Study First Europe

Study First Europe is a Malta consultancy built around one idea: international students should not have to untangle admissions, visas and arrival alone. Its consultants guide you from your first conversation to your first weeks on the island, and several of them were international students themselves, which shapes the advice they give. The firm is listed in our directory of immigration consultants in Malta.

Most of its clients come from outside Europe, so this page is mainly for UK-based parents, sponsors and agents who are helping someone apply, or for readers curious about what studying in Malta involves. Our guide to relocating to Malta from the UK covers the wider move.

The six steps from enquiry to arrival

The process starts with a free one-to-one orientation. Students find out whether they meet the requirements, then choose a school and study programme with a consultant. Next comes the admission application, which means gathering previous degrees and other documents, and, for some schools, preparing for an admission interview with help from the team.

While the application is under way, students join online English classes taught by a teacher named Marco, grouped by level, which also prepare you for the visa interview and your first weeks in Malta. The fourth step is student visa guidance: the team checks that every document is in order so you can apply in time for your intake. After the visa comes a welcome at the airport, enrolment and the residence permit application, and then help with accommodation and other essentials as you settle in. If you want to picture life on the island first, see about Malta and our Valletta guide.

Requirements, English and degrees

Students must be at least 18 and within the usual age range for study, and they need to provide the documents required for both school admission and the visa. The exact list depends on the school and programme and is explained during orientation. A sponsor who is not the student is encouraged to attend.

You do not need an IELTS or TOEFL certificate to study in Malta, but your English must be strong enough to follow lectures, so partner schools run an English foundation course before the main programme. The consultants speak English, Arabic and French, and its advisers were hand-picked from abroad so that students receive accurate, supportive guidance in a familiar language. Ask which start date suits your chosen school. The firm only works with institutions that award valid degrees, most of which are accredited by the MFHEA, so graduates leave with a European qualification. Programmes include bachelors, masters and diplomas, as well as English courses.

Visa refusals and refunds

Visa worries come up constantly, so the refund position is worth understanding before you pay any deposit. Schools and universities must refund tuition fees after an official visa refusal, although an institution may declare part of its fees non-refundable, and Study First Europe checks that its partners have fair refund procedures. Once the reason for a refusal is confirmed, the team promises to help you reapply with no extra fee.

Life in Malta for students

Settling in is part of the service, and its blog gives advice on getting around Malta by bus, ferry, car or bicycle, on handling academic stress and homesickness, and on where to watch the sunset. Ferries make weekend trips to Comino and Gozo easy, as our Gozo guide and Blue Lagoon guide explain. Weather matters for new arrivals, so our Malta weather guide is worth a read, and our things to do in Malta page, best beaches in Malta and Golden Bay guide cover the free time that comes after class.

To start, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Study First Europe.