Is MCAST a public or private institution?

MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology) is a public institution, established in 2001 in Paola, Malta. It is self-accredited by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) to award its own qualifications from MQF/EQF Level 1 up to Level 8, and teaches roughly 6,500 full-time and 5,000 part-time students across six institutes and a Gozo campus.

What language are MCAST's degrees taught in?

English. MCAST's official Programme Public Information Templates state that English is the official language of instruction, and that all notes and textbooks are in English except dedicated language courses. International applicants are required to meet English-language certification requirements, though MCAST's public documentation does not state a specific minimum IELTS/TOEFL score -- confirm the current requirement directly with MG2i International.

Can I get direct admission straight after high school?

Yes, if your qualification is recognised as equivalent to MCAST's own entry route. MCAST's stated entry requirements are framed around Malta's MATSEC/A-Level system (e.g. 2 A-Level and 2 I-Level passes with specific compulsory subjects such as Mathematics and Physics for engineering degrees, or Computing for ICT degrees) or an MCAST-internal Advanced Diploma. Applicants with other national school-leaving qualifications should confirm recognised equivalency directly with MCAST's Admissions/MG2i International team before applying.

How much do MCAST's bachelor's degrees cost for international students?

MCAST's official 2024-2025 International Students Course Fee Payment Schedule prices all MQF Level 6 three-year bachelor's degrees at a flat EUR 19,500 headline total (about EUR 6,500/year), and all four-year Level 6 bachelor's degrees at EUR 26,000 (also about EUR 6,500/year). MCAST currently waives the final year's fee for students on a 3- or 4-year bachelor's degree, reducing the real payable total to about EUR 13,000 (3-year) or EUR 17,350 (4-year). EU/EEA nationals pay no tuition fee.

How do I apply as an international student?

International (non-EU/EEA) applicants apply through MCAST's MG2i International office rather than the domestic Admissions Board, submitting an online application with supporting academic documents. MCAST's own International Students page states applications for the October intake open in October while also citing a 30 June deadline for the same intake -- an inconsistency on MCAST's own site -- so confirm the current application window directly with MG2i International (applyinternational@mcast.edu.mt) before relying on either date.

What visa do I need, and how does the process work?

Non-EU/EEA applicants apply for a Maltese National Long-Stay (D) visa before travelling, typically requiring an acceptance letter, proof of funds, confirmed accommodation and valid health insurance, then convert this into a student residence permit with Identity Malta (identita.gov.mt) after arrival, including biometric registration. MCAST's own documentation confirms non-EU candidates require a study visa and directs applicants to Identity Malta's Central Visa Unit for current requirements.

Do any of these degrees include a work placement, and does that affect my visa?

Five of the seven catalogued degrees include a formal work-based-learning element: both Mechanical Engineering degrees carry a Placement/Internship component, and Applied Data Sciences, Cybersecurity and Software Development carry an Apprenticeship component. MCAST's own documentation states that non-EU (Third Country National) applicants to any of these programmes are personally responsible for confirming with the relevant Maltese authority whether their permit status allows them to undertake the accredited placement, since completing it is normally required to finish the degree.

When do programmes start, and is there more than one intake per year?

MCAST's full-time bachelor's degrees begin with the main intake in October each year, aligned with Malta's standard academic calendar. MCAST's public pages do not confirm a second intake within the same academic year for these seven degrees.

Does MCAST's accreditation mean my degree will be recognised outside Malta?

MCAST holds Self-Accrediting Institution status from MFHEA (Malta's national higher-education regulator) for programmes up to MQF/EQF Level 7, under Legal Notice 296/2012, and MQF is aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), giving these degrees a Bologna-Process-compatible EU qualification level. Country-specific recognition outside the EU (including India) depends on the destination country's own equivalence process and should be confirmed independently before relying on the degree for further study or employment abroad.

What about the Engineering Warrant for MCAST engineering graduates -- is that settled?

As of this page's research date, yes, but only recently: on 2 December 2025 a Maltese court dismissed an injunction filed by the Malta Association of Professional Engineers (MAPE) against the Board of Engineers' decision to allow MCAST engineering graduates to apply for the statutory Engineering Warrant under Article 3 of Chapter 321 of the Laws of Malta, on the same basis as University of Malta graduates. Given how recent this ruling is, prospective students should independently reconfirm the current status directly with the Engineering Profession Board before enrolling.

What about accommodation and living costs near MCAST's Paola campus?

MCAST does not operate on-campus student housing; international students arrange private rental accommodation in Malta's open market. Numbeo's 2026 data prices a one-bedroom apartment at about EUR 1,037/month in a city centre and EUR 855/month outside one, with basic monthly utilities for an 85 sqm flat at about EUR 92. Since October 2022, all Malta residents, including registered international students, are entitled to free island-wide public transport via a personalised Tallinja Card.

How does MCAST compare with the University of Malta for engineering?

MCAST is a vocational/applied higher-education college, while the University of Malta is Malta's traditional research university; MCAST's Civil & Structural Engineering and Electronics/Mechanical Engineering degrees are explicitly designed as feeder routes into University of Malta postgraduate engineering study (MEng) and Malta's professional warrant system, rather than as standalone research-track degrees. Students who want a direct honours-to-MEng-to-warrant pathway through an applied, work-based-learning-heavy curriculum may prefer MCAST; those seeking a traditional research-university environment from year one may prefer the University of Malta directly.

Is MCAST a public or private institution?

MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology) is a public institution, established in 2001 in Paola, Malta. It is self-accredited by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) to award its own qualifications from MQF/EQF Level 1 up to Level 8, and teaches roughly 6,500 full-time and 5,000 part-time students across six institutes and a Gozo campus.

What language are MCAST's degrees taught in?

