The small Mediterranean island only has a population of around 500,000 but boasts a number of higher and further education institutes. One of these, Global Banking School (GBS) Malta, will see its first Masters students graduating in September.

GBS’s head of international student recruitment, Raj Kapoor, told The PIE News that the country offers significant benefits for students seeking a cost-effective qualification.

The cost of an undergraduate degree at GBS Malta is €6,000 per year – markedly lower than international student fees in more popular study destinations such as the UK, Canada, the US and Australia.

But a national scheme benefitting international students in Malta means earning a degree in the country can be even more cost effective.

The Post Study Work Visa that Malta offers graduates who stay in the country allows them to claim back up to 70% of their tuition fees – with the rebate capped at €12,500 – provided that they can secure a job within nine months of leaving a full-time university course.

“Not only is it just €18,000 to earn your bachelor’s degree [at GBS Malta], but if you stay in Malta – which they want you to do after you graduate – and start working, obviously you’re going to be paying tax.

“There’s income tax to pay. And you get 70% of your tuition back through tax credit,” Kapoor explained.

You get 70% of your tuition back through tax credit

Raj Kapoor, GBS

He told The PIE that earning a degree can make a vast difference to students’ lives, with many at GBS Malta actively “trying to… improve their own microsystem through an education and maybe getting a better job”.

New figures from Malta’s English language school association show that the country is becoming an increasingly popular destination for international students – with Latin America the dominant sending region.

Statistics from FELTOM’s members show that student numbers in 2023 rocketed by more than 20,000 compared to the previous year, and were only 5,000 lower than 2019’s record 83,610 students.

International students in India are increasingly looking beyond the big four study destinations to other countries in Europe as countries such as Australia and Canada grapple with restrictive immigration policies.