The Maltese archipelago consists of three main islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) and is located in the Mediterranean Sea, 93 km south of the island of Sicily. The country's area is 316 sq. km, with a population of 400 thousand people. The country is named after the largest island of the archipelago - Malta. The capital, the city of Valletta, is the center of cultural, administrative, and commercial life of the archipelago. Malta boasts numerous good harbors, the largest of which is the Grand Harbor in Valletta. The official languages are Maltese and English, but according to the constitution, Maltese (which belongs to the Semitic languages with some features of Romance and English) is the national language of the state. Italian is also widely spoken in Malta. From 1800, Malta was a British colony, and since September 1964, it has been an independent state.
Higher education is mainly represented by the University of Malta and branches of private and foreign universities.
The first level of university education: Certificates, diplomas, and Bachelor's degrees are awarded in the fields of medicine, diplomacy, management, public administration, law, library science, religious studies, and political science. The duration of study ranges from one to three years. The duration of basic bachelor's programs is three years. To obtain an Honours Bachelor's degree, it is necessary to study for 4-5 years, depending on the specialization.
The second level of university education: Graduates of second-level programs (lasting from one to two years) receive a Master's degree. To enroll in a master's program, it is necessary to complete the first level of education (at least obtaining a second-class Honours bachelor's degree). In some cases, applicants who do not have a bachelor's Honours degree may be admitted to a one-year preparatory program and then take entrance exams to enter the master's program. A master's degree is awarded after successful completion of the entire course of study and defense of a dissertation.
Doctorate: Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Laws (LLD) degrees are awarded by medical and law faculties after candidates complete a five- or six-year course of study. A PhD degree is awarded after three or more years of study following the master's degree, provided that the doctoral dissertation, based on the results of relevant research, is successfully defended.
Many educational institutions in Malta offer long-term programs in "English for Academic Purposes" as well as English courses in Malta (short-term, exam preparation, or summer courses).