English. MCAST's official Programme Public Information Templates state that English is the official language of instruction, and that all notes and textbooks are in English except dedicated language courses. International applicants are required to meet English-language certification requirements, though MCAST's public documentation does not state a specific minimum IELTS/TOEFL score -- confirm the current requirement directly with MG2i International.

Can I get direct admission straight after high school?

Yes, if your qualification is recognised as equivalent to MCAST's own entry route. MCAST's stated entry requirements are framed around Malta's MATSEC/A-Level system (e.g. 2 A-Level and 2 I-Level passes with specific compulsory subjects such as Mathematics and Physics for engineering degrees, or Computing for ICT degrees) or an MCAST-internal Advanced Diploma. Applicants with other national school-leaving qualifications should confirm recognised equivalency directly with MCAST's Admissions/MG2i International team before applying.

How much do MCAST's bachelor's degrees cost for international students?

MCAST's official 2024-2025 International Students Course Fee Payment Schedule prices all MQF Level 6 three-year bachelor's degrees at a flat EUR 19,500 headline total (about EUR 6,500/year), and all four-year Level 6 bachelor's degrees at EUR 26,000 (also about EUR 6,500/year). MCAST currently waives the final year's fee for students on a 3- or 4-year bachelor's degree, reducing the real payable total to about EUR 13,000 (3-year) or EUR 17,350 (4-year). EU/EEA nationals pay no tuition fee.

How do I apply as an international student?

International (non-EU/EEA) applicants apply through MCAST's MG2i International office rather than the domestic Admissions Board, submitting an online application with supporting academic documents. MCAST's own International Students page states applications for the October intake open in October while also citing a 30 June deadline for the same intake -- an inconsistency on MCAST's own site -- so confirm the current application window directly with MG2i International (applyinternational@mcast.edu.mt) before relying on either date.

What visa do I need, and how does the process work?

Non-EU/EEA applicants apply for a Maltese National Long-Stay (D) visa before travelling, typically requiring an acceptance letter, proof of funds, confirmed accommodation and valid health insurance, then convert this into a student residence permit with Identity Malta (identita.gov.mt) after arrival, including biometric registration. MCAST's own documentation confirms non-EU candidates require a study visa and directs applicants to Identity Malta's Central Visa Unit for current requirements.

Do any of these degrees include a work placement, and does that affect my visa?

Five of the seven catalogued degrees include a formal work-based-learning element: both Mechanical Engineering degrees carry a Placement/Internship component, and Applied Data Sciences, Cybersecurity and Software Development carry an Apprenticeship component. MCAST's own documentation states that non-EU (Third Country National) applicants to any of these programmes are personally responsible for confirming with the relevant Maltese authority whether their permit status allows them to undertake the accredited placement, since completing it is normally required to finish the degree.

When do programmes start, and is there more than one intake per year?

MCAST's full-time bachelor's degrees begin with the main intake in October each year, aligned with Malta's standard academic calendar. MCAST's public pages do not confirm a second intake within the same academic year for these seven degrees.

Does MCAST's accreditation mean my degree will be recognised outside Malta?

MCAST holds Self-Accrediting Institution status from MFHEA (Malta's national higher-education regulator) for programmes up to MQF/EQF Level 7, under Legal Notice 296/2012, and MQF is aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), giving these degrees a Bologna-Process-compatible EU qualification level. Country-specific recognition outside the EU (including India) depends on the destination country's own equivalence process and should be confirmed independently before relying on the degree for further study or employment abroad.

What about the Engineering Warrant for MCAST engineering graduates -- is that settled?

As of this page's research date, yes, but only recently: on 2 December 2025 a Maltese court dismissed an injunction filed by the Malta Association of Professional Engineers (MAPE) against the Board of Engineers' decision to allow MCAST engineering graduates to apply for the statutory Engineering Warrant under Article 3 of Chapter 321 of the Laws of Malta, on the same basis as University of Malta graduates. Given how recent this ruling is, prospective students should independently reconfirm the current status directly with the Engineering Profession Board before enrolling.

What about accommodation and living costs near MCAST's Paola campus?

MCAST does not operate on-campus student housing; international students arrange private rental accommodation in Malta's open market. Numbeo's 2026 data prices a one-bedroom apartment at about EUR 1,037/month in a city centre and EUR 855/month outside one, with basic monthly utilities for an 85 sqm flat at about EUR 92. Since October 2022, all Malta residents, including registered international students, are entitled to free island-wide public transport via a personalised Tallinja Card.

How does MCAST compare with the University of Malta for engineering?

MCAST is a vocational/applied higher-education college, while the University of Malta is Malta's traditional research university; MCAST's Civil & Structural Engineering and Electronics/Mechanical Engineering degrees are explicitly designed as feeder routes into University of Malta postgraduate engineering study (MEng) and Malta's professional warrant system, rather than as standalone research-track degrees. Students who want a direct honours-to-MEng-to-warrant pathway through an applied, work-based-learning-heavy curriculum may prefer MCAST; those seeking a traditional research-university environment from year one may prefer the University of Malta directly.

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Mechanical Engineering at MCAST - Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology: Admissions Process

How to apply for Mechanical Engineering at MCAST - Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology — step-by-step process, documents required, and application timeline.

Written by Students Traffic Research Team·Updated On: 12 Jul 2026

MCAST - Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology campus overview

MCAST - Malta College of Arts, Science and TechnologyPaola, MaltaMechanical Engineering · Public€6,500/yr

Academics eligibility recognition fees

Admissions

Programme-specific admission requirements are being verified with the university. Do not rely on another programme's requirements when preparing an application.

Requirements being verified

Application steps will appear here once they have been checked against the university's current programme page.

Deadlines & Intake

Intake

October

When to start

Start document preparation and application planning at least 3–6 months before the October intake.

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