Malta
Postgraduate diplomas in Malta: the Level 7 routes online
Three online postgraduate diplomas at MQF Level 7 (business, HR, AI): entry at 21 with a Level 6 or experience, 10 to 15 months, what Get Qualified refunds, and the MBA top-up after.
On this page
A postgraduate diploma in Malta is a Level 7 award of 60 ECTS credits, two thirds of a master’s degree: online, it takes 10 to 15 months around a job, needs a Level 6 qualification or solid management experience and an age of 21, and leads to a one-year MBA top-up that completes the master’s. Three such diplomas are available through Elephant & Cross: business strategic management, human resource management and artificial intelligence, all awarded by OTHM and regulated by Ofqual.
This guide sets out what the three diplomas are, who can start them, what each costs after Get Qualified, and what a full master’s needs after the diploma. The course facts are the ones on the course pages on 6 October 2026.
What Level 7 means in Malta
On the Malta Qualifications Framework, Level 7 is the master’s level, equal to EQF Level 7 across Europe and RQF Level 7 in the UK. The level says how advanced the learning is; the number of credits says how much of it there is. A full master’s degree is 90 ECTS. A postgraduate diploma is 60, and a master’s top-up supplies the remaining 30. All three are Level 7 awards, which is why a postgraduate diploma is recognised as a Level 7 qualification in its own right and also counts in full towards the master’s.
| Award | MQF and EQF | ECTS | UK credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate diploma | Level 7 | 60 | 120 |
| Master’s top-up | Level 7 | 30 | 60 |
| Full master’s degree | Level 7 | 90 | 180 |
The three diplomas
Each is an OTHM Level 7 diploma, regulated by Ofqual, delivered online by Online Business School, with assignments instead of exams and access to the course for up to five years. Each is 60 ECTS, priced at €220 a month over 18 months (€3,960), and finished by most students in 10 to 15 months.
| Diploma | Modules | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma in Business Strategic Management (OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership) | Strategic management; strategic leadership; strategic human resource management; advanced business research methods | Managers heading for senior roles, and anyone who wants the MBA afterwards |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management | Strategic HRM; engagement and organisational learning; leadership development and performance management; global resourcing, talent and reward | HR officers and generalists moving to HR management |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence (OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Artificial Intelligence, Ofqual 610/4802/1) | Introduction to AI; AI and sustainability; ethics, fairness and explanation; deep learning, and two more | Graduates and developers who already program in Python |
Who can start
The entry rules are the same for the three, with one addition for AI.
- Age 21 or over by the start date.
- A Level 6 qualification, such as a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent. Managers with considerable experience but no degree can be considered; that is a conversation with a course advisor before you pay anything.
- Good English, reading and writing.
- For the AI diploma: object-oriented programming, the ability to program in Python, and two or more of numpy, pandas, scipy and matplotlib.
What it costs after Get Qualified
Get Qualified refunds 70% of the fee as a tax credit once you complete the course, applied for within 12 months of finishing and usable over 15 years. On a €3,960 diploma that is €2,772 back, which leaves €1,188 as the real cost. The cap for a Level 7 award is €170 per ECTS, so €10,200 on a 60-credit diploma; the fee is far below it. The attainment bonus does not apply to a diploma; it applies to the master’s you may take after it.
| Course | Fee | 70% credit | Left to pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any of the three postgraduate diplomas | €3,960 (€220 a month, 18 months) | €2,772 | €1,188 |
| MBA top-up, Arden University | £3,421, payable over 12 months | 70% of what you paid, calculated in euro | 30%, plus a €3,000 attainment bonus when the MBA is attained |
From the diploma to a master’s
The documented route is the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Strategic Management followed by the MBA top-up from Arden University: 30 ECTS, one year or more part-time and fully online, a single capstone project in place of exams, and a full MBA at the end. Arden asks for 120 UK credits at Level 7 in a broadly based business or management award, which is what the business diploma is, and English at IELTS 6.5 or a Level 7 qualification taught in English. Someone without the Level 7 credits is considered case by case and may be offered the full MBA programme instead.
The HR diploma is a business and management award as well; ask a course advisor to confirm the MBA entry before you plan on it. For the AI diploma the master’s route is not yet confirmed; the diploma stands on its own as a Level 7 award.
Frequently asked questions
Is a postgraduate diploma the same as a master’s?
No. Both sit at Level 7, but a master’s is 90 ECTS and a postgraduate diploma 60. The diploma counts in full towards the master’s; the top-up supplies the last 30.
Can I start without a degree?
Possibly. The entry requirement is a Level 6 qualification or equivalent, and considerable management experience can be accepted instead. The answer comes from the awarding body before you pay.
How long does it take?
Most students finish in 10 to 15 months around a full-time job. There are no deadlines and no exams; access runs for up to five years.
Is it recognised in Malta?
The diplomas are regulated by Ofqual in the UK and sit at EQF Level 7. An MQRIC recognition statement is obtained before you start, so the level is confirmed in writing for Malta.
Does Get Qualified cover it?
Yes: 70% of the fee back as a tax credit, applied for within 12 months of finishing. See the Get Qualified guide for the caps and the application.
What comes after the master’s?
Level 8, a doctorate, for which Level 7 is the entry point. Get Qualified’s attainment bonus for a doctorate is €10,000.
Sources
- The three course pages and the MBA top-up page on elephantcross.org, read 6 October 2026, for modules, entry requirements, duration and fees.
- Malta Enterprise, Get Qualified [2026] Guidance Notes, version 1.0, 1 April 2026, sections 4.3 to 6.1, for the 70%, the Level 7 cap and the attainment bonus.
- Our MQF Level 7 guide for the credit structure of the level.
Last verified: 6 October 2026.