Apprenticeship in Malta

The Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Act, Cap. 576, has provided Malta’s statutory framework since 2018, with amendments in 2020 and 2024. Work-Based Learning, or WBL, means learning through supervised work alongside structured instruction. The learner studies at a provider such as the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and develops practical skills at an approved employer. MCAST’s Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning Department coordinates vacancies, placements, progress, monitoring and compliance. MCAST is Malta’s main provider, with about 70 apprenticeship programmes, campuses including Paola, Mosta, Gozo and Qormi, and more than 2,700 industry partners. Other licensed providers may also offer approved programmes. Apprenticeships cover areas such as arts, science, engineering, information and communication technology, business and community services. MCAST lists programmes at Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) levels 3, 4 and selected level 6 courses. The statutory apprenticeship framework mainly concerns levels 3 and 4, so a level 6 course requires a check of its individual course specification, training agreement and accreditation. The academic year normally runs from 1 October to 30 September. The exact timetable, workplace share, examinations, credits and award depend on the course. Programmes may use ECVET or ECTS credits, which record learning volume or achievement under the relevant qualification system. MCAST normally accepts applicants from age 16, subject to course-specific entry requirements such as a Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), a Matriculation Certificate (MATSEC) qualification or an equivalent award. A Maturity Clause may provide an alternative consideration mechanism where the course rules allow it. A non-Maltese qualification may require a Statement of Comparability from the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC). An apprenticeship course is marked with code A in MCAST information, and the apprenticeship requirement includes a valid employer contract. Applying online through Classter or eID does not itself guarantee a sponsor placement. The sponsor vacancy, the contract and the provider’s acceptance must all be secured. The learner works under a Contract of Apprenticeship and receives at least the national minimum wage under the signed agreement. The agreement may define employer and Government cost-sharing. The learner normally receives pro-rata vacation, sick leave, public and national holidays, statutory bonuses and social security contributions. A monthly payslip should show the payment and deductions. The standard maximum is 40 hours per week including training; overtime requires agreement and payment. The sponsor must register the engagement with Jobsplus, arrange social security registration and comply with payroll, tax and workplace-safety duties. The sponsor must provide a designated trainer, safe tasks, supervision and records kept for at least six years. Jobsplus, the Department of Social Security, the Commissioner for Revenue and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority may inspect different parts of the arrangement. Assessment covers learning outcomes, practical and theoretical work, workplace progress, school learning, logbook evidence and credits. The vocational provider controls the assessment and certification process. Successful completion leads to a nationally recognised qualification or award that can be compared through the MQF and European Qualifications Framework. It may support entry into the occupation, but it does not guarantee employment after completion. Before enrolment, check the Malta Qualifications Database for the provider, exact programme, MQF level, credits, duration and learning mode. A provider licence does not prove that every course is accredited. An unlicensed or unaccredited course does not provide a reliable nationally recognised qualification. Apprenticeship differs from a work placement, which may be structured and unpaid and commonly sits at MQF levels 1 to 4. An internship generally concerns higher-level learning, often MQF level 5 or above. Apprenticeships are paid, but there is no single universal tuition amount verified for every programme. An MCAST application may include a caution fee. Student Maintenance Grants depend on conditions such as citizenship or residence, five years of residence, completion of compulsory education, attendance, progress and the absence of full-time employment. For 2025/26, the listed annual grant for vocational levels 1 to 3 is €332.94 plus a stipend of €135.93 for each of ten months; apprenticeship periods may be subject to Top-Up Stipend rules. Current terms must be checked when applying. Adults who need a different form of occupational preparation can consider Jobsplus programmes or recognition of existing skills. Jobsplus Traineeship is a pre-employment programme for unemployed people aged 15 to 65 and normally lasts up to 14 weeks, with 270 hours of workplace learning and 50 hours of off-the-job learning. Its allowance ranges from the national minimum wage to €7.50 per hour depending on the occupation, and completion requirements include at least 70% on-the-job and 80% off-the-job participation. It can lead to an accredited Award in Career Essentials but is not a statutory apprenticeship. Jobsplus Work Exposure offers about 10 to 14 weeks and 200 to 280 hours for unemployed people aged 15 to 65 who are not enrolled in post-secondary or higher education; it provides an occupation-dependent allowance and a certificate when the attendance and completion threshold of at least 70% is met, but it is not equivalent to an apprenticeship. MySkills supports listed voluntary courses for legal residents aged 15 or older who are employed, unemployed or inactive. The applicant pays at least €100 excluding VAT and may receive reimbursement of up to €5,000 per application, capped at 80% for employed applicants or 100% for applicants who are not employed. The application must be made by the last classroom-training day and must follow the current course catalogue and terms. The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) licenses providers, accredits programmes, supports quality assurance, maintains the MQF framework and oversees Validation of Non-Formal and Informal Learning (VNFIL). Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can identify, document and assess existing skills against National Occupational Standards and may produce a partial or full qualification where the chosen process allows it. Accredited centres include organisations working in sectors such as automotive, construction, hair and beauty, health and social care, hospitality and tourism, information technology, printing and digital media, and education support.