Updated: 12 October 2026:
Planning to become a registered nurse in Malta? Before choosing a college, check two things separately: the English evidence needed to enter the course and the evidence needed to obtain nursing registration. An admission letter alone does not settle both requirements.
This guide explains the pathway for nurses educated outside the EU/EEA and answers the language questions candidates frequently ask NursingManthra.
English requirements: admission versus registration
What does Malta’s Nursing Council require?
The Council for Nurses and Midwives publishes these registration thresholds:
- IELTS Academic: an average score of at least 6.0.
- OET: Speaking B; Listening, Reading and Writing at least C+.
Your certificate must be valid when you apply. The Council’s public notice states an IELTS average of 6.0 without listing separate minimum bands. Your college may have additional band requirements.
An English-medium education certificate does not automatically replace IELTS/OET for registration.
Source: Council registration information
Can I enter the University of Malta with lower scores?
Yes, its dedicated language page currently lists:
| Test | Course admission requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Overall 5.5; Writing 5.0; Reading 5.0; no separate Listening or Speaking minimum shown |
| OET | C+ in all four skills |
| Pearson PTE | 59 overall; at least 53 in each element |
| ISET | Band 4 |
The page also lists TOEFL and Cambridge options. IELTS and OET results must be within two years of course commencement. Language submission deadlines are 31 August for October entry and 31 January for February entry, where those intakes apply.
The University explicitly states that the Council may set different registration requirements.
Example: OET C+ in all four skills can meet this University admission threshold, but registration requires B in Speaking. Likewise, IELTS 5.5 overall can meet this course’s admission threshold but falls below the Council’s published average of 6.0.
Source: University of Malta nursing certificate language requirements
Is PTE accepted for nursing registration?
PTE appears on the University’s admission list. The Council’s cited registration notice specifies IELTS Academic or OET. Obtain written Council confirmation before relying on PTE for registration.
Can I combine language results?
The Council’s application guide says it considers two valid results taken within six months of each other to achieve the required scores. This is subject to assessment; obtain confirmation for your certificates and ask your college separately about admission acceptance.
Can I use IELTS General Training?
The published Council route specifies IELTS Academic. Plan accordingly.
Does studying in English remove the language requirement?
Do not assume so. Ask the institution about admission exemptions and the Council about registration evidence separately. A college’s acceptance of an MOI letter does not establish a Council exemption.
Source: Council application guide
Choosing a nursing bridging programme
University of Malta
Its Certificate for Graduates of Non-EU/EEA Nursing Programmes is MQF Level 5 with 30 ECTS. The 2026–27 part-time daytime listing shows two semesters and notes a full-time option. Non-EU tuition is listed as €5,400.
Entry requires a suitable Level 5 nursing qualification or an accepted comparable professional qualification, plus a valid licence from the regulator in the country awarding the qualification. Diploma applicants therefore need individual assessment rather than a blanket eligibility promise.
Successful completion allows an application for Council registration, subject to other requirements. Confirm the duration, intake and visa suitability of your chosen study mode before paying.
Source: University course information
IDEA College
The current MQF Level 5 Certificate in Health Sciences – Nursing Studies (Bridging Course) lists eight months full-time, 41 ECTS and 330 placement hours. Entry requires a nursing qualification at minimum MQF Level 5 or comparable MQRIC recognition.
Its language requirements list IELTS Academic 6.0 or equivalent, or OET Speaking B and C+ in the other skills.
The displayed €5,250 fee has a Malta-resident pricing condition. Overseas applicants should request their own written quotation. A bridging certificate and a BSc top-up are different programmes. Confirm that your selected programme supports the registration route you need.
Source: IDEA bridging course
MCAST / MG2i
The current Undergraduate Certificate in Nursing Studies (Bridging Course) listing shows eight months of full-time blended study, MQF Level 6, 45 ECTS and a tuition fee of €5,000. The next intake shown is January 2027. It is intended for non-EU applicants holding a BSc in Nursing Studies. Confirm your eligibility and admission language requirements directly for the selected intake.
Source: MCAST/MG2i course information
Other providers may offer different programmes. Check the Council’s current provider information and obtain a written offer identifying the course, fees and clinical placement arrangements.
Documents and application process
Prepare these documents for admission and registration, as applicable:
- Passport or authenticated identity document.
- Nursing degree/diploma and professional certificates.
- Transcript showing subjects and theory/clinical hours.
- Active nursing registration and verification of good standing from relevant councils.
- Valid IELTS Academic or OET results.
- Europass CV in English.
- Employment references showing nursing practice periods.
- Police conduct certificate and character reference.
- MQRIC qualification recognition statement.
- Bridging course acceptance letter and, before approval, completion certificate.
- Primary source verification certificate from a reputable company.
- Residence permit or relevant residence documentation.
- Authenticated translations for documents outside English or Maltese.
The guide requires at least three years’ training totalling 4,600 hours, including 1,533 theory and 2,300 clinical hours. Police conduct and registration/good-standing evidence have three-month recency conditions. Check authentication, translation and MQRIC dating instructions before submission.
A practical sequence is:
- Review your qualification, transcript and English results.
- Confirm course admission and registration suitability.
