
Academic year:
Classes from: Oct to: Jun
Long vacation from: 15 Jul to: 30 Sep
Languages of
instruction: English, Maltese
Stages of
studies:
Non-university
level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):
Non-university
level:
The Malta
College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) is the foremost provider of
vocational education in Malta. It
incorporates nine institutes in the areas of Engineering, Business and
Commerce, Maritime studies, Building and Construction, Community Services,
Information and Communication Technology, Art and Design and Agribusiness. It
currently (2006) offers Certificate, Diploma and Advanced diploma courses on
a full-time basis or as part of an Apprenticeship Programme in collaboration
with the Employment and Training Corporation. Candidates on an apprenticeship
programme may sit for and obtain the Journeyman's Certificate which give
access to employement and higher levels of specialisation. The Institute of Tourism
Studies aims to provide vocational
education and training in the field of Hospitality and Tourism.
University
level studies:
University
level first stage: Bachelor's degree:
The
Bachelor's Degree is obtained in three to five years depending on the field
of study.
University
level second stage: Master's degree/Postgraduate
diploma:
The second
stage leads to the award of a Master's Degree or a Postgraduate diploma after
a period of one or two years of study.
University
level third stage: Doctor's degree:
The third
stage leads, after at least three years of study following the award of a
Master's Degree, to the Doctor's Degree. Candidates are required to submit a
thesis after a period of research on an approved topic.
Teacher
education:
Training
of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
Primary
and secondary school teachers are trained at the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta. After a
four-year course, they obtain a Bachelor of Education Degree. Applicants are
required to choose between primary or secondary education as their area of
specialisation when registering for the course. The University of Malta also
offers post-graduate courses for students who wish to become teachers after a
first degree.
Training
of secondary school teachers
Same as
above.
Training
of higher education teachers
Pre-university
level teachers must hold Bachelor's or Master's degrees in various fields of
specialisation. Lecturers must hold a degree at Doctoral level. Assistant
lecturers must be in possession of a Master's Degree.
Non-traditional
studies:
Lifelong
higher education
The
Department for Further Studies and Adult Education provides vocational,
academic and leisure adult education. There are also a number of other organizations,
some of them privately run, providing Adult Education, the most important of
which is the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC), designed to provide
training and retraining to persons already employed or registering for
employment. The University's Faculty of Education offers a Diploma course in
Adult Training and Development.
Other
forms of non-formal higher education
The
Faculty of Education organizes evening courses which are of particular
relevance to the teaching staff: it confers a Diploma in Educational
Administration and Management, a Diploma in School Counselling and a Diploma
in Facilitating Inclusive Education, as well as a Diploma in Social Studies
(Occupational Guidance and Career Counselling). There is also a University of
the Third Age.
NATIONAL
BODIES
Administration
& co-ordination:
Responsible
authorities:
Minister of Education, Employment
and the Family - The Hon. Dolores
Cristina
Permanent Secretary – Dr James
Calleja
Address: Ministry of Education,
Employment and the Family
Palazzo
Ferreria
310,
Republic Street, Valletta - VLT 2000.
Tel: 2590 3100
Fax: 2590 3121
E-mail: dolores.cristina@gov.mt
Website: www.meef.gov.mt
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION
Admission to non
university higher education studies
Name of secondary
school credential required: Secondary Education Certificate
Alternatives to
credentials:
School Leaving Certificate for
Vocational courses (Hairdressing, Agriculture). General Certificate of
Education at Ordinary Level or, for courses leading to higher academic
qualifications, Matriculation Certificate or Higher Technician Diploma.
Admission to
university-level studies
Name of secondary
school credential required: Matriculation Certificate
Minimum score/requirement:
C
For entry to: All
programmes except Medicine and Surgery
Alternatives to
credentials: Alternative qualifications are considered if
comparable. In the case of students over 23, applicants are interviewed and
assessed by the Faculty concerned.
Foreign students
admission
Definition of foreign
student: A foreign student is a student who does not hold Maltese citizenship.
Quotas: In the
case of Medical courses, thirty places are reserved for foreign applicants.
Admission requirements:
Foreign students must have qualifications equivalent to the
Matriculation Certificate, such as the General Certificate of Education at
Advanced (A) levels, the International Baccalaureate and the American
Advanced Placement System.
Entry regulations: Foreign
students must have an entry permit and financial guarantees if they are
staying for more than three months.
Language requirements: A good
knowledge of English is essential. The University provides a Foundation
Studies course and a Pre-Sessional Language course prior to entry to a
regular course of study.
