MQF Level 5 courses in Malta: every route and every subject

An MQF Level 5 course in Malta is an undergraduate diploma, two thirds of a bachelor’s degree, and there are four ways to take one: full time at MCAST or the University of Malta, where Maltese and EU students pay no tuition and get a stipend; part time in the evening at the University or a private college, with a subsidised or private fee; or online with a UK awarding body, in 10 to 15 months around a job, with 70% of the fee back from Get Qualified. The right one depends on whether you can study in the day.

This guide compares the four routes on cost, time and what they fit around, then lists every subject you can take at Level 5 online from Malta. The public-funding facts are the government’s as published for 2026-27; the online course facts are the ones on the course pages on 6 October 2026.

What Level 5 is

On the Malta Qualifications Framework, Level 5 is the undergraduate diploma: above the Level 4 matriculation and foundation diploma, below the Level 6 bachelor’s degree. It is the level of a UK Higher National Diploma and equal to EQF Level 5 across Europe. A full Level 5 diploma is 120 ECTS credits, the same volume as the first two years of a degree, which is why a one-year top-up turns it into a bachelor’s; shorter Level 5 awards of 60 ECTS exist too. The Level 5 guide has the framework detail.

The four routes compared

Route	Who runs it	Time	Fee for a Maltese or EU student	Money back	Fits a full-time job?
Full time, daytime	MCAST, the University of Malta, ITS	One to two years	None: full-time undergraduate courses are free for Maltese and EU students	A stipend of €135.93 every four weeks (€228.14 on prescribed courses) and a yearly grant of €565.87 for a Level 5 diploma	No: full-time study, and full-time work rules out the stipend
Part time, evenings, at the University	The University of Malta	Around 18 months (the Diploma in Commerce in Gozo, 60 ECTS, runs three semesters on weekday evenings and Saturday afternoons)	A fee, subsidised by the government; the amount is on each course’s overview page	None: no stipend for part-time study	Yes, if you can be in class in the evening
Part time, evenings, at a private college	Malta’s licensed private institutions	About nine months for an evening undergraduate diploma	The college’s fee, set by the college	Get Qualified, 70% back, if the award is MQF-rated or MQRIC-recognised	Yes, evenings and some Saturdays
Online, UK awarding body	OTHM or Qualifi diplomas delivered by Online Business School, through Elephant & Cross	10 to 15 months for 120 credits, 6 to 10 for 60, self-paced	€3,960 for 120 credits (€220 a month over 18 months); €2,640 for 60	Get Qualified, 70% back: €2,772 on the 120-credit diploma, leaving €1,188	Yes: no timetable, no exams, assignments only

Two things decide it. If you are under 30 hours of work a week and can study in the day, the free public route with a stipend is the obvious one. If you work full time, the choice is between evenings in a classroom and an online course you fit around your own hours; both are paid for, and both are covered by Get Qualified where the award is recognised.

Every Level 5 subject you can study online from Malta

Each is an EQF Level 5 diploma, 120 ECTS unless marked, with a 60-credit version where one exists. All are assignment-based, with a tutor, and all lead to a one-year bachelor’s top-up.

Subject	Diploma	60-credit version
Business	Business Management	Yes
Accounting	Accounting and Finance	Yes
Human resources	Human Resource Management	Yes
Marketing	Marketing	Yes
Leadership	Leadership and Teamwork	Yes
Logistics	Logistics and Supply Chain Management	No
IT	IT and Computing, IT and Networking, IT and Web Design, IT and E-Commerce, Cyber Security	Computing and Networking
Hospitality and tourism	Hospitality and Tourism Management	No
Health and social care	Health and Social Care	Yes

What the online route costs after Get Qualified

Get Qualified refunds 70% of the fee of a recognised course as a tax credit once you finish, applied for within 12 months and usable over 15 years. For a Level 5 award the cap is €1,000 plus €50 per ECTS credit, so €7,000 on 120 credits and €4,000 on 60; neither fee comes near it.

Diploma	Fee	70% credit	Real cost
120 credits	€3,960	€2,772	€1,188
60 credits	€2,640	€1,848	€792

Frequently asked questions

Is MCAST free?

Full-time courses are free for Maltese and EU students, and full-time students get the stipend. Part-time students normally pay a subsidised fee.

Can I get a stipend on a part-time or online course?

No. Stipends go with full-time attendance at an approved institution; anyone in full-time work is excluded. The scheme for a working adult is Get Qualified.

Is an online UK diploma recognised in Malta?

The diplomas on this site are regulated by Ofqual and sit at EQF Level 5; an MQRIC recognition statement, which states the MQF level, is obtained before you start.

How long does a Level 5 diploma take online?

Most students finish 120 credits in 10 to 15 months and 60 credits in 6 to 10, around a full-time job, with no deadlines.

What comes after Level 5?

A one-year top-up to a Level 6 bachelor’s degree, online or at a university, for a 120-credit diploma.

Which route is cheapest?

Full time at MCAST or the University, which costs nothing and pays a stipend, if you can study in the day. For a working adult, the online diploma after the 70% credit.

Sources

• Eurydice, Malta: higher education funding, updated 14 February 2025: no tuition fees for Maltese and EU full-time undergraduates at MCAST, ITS and the University of Malta; part-time students pay subsidised fees.
• Students’ Maintenance Grants Unit, overview, published 29 September 2026: the stipend and grant rates by level.
• University of Malta, Diploma in Commerce (Gozo): a part-time evening Level 5 diploma, 60 ECTS, three semesters.
• Malta Enterprise, Get Qualified [2026] Guidance Notes, 1 April 2026: the 70% and the Level 5 cap.
• The course pages on elephantcross.org, read 6 October 2026.

Last verified: 6 October 2026.