- Arrange recognition and verification.
- Obtain admission and prepare travel/visa documents.
- Submit the Council application according to its instructions.
- Complete the bridging programme and Council assessment, including an interview where required.
- Obtain registration and the necessary work permission.
Source: Council application guide
Expenses: how much should you budget?
Course and application charges
| Expense | Published amount or budgeting basis |
|---|---|
| MCAST/MG2i bridging tuition | €5,000 |
| University of Malta bridging tuition | €5,400 |
| IDEA bridging tuition | €5,250 displayed; Malta-resident pricing condition applies—overseas applicants need a quotation |
| Nursing Council application | €192.50, non-refundable |
| MQRIC recognition | €15 if the programme is already in its database; €65 for a new foreign programme under the standard route |
| Study residence application, where applicable | €50 |
| University of Malta extended visa service route | €150 online booking plus €150 at the visa application centre |
Visa charges depend on the application country and service route. The €300 example above describes the University’s published extended-service procedure; check your actual appointment charges.
Sources: MQRIC fees, study residence fees and University visa guidance.
Monthly living expenses
The University of Malta publishes the following approximate student costs:
| Expense | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Shared accommodation | €550–€700 |
| Food and beverages, excluding eating out | €450 |
| Mobile/Wi-Fi | €30 |
| Laundry | €80–€100 |
| Electricity/water | €50 basic estimate |
| Other personal expenses | €200–€300 |
| Total calculated from these categories | €1,360–€1,630 |
These are planning estimates. Confirm which bills your rent includes to avoid double counting. Private accommodation is listed at €800–€1,600 monthly and can increase the overall budget substantially.
Source: University of Malta living costs.
Example: eight months on the MCAST/MG2i pathway
Using the published €5,000 tuition and the shared-accommodation living estimates:
- Tuition: €5,000.
- Living expenses for eight months: €10,880–€13,040.
- Council application: €192.50.
- Standard MQRIC recognition: €15–€65.
- Study residence application, if applicable: €50.
Subtotal: approximately €16,138–€18,348 before visa charges and the additional expenses below. This is a calculated planning example, not a package quotation.
Add language test fees, primary source verification, college application charges if any, police certificates, registration verification/good standing, notarisation, translations, flights, insurance, health screening, uniforms and rental deposits. These vary by country, provider and personal circumstances and require individual quotations. Allow extra living funds if registration or employment starts later than your course completion.
NursingManthra service charges, where assistance is requested, will be quoted separately.
Proof of funds is different from fees
Visa applicants must show sufficient accessible funds. Identità’s student visa checklist requires funds equivalent to at least 75% of the national minimum wage for each month of study, supported by bank documents. Residence applications may use a different threshold. Proof-of-funds money supports your stay; it is not an additional government fee. Actual living expenses may exceed the immigration minimum.
Student visa and work permission
For study exceeding 90 days, check the applicable national student visa and residence requirements. The visa checklist includes an enrolment letter, tuition payment evidence, financial documents, accommodation, insurance and travel details. Submit the application at least nine weeks before course commencement under the published checklist.
Eligible students on recognised full-time higher education courses may work up to 20 hours weekly, subject to residence and work-permit requirements. Employment is not guaranteed, so prepare your budget without depending on student earnings.
Sources: student visa checklist and student employment rules.
Registration validity
The Council describes the non-EU route as temporary first-level nurse registration for 24 months, subject to approval and renewal conditions. Course completion alone does not authorise registered nursing practice. Registration and the necessary immigration/work permission must be in place.
Source: Council registration information.
Can I move to the UK after working in Malta?
Malta appears on the UK NMC’s accepted majority English-speaking country list. Recent registered practice of at least one year may provide English evidence, subject to NMC requirements, including the practice being within the last two years when the completed application is considered.
This is an evidence route requiring assessment, rather than an automatic exemption. Studying or working as a care assistant is not equivalent to registered nursing practice for this evidence route. Other NMC registration requirements still apply.
Sources: NMC recent practice and accepted countries
Does Malta registration permit nursing practice everywhere in Europe?
You must apply to the destination country’s regulator. Recognition of a non-EU qualification in Malta does not automatically grant permission to practise elsewhere. Language and immigration requirements also need separate assessment.
Source: EU professional recognition guidance
Need help reviewing your Malta pathway?
Send NursingManthra your qualification, transcript, registration, experience details and English results for a pathway review before choosing a programme.
Contact Nursing Manthra
WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971502515717
UAE: +971 502 515 717
India: +91 6828756689
Website: https://nursingmanthra.com/
Candidates may share their educational and professional documents for an initial review.
About the Author
Shincy George, RN, MSN (Cardiothoracic Nursing), SCFHS-RN, DHA RN, MOH UAE RN, NCLEX-RN (USA), is the Founder of Nursing Manthra Academy.
With extensive international clinical and academic experience, she is dedicated to guiding healthcare professionals through global licensing pathways. Through Nursing Manthra, she supports internationally educated healthcare professionals in achieving their career goals across Canada, USA, UAE, Middle East, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.
Her mission is to simplify complex licensing processes and empower healthcare professionals with the right knowledge, guidance, and support to succeed globally.
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