List of Licensed Providers and Accredited Programmes

In accordance with Subsidiary Legislation 607.03 Licensing, Accreditation and Quality Assurance, MFHEA is to maintain a register of accredited further and higher educational institutions in Malta. This register includes details information of the education providers licensed by MFHEA

The register shall also give information on the accredited programmes offered by the licensed institution. The register will consist of both homegrown courses which are courses provided by licensed education providers accredited through MFHEA and shall also include foreign awarded programme provided by licensed providers.

The important aspect within the process of licensing and accreditation is that any educational institution providing MQF Level rated programmes is to be licensed with MFHEA.

Programmes are referred to as ‘accredited’ when they have been assessed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) and pegged to the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF). Courses are referred to as ‘mutually recognised’ when the MFHEA recognises that foreign qualification is pegged to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

The register refers to different licensing categories, categorising between different education providers. The characteristics of each categories are explained below:

1. University – The MFHEA will only consider accredited higher education institutions to be eligible for University status if the criteria established article 47 (1) of Subsidiary Legislation 607.03 are met.
2. Higher Education Institution – A licence as a Higher Education Institution is granted to providers who deliver programmes or modules that are self-awarded or otherwise and that have been formally accredited at Level 5 or higher of the MQF or a foreign qualification at a comparable level.
3. Further Education Institution – A licence as a Further Education Institution is granted to providers who deliver programmes that are self-awarded or otherwise, which lead to a qualification on the MQF classified at Levels 1 to 4 or a foreign qualification at a comparable level.
4. Further and Higher Education Institution – A licence as a Further and Higher Education Institution is granted to providers who deliver programmes that are self-awarded or otherwise, which lead to qualification on the MQF classified at Levels 1 to 8 or a foreign qualification at a comparable level.
5. Further Education Centre – A licence as a Further Education Centre is granted to an individual only offering foreign qualifications up to MQF Level 4.
6. Tuition Centre – A licence as a Tuition Centre is granted to centres which offers courses that are not mapped to the MQF.

Exceptions and Exclusions

Article 6 within SL 607.03 stipulates that providers providing the following types of programmes do not require a licence issued under these regulations in order to provide such programmes:

1. short programmes or courses which lead to a certificate of attendance;
2. continuous professional development programmes or courses which are regulated by professional accreditation bodies;
3. any type of programme which is not intended to be classified within the MQF or a recognised foreign qualifications framework;
4. programmes developed and provided by a company for proprietary purposes, or provided by other bodies or entities on its behalf, and for exclusive use within that company, which proprietary purposes shall be reflected in the name of the certificate or other type of award obtained upon successful completion of that programme.

Thus, these types of programmes will not appear on this register as they would not be regulated by MFHEA.

Should any amendments to the information listed in this register be required, kindly send an email to [email protected] for enquiries relating to Further and Higher Education Institutions, Higher Education Institutions, and Universities, or to [email protected] for enquiries relating to Further Education Institutions and Further Education Centres.