Application
procedures:
Apply to individual
institution for entry to: All full-time courses of the University of Malta.
Apply
to:
International Office, University of Malta
Msida
MSD 06
Malta
Tel: +356(23) 402224-5
Fax: +356(21) 316941
EMail:
intoff@um.edu.mt
WWW:
http://www.um.edu.mt/intoff/
Application closing
dates:
For
university level studies: 30 Jun
Recognition of
studies & qualifications:
Studies pursued in home
country (System of recognition/accreditation): Articles 28(j) and 35(e) of
the Education Act empower the University of Malta to
evaluate degrees and academic distinctions.
Studies pursued in
foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
MALTA
QUALIFICATIONS COUNCIL
Address:16/18
Tower Promenade,
St.Lucia
SLC1019
Tel: 356
2754 0051
Fax: 356
2180 8758
Email:
mqc@gov.mt
Deals
with credential recognition for entry to: University and Profession
Services
provided & students dealt with: Provides information on the
equivalence of foreign qualifications for local use; helps foreign students
enrol in local schools; provides contacts and other information to local
students seeking to study overseas, as available.
Special
provisions for recognition:
For access to
non-university post-secondary studies: Professional qualifications may
also need to be evaluated by the Professional Body empowered to issue the
relative warrant.
For access to
university level studies: Nationals and foreigners are given the same
treatment.
Multilateral
agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies
Name of agreement: Convention
on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher
Education in the Arab and European States bordering
on the Mediterranean
Year
of signature: 1976
Name of agreement: Convention
on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Europe
Year of signature: 1979
References to
further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies
Title: Entry
Requirements to Degree Courses
Publisher:
University of Malta
Title: University of Malta
Prospectus
Author: Communications
Office
Publisher:
P.E.G. Ltd, Malta
Title:
Website information at http://www.um.edu.mt
Title: Your Guide
to the University of Malta
Author: International
Office
Publisher: P.E.G. Ltd
Malta
STUDENT LIFE
Main student
services at national level
Director
(Student Services)
Mr George
Borg
Directorate
for Educational Services (DES)
Student
Services Department
Fra G Pace
Forno Str,
Hamrun HMR
1100
Tel: 21
228 349
Fax: 21
233 513
E-mail: spsc.network@gov.mt
Category
of services provided: Academic and career counselling services; Special
services/Centre for foreign students
National student
associations and unions
Kunsill Studenti Universitarji
(KSU)/ University of Malta Students'
Council
Student's
House, University of Malta Campus
Tal-Qroqq
Malta
Tel: +356(21) 343085
Fax: +356(21) 337517
EMail: info@ksu.org.mt
WWW: http://www.ksu.org.mt
Health/social
provisions
Social security for
home students: Yes
Social security for
foreign students: Yes
Foreign student social
security provisions: Health coverage is free at government health centres
and state hospitals.
Special student
travel fares:
By road: Yes
By air: Yes
Student expenses
and financial aid
Type of financial aid
available:
Scholarships/grants/fellowships:
Higher
vocational/technical studies:
Home:
Yes
Foreign:
No
First
Degree studies:
Home:
Yes
Foreign:
No
Advanced/doctoral
studies:
Home:
No
Foreign:
No
INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION & EXCHANGES
Principal national
bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges
in higher education:
Communication Office, University of Malta
Head:
Leslie N. Agius, Director
Msida MSD 06
Malta
Tel: +356(23) 402828
Fax: +356(21) 336450
EMail:
comms@um.edu.mt
Director (Student Services)
Mr George Borg
Directorate for Educational
Services (DES)
Student Services Department
Fra G Pace Forno Str,
Hamrun HMR 1100
Tel: 21 228 349
Fax: 21 233 513
E-mail: spsc.network@gov.mt
Participation of
country in multilateral or bilateral higher education programmes
Name of exchange
programme: ERASMUS
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading
system in secondary school
Full Description: Matriculation
examination: A-E (pass) Un-Unclassified.
Highest on scale: A
Pass/fail level: E
Lowest on scale: Un
Main grading
system used by higher education institutions
Full Description: General
Degrees: first division, second division (upper), second division (lower),
third division/pass.
Highest on scale: First
Class
Lowest on scale: Pass
NOTES ON HIGHER
EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for academic year:
2011-2012
Source: Minister
of Education, Employment and the Family 2011
Copyright © IAU, World Higher Education Database (WHED)
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