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Malta



Structure of Educational System
Pre-higher Education System
Higher Education System
Administrative structure of higher education  
Admissions to Higher Education and Recognition



INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Universitą (University)

 

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Secondary Education Certificate

Matriculation Certificate

Bachelor's Degree

Doctor of Medicine and Surgery

Doctor of Laws

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

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 5 to: 11

Secondary-Orientation/guidance

Type of school providing this education: Junior Lyceum

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 11 to: 13

Upper Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Upper-Secondary School

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 13 to: 16

Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary Education Certificate

Sixth Form

Type of school providing this education: Sixth Form Upper Lyceum

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 16 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Matriculation Certificate Examination

School education:

Primary education lasts for six years. There are two types of secondary education schools: junior Lyceums and area secondary schools. Studies last for five years divided into a two-year orientation cycle and a three-year cycle of specialization. At the end of this cycle, pupils sit for the Secondary Education Certificate. Upper Lyceums and sixth forms prepare pupils for the Matriculation Certificate which gives access to university. Since 1994/95, the first cycle in area secondary schools is of three instead of two years' duration, while the second cycle is of two years' duration.

Higher education:

Higher education is mainly provided by the University of Malta. The governing body is the Council, which acts on the advice of the Senate but which also has responsibility for appointing faculty staff, promulgating regulations, overseeing and approving expenditures and ensuring that the University responds to the needs of the country. The Education Act of 1988 is the principal legislation governing the provision of education.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: The Education Act enacted by Act XXIV as amended by various Legal Notices Year: 1988

Concerns: Part V covers The University of Malta

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:

There are several specialized training centres that offer vocational training in such fields as Industrial Electronics, Engineering, Hotel Management and Catering, Nursing and Health Care, and Art and Design. Each centre issues its own Certificate.

 

University level studies:

University level first stage: First stage:

Diplomas and Certificates are awarded in such fields as Nursing, Diplomatic Studies, Management, Administration, Librarian Studies, Religious Studies and Political Science after studies lasting between one and three years. The Bachelor's (General) Degree is obtained in three years, the Bachelor's (Honours) Degree is awarded after four or five years, depending on the field of study.

University level second stage: Second stage:

The second stage leads to the award of a Master's Degree after a period of one to two years. Candidates must hold an appropriate first degree with at least second-class Honours. In special circumstances, candidates without an Honours Degree may be admitted after a one-year preparatory course and success in a qualifying examination.  In Education, the Master's degree is conferred after two years's part-time study. Holders of a Bachelor of Education (four years) or a Bachelor's Degree followed by a professional teaching qualification (PGCE: Postgraduate Certificate in Education) are eligible. In both cases, two years of teaching experience are required. Master's Degree courses require candidates to submit a dissertation in addition to the successful completion of the required courses. The professional qualification of Doctor is conferred after five years in Medicine and six in Law (three years after the award of a BA degree in Legal and Humanistic Studies).

University level third stage: Third stage:

The third stage leads, after at least three years of study following the award of a Master's Degree, to the Doctor's Degree (Doctor of Philosophy, PhD). Candidates are required to submit a thesis after a period of research on an approved topic. In Theology, the Doctor's Degree is awarded after not less than two and not more than four years of study after obtaining a Master's degree in Sacred Theology.

 

Teacher education:

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Primary school teachers are trained at the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta. Entry to the Faculty requires students to be in possession of the Matriculation Certificate. After a four-year course, they obtain a Bachelor of Education Degree.

Training of secondary school teachers

Secondary school teachers are trained at the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta. Entry to the Faculty requires students to be in possession of the Matriculation Certificate. After a four-year course, they obtain a Bachelor of Education Degree. Non-professional teaching staff are recruited directly among suitably qualified persons. In the case of instructors teaching in vocational and technical education, entry qualifications are generally at the technician level.

Training of higher education teachers

Pre-university level teachers must hold Bachelor's or Master's degrees in various fields of specialization. Lecturers must hold a degree at Doctoral level. Assistant lecturers must be in possession of a Master's Degree.

 

Non-traditional studies:

Distance higher education

Distance education is still to be fully established.

Lifelong higher education

The Department of Education has an Adult Education Unit which was established in 1988. 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.

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 Guidance and Counselling and a Diploma in Education for Children with Special Needs. There is also a University of the Third Age.

 

 

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Ministry of Education

Head: Louis Galea, Minister

Administrative officer: Paul Attard, Permanent Secretary

Great Siege Road
Floriana CMR 02
Malta

Tel: +356 221-401

Fax: +356 221-634

EMail: info@magnet.mt

WWW: http://www.magnet.mt/ministries/educ

 

 

 

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to non university higher education studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Secondary Education Certificate

For entry to: School Leaving Certificate for Vocational courses (Hairdressing, Agriculture)

Alternatives to credentials:

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 - B

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 Matriculation Certificate, such as 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: +356 231-975

Fax: +356 230-538

EMail: intadmissions@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 to evaluate degrees and academic distinctions.

Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):

Malta Equivalence Information Centre (MEIC), University of Malta

Head: Paul Heywood

Tal-Qroqq
Msida MSD 06
Malta

Tel: +356 323-902

Fax: +356 245-133

EMail: intoff@um.edu.mt

WWW: http://home.um.edu.mt/meic

 

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 S0tates 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

Author: University of Malta

Publisher: University of Malta

Title: Study Abroad 2000-2001

Publisher: UNESCO/IBE

Year of publication: 1999

Title: University of Malta Prospectus

Author: Communications Office

Publisher: P.E.G. Ltd, Malta

Title: Website information at http://www.um.edu.mt

Year of publication: 2001

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

Youth Service Organization, Education Division.

Beltissebh
Floriana
Malta

Tel: +356 240-898

 

Health/social provisions

Social security for home students: Yes

Cost/fee (per year): 0 (Maltese Lira)

Social security for foreign students: Yes

Cost/fee (per year): 0 (Maltese Lira)

Foreign student social security provisions: Health coverage is free at government health centres and state hospitals.

Special student travel fares:

By road: Yes

By rail: No

By air: Yes

Available to foreign students: No

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Foreign students tuition fees: Minimum: 1000 (Maltese Lira)

Maximum: 10000 (Maltese Lira)

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

Bodies providing information on student financial aid:

Scholarship Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Palazzo Parisio, Merchants Street
Valletta
Malta

Tel: +356-242-853

Fax: +356-252-752

 

 

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES

Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:

International Office, University of Malta

Head: Leslie N. Agius, Director

Msida MSD 06
Malta

Tel: +356 333-903

Fax: +333 336-450

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Administrative officer: Joanna Pisani, Head, Scholarships Section

Palazzo Parisio, Merchants Street
Valletta
Malta

Tel: +356-242-853

Fax: +356-252-752

 

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: 2001-2002

Source: University of Malta, 2001



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