StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The University of Malta runs a tuition fee waiver scheme for research-degree students who come from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area. It is aimed at students taking a Master by Research or a PhD, whether full-time or part-time, and it covers a share of the tuition fee for the normal duration of the programme — not an open-ended extension. The scheme is a fee waiver, not a cash award: it reduces what you owe the university, and it does not pay your rent, travel or health insurance.
Guides describe three application rounds a year. They agree that 31 October is one of the round dates, but they disagree about the middle round (30 April against 31 May) and about whether the January round falls on 31 January. The official page checked for this article confirms the scheme itself, the 40% to 100% range, the unconditional-acceptance rule and the professional-doctorate and MBA exclusion, but the excerpt checked does not publish a deadline calendar. Because this article is written on 30 October 2026 — the day before the reported 31 October round — treat that date as reported, not officially confirmed, and check it with the University of Malta International Office before you rely on it.
Benefits
The waiver is set by the applicant’s interview score, on a tiered scale reported consistently across guides:
- Interview score 80–100% → 100% tuition fee waiver
- Interview score 70–79% → 80% waiver
- Interview score 60–69% → 60% waiver
- Interview score 50–59% → 40% waiver
- Interview score below 50% → no waiver
The waiver applies for the normal duration of the programme. Extensions may not be covered, and bench fees charged by certain programmes may still be payable on top of the waived tuition. Living costs, travel and health insurance are the student’s own responsibility, so budget for Malta’s living costs separately.
Who can apply
- You are a student from outside the EU/EEA.
- You hold an unconditional acceptance for a Master by Research or a PhD at the University of Malta, full-time or part-time.
- Your programme is a research degree — professional doctorates and MBA-type programmes are excluded by the official page.
- You can attend the interview on which the waiver percentage depends.
Documents required
Guides report the following as the usual supporting items. The official page should be checked for the current list before you submit:
- Your unconditional acceptance letter for the Master by Research or PhD programme
- A detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
- A motivational letter
- A copy of your passport
- A scholarship request sent to the International Office — some guides say within one month of unconditional acceptance
How to apply
- Apply for admission to a Master by Research or PhD programme at the University of Malta and secure an unconditional acceptance.
- Contact the International Office to confirm the current round deadline — in particular whether the 31 October 2026 round is open and what time it closes.
- Prepare your CV, motivational letter and passport copy, and submit the scholarship request with your acceptance letter.
- Attend the interview, which sets your waiver percentage.
- Wait for the waiver decision, and confirm in writing which fees (including any bench fees) remain payable.
FAQs
No. It waives 40% to 100% of tuition fees only. Living costs, travel and health insurance are not covered, and bench fees for certain programmes may still apply.
No. The official page excludes professional doctorates and MBA-type programmes; the scheme is for Master by Research and PhD students.
Your interview score, on the tiered scale reported by guides: 80% or above gives a 100% waiver, and each lower band gives a smaller share, with no waiver below 50%.
Not on the official page excerpt checked. Guides agree 31 October is a round date, but the official excerpt publishes no deadline calendar, so confirm the date with the International Office before relying on it.
It covers the normal duration of the programme; extensions may not be covered.
Verified 30 Oct 2026 against the University of Malta’s official scholarships page (um.edu.mt/journey/feesfunding/scholarships/masterresearchphd: 40–100% waivers, unconditional acceptance for Master by Research or PhD, professional doctorates and MBA-type programmes excluded) and corroborating guides (Bright Scholarship; EngineersJob) for the interview-score tiers and the three-round pattern. The official excerpt checked publishes no deadline calendar, so the 31 October 2026 round date is reported by guides, not officially confirmed.
