Upskilling in Malta

Malta's National Lifelong Learning Strategy 2023–2030 treats continuing learning as a way to improve access, employability, flexible learning, quality and participation in civic life. The Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Employability (DLE), within the Department for Curriculum, Lifelong Learning and Employability of the Ministry for Education and Sport, coordinates much of the public provision and acts as Malta's national coordinator for the European Agenda for Adult Learning. The strategy gives particular attention to adults with low skills or low qualifications and people at risk of social exclusion. For the 2026/27 academic year, the DLE listed more than 450 courses across about 100 subjects. Areas included business, science and technology, creative arts, humanities and personal development, vocational and development training, basic skills and digital skills. Courses were offered in person, online and at an individual pace through Adult Learning Centres, Local Councils and NGOs in Malta and Gozo. Typical durations were 5, 8, 14 or 30 weeks. The main start was usually in October; 14-week courses also commonly started in February, while 8-week courses could start in October, December or March. The published application period for 2026/27 was 1–31 July 2026. This public offer is not primarily a language-learning programme. DLE access normally starts at age 15. Applicants who are not Maltese citizens need legal residence in Malta; applying for a course does not provide a residence permit or visa. Course requirements differ by subject. Many courses require no previous qualification, while an MQF Level 2 course often expects MQF Level 1 or equivalent knowledge. Places are limited, and a class may be formed only when at least 10 people register. A course can therefore be placed on a waiting list, replaced by an alternative course or closed. Online or in-person applications may be available, but payment and confirmation establish admission. After payment, registration usually cannot be changed unless the DLE changes or cancels the course. For the published DLE fee structure, a short course lasting up to 14 weeks cost €18.63, while a course lasting more than 14 and up to 32 weeks cost €34.94. Intermediate or advanced courses, MQF Level 4 courses and information-technology courses cost €46.59. A weekday morning course in Msida, excluding computer courses, cost €11.65. Literacy in Maltese or English, numeracy and basic digital literacy could be exempt from fees. A Senior Citizens Card allowed one free course per year. A hardship or social-benefit exemption had to be requested before the course started. Materials could cost extra. A general refund is not available merely because a learner changes their mind; repayment normally applies when the DLE initiates a cancellation or change. A course marked with an MQF level is assessed against the Malta Qualifications Framework and is accredited or aligned through the relevant quality system. The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) licenses further- and higher-education providers and oversees accreditation. The Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) has eight outcome-based levels. Further education generally covers Levels 1–4, while higher education generally covers Levels 5–8, and one MQF credit represents 25 hours of total learning. The Malta Qualifications Database helps check whether a provider or programme is recognised. MQF-marked DLE courses normally use continuous assessment rather than a final examination. A learner receives a certificate after submitting the required work and achieving at least 80% attendance. A non-accredited course normally provides only a Letter of Attendance, not an automatic occupational qualification or university place. Validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNFIL), also called recognition of prior learning (RPL), can assess skills gained through work, family responsibilities, leisure or planned learning outside formal education. MFHEA is responsible for this system, which is established but organised by sector rather than through one universal process. The usual steps are identification, documentation, assessment and certification. The result may be part of a qualification or a full qualification, often against National Occupational Standards. Validation Assessment Centres include Jobsplus, the Institute of Tourism Studies, TCTC Malta, Learning Works, Astoria/Cesarani, AME, MFMAC, MISCO and PDTM. Documented sectors include health and social care, education support, printing and digital media, automotive, building and construction, information technology, hair and beauty, hospitality and tourism. Fees depend on the assessment arrangement, and informal skills do not receive automatic formal recognition without an accredited course or VNFIL/RPL process. Several funding schemes address different applicants. Jobsplus administers the MySkills Scheme for employed, unemployed and inactive people who are at least 15 and legally resident in Malta. People aged 65 or more qualify only when they have maintained continuous employment. The course must appear in the MySkills Course Catalogue and may be accredited or targeted non-accredited training. Participation is voluntary rather than a general legal or employer-imposed duty. The applicant initially pays the full course cost, which must be at least €100 excluding VAT, and applies by the last day of the structured training period. Reimbursement can reach 80% for employed applicants or 100% for applicants who are not employed, up to €5,000 per application, subject to the scheme's terms, available funds and de minimis rules. Investing in Skills is an employer subsidy supported by the European Social Fund Plus. It can cover up to 70% of eligible training costs for classroom or digital training. For applications from 2 March 2026, the eligible trainer rate was capped at €30.90 per hour and the trainee wage at €10.80 per hour, with an additional 7% overhead. The employer, rather than the individual employee, submits the application. Malta Enterprise's Skills Development measure supports registered undertakings, including self-employed people operating in Malta, when they train their workforce for upskilling, reskilling, digital needs or environmental, social and governance skills. Support can take the form of cash grants or tax credits for eligible wage, trainer and travel costs. An undertaking can submit one training programme in each three-month period, and the application must precede the training. The published deadline for 2026 was 30 September 2026. When an external provider is used, the employer should first check whether Jobsplus funding applies. Malta Enterprise's Get Qualified 2026 scheme offers tax credits to people who are tax resident in Malta and begin a qualifying course after their 16th birthday. Eligible costs can include registration, tuition, educational and examination fees when the course leads to a relevant qualification, certificate or industry-recognised certification. The published application deadline was 30 December 2026. Self-directed learning can be highly connected to daily work and personal goals, but it normally remains non-formal or informal. It becomes formally usable through an accredited programme or a VNFIL/RPL assessment. Malta does not provide a general individual entitlement to every course; access can depend on age, legal residence, course requirements, available capacity, payment and the conditions of a funding scheme. Participation figures must also be read with their definitions: the National Statistics Office reported 18.6% for the 2024 lifelong-learning indicator among people aged 25–64, while the 2022 Adult Education Survey reported 46.8% of people aged 18–69 in formal or non-formal education or training. These figures measure different populations, periods and forms of learning.