Malta
Free online courses in Malta, and what the 70% refund makes nearly free
Which courses in Malta are free and recognised (Jobsplus, the full-time public route), which free certificates count for nothing, and how Get Qualified turns a 3,960 euro diploma into 1,188.
On this page
Free courses in Malta with a recognised certificate exist in two places: Jobsplus, whose courses are free to anyone living in Malta, employed or not, and about half of which are accredited up to MQF Level 4; and the full-time route at MCAST, ITS and the University of Malta, where Maltese and EU students pay no tuition and receive a stipend. Everything above Level 4 that fits around a job costs money, and Get Qualified makes it nearly free: 70% of the fee back, so a €3,960 diploma costs €1,188.
This guide separates what is free from what is recognised, lists the free options with their rules, and does the arithmetic on the paid ones. The figures are Jobsplus’s, the government’s and Malta Enterprise’s as published, read on 6 October 2026.
Free and recognised: the two routes
| Route | Who can take it | What you get | Level | Fits a full-time job? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobsplus courses | Anyone legally resident in Malta, employed or unemployed, Maltese or foreign | A free course, free transport to the centre if needed; about half the courses are accredited | Up to MQF Level 4 | Yes, on the course’s timetable; a worker on €300 a week or less gets €25 a week for attending at least four hours |
| Full-time study at MCAST, ITS or the University of Malta | Maltese and EU students | No tuition fees, and a stipend of €135.93 every four weeks (€228.14 on prescribed courses) with a yearly grant | Levels 3 to 7 | No: full-time attendance, and full-time work excludes the stipend |
Jobsplus’s recent additions show the range: an introductory course on artificial intelligence, leadership and management, Maltese conversation classes, ESG and environmental data management, and organic farming modules for the green transition. For a working adult who wants a recognised award at Level 4 without paying, Jobsplus is the answer.
Free and not recognised
Open online courses from international platforms are free to follow and useful to learn from, and the certificate of completion is not a qualification on any framework. It will not earn an MQRIC statement, a public-service grade or a Get Qualified credit. That is the test to apply before spending the evenings on one: is the award on the MQF, or recognised by MQRIC?
Nearly free: the 70% refund
Above Level 4, and for anything studied around a full-time job, the course is paid for. Get Qualified then refunds 70% of the fee as a tax credit, applied for within 12 months of finishing and usable over 15 years. The arithmetic on the online diplomas on this site:
| Course | Fee | 70% credit | Real cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 5 diploma, 120 credits (10 to 15 months) | €3,960 (€220 a month, 18 months) | €2,772 | €1,188 |
| Level 5 diploma, 60 credits (6 to 10 months) | €2,640 | €1,848 | €792 |
| Level 7 postgraduate diploma (10 to 15 months) | €3,960 | €2,772 | €1,188 |
The credit is only on costs you carried yourself: a course an employer or a grant paid for is excluded. If an employer pays, the firm’s own scheme is Jobsplus’s Investing in Skills, which refunds it 50% to 70% of the training costs.
What “free” costs in time
The free full-time route means the day in a classroom for one to three years, which is why it suits school leavers and anyone who can live on the stipend. The Jobsplus route is short courses on a timetable. The paid online route costs €1,188 after the credit and nothing in attendance: no timetable, no exams, 10 to 15 months at your own pace. Which is cheapest depends on what your time is worth.
Frequently asked questions
Are Jobsplus courses free if I have a job?
Yes. They are free to anyone legally resident in Malta, employed or unemployed.
Is the University of Malta free?
Full-time undergraduate courses are free for Maltese and EU students, with a stipend. Part-time and evening courses carry a subsidised fee.
Are MOOCs recognised in Malta?
No, unless the platform’s award is on a qualifications framework, which the free certificates of completion are not.
Is any Level 5 course free for a working adult?
Not in the sense of free at the point of enrolment; the full-time public route is free but not compatible with full-time work. Get Qualified returns 70% of a paid course.
Can I get both the stipend and Get Qualified?
No. The stipend goes with full-time study at an approved institution; Get Qualified with a course you paid for yourself.
Sources
- Jobsplus, trainee handbook (9 March 2026), and the servizz.gov Training Services page: courses free to all residents, accreditation up to MQF Level 4, the €25 weekly grant.
- Eurydice, Malta: higher education funding, updated 14 February 2025: no tuition for Maltese and EU full-time undergraduates; subsidised fees part time.
- Students’ Maintenance Grants Unit, overview, 29 September 2026: the stipend rates.
- Malta Enterprise, Get Qualified [2026] Guidance Notes, 1 April 2026: the 70%, the 12-month window, section 4.2 on employer-paid courses.
- The course pages on elephantcross.org, read 6 October 2026.
Last verified: 6 October 2026.