Malta Scholarships 2026: What’s Actually Open to Ghanaians (Honest No-IELTS Guide)

Two of the three “government” schemes commonly listed as open to international students actually require you to already be a Malta resident:

• The Endeavour II Scholarships Scheme (Malta’s main postgraduate government scholarship) requires foreign nationals to submit a Permanent Residence Permit as a mandatory application document. That’s not a formality it means you’d need to already be living in Malta long-term before you could apply. This isn’t a scheme you can apply to directly from Ghana as a first-time applicant.
• The Malta Arts Scholarships Scheme requires either Maltese citizenship (5 years’ residency), EU/EEA nationality with 5 years’ Malta residency, or existing long-term residence status. Same barrier not accessible to a fresh applicant abroad.

Neither of these is a scam they’re genuine, active Maltese government schemes. The problem is that most “Malta scholarship without IELTS” listicles present them as open international opportunities without mentioning the residency requirement, which sets readers up to spend weeks preparing an application they were never eligible to submit.

What’s Actually Open to Ghanaian Applicants Right Now

1. Commonwealth & Valletta Action Plan Scholarship (Genuinely Ghana-Specific)

This is the standout real opportunity, and it’s easy to miss because it doesn’t get the same SEO attention as the generic “6 Malta scholarships” listicles. The Government of Malta, through its Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, runs an annual call specifically offering postgraduate scholarships at the University of Malta to a small number of Ghanaian nationals historically one or two seats per call, sometimes shared with another country like Nigeria or Namibia.

• What it covers: Tuition fees, a return flight, full-board accommodation, and health insurance for postgraduate study
• Why it exists: Part of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (established 1959) and Malta’s commitment made at the 2015 Valletta Summit on Migration
• Who applies: Ghanaian nationals seeking postgraduate study, typically nominated/submitted through channels coordinated with Ghana
• Seats are limited historically just one or two per call, so competition is real, but this is a legitimate, named, Ghana-specific opportunity, not a generic listing

Official page: University of Malta Commonwealth & Valletta Action Plan Scholarships for Ghana

2. University of Malta Postgraduate Research Scholarship (Tuition Waiver)

This one genuinely is open to international applicants with no prior Malta residency required a real difference from the Endeavour and Arts schemes above.

• What it covers: A tuition fee waiver of 40–100%, based on academic merit, for Master’s-by-research or PhD study
• What it does NOT cover: Living expenses, travel costs, or health insurance you’ll need to show you can fund your own stay in Malta
• Eligibility: You must already hold an unconditional offer for a Master’s-by-research or PhD program at the University of Malta before applying for the waiver professional doctorates and MBA-style programs don’t qualify
• How to apply: Once you have your unconditional offer, you email the University’s International Office directly, citing your Applicant ID and “University of Malta Postgraduate Scholarship Application” in the subject line

Official page: University of Malta Postgraduate Scholarships (Master’s by Research / PhD)

About That “No IELTS” Claim

This part is partially true, but oversold. Malta is genuinely one of only two EU countries with English as an official language, and university admissions guidance for Malta confirms that a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter is accepted by some programs as an alternative to a language test. But the University of Malta’s own admissions guidance still lists IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge certificates as standard proof of English proficiency for undergraduate applicants it isn’t a blanket waiver across every program and every degree level. Confirm with your specific program directly rather than assuming you’re exempt.

Realistic Next Steps for a Ghanaian Applicant

1. If you want a name-brand government-backed award: watch for the annual Commonwealth & Valletta Action Plan Scholarship call, which is specifically extended to Ghana most years. Seats are few, so prepare your documents (transcripts, motivation letter, research proposal if applicable) well ahead of the call opening.
2. If you already have, or can secure, an unconditional offer for a Master’s-by-research or PhD: apply directly to the University of Malta’s tuition waiver, but budget separately for living costs, since this scholarship won’t cover them.
3. Don’t spend time preparing for Endeavour II or the Malta Arts Scholarship unless you already hold Maltese permanent residency or long-term residence status you’re not eligible as a fresh applicant from Ghana.
4. Confirm the English-proficiency requirement directly with your specific program rather than assuming “no IELTS” applies universally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for Malta’s Endeavour Scholarship from Ghana without ever having lived in Malta? No. Foreign nationals must submit a Permanent Residence Permit as part of the mandatory application documents, which requires long-term prior Malta residency.

Is there a Malta scholarship specifically for Ghanaian students? Yes the Commonwealth & Valletta Action Plan Scholarship is run by the Government of Malta specifically naming Ghana in its annual calls, funding postgraduate study at the University of Malta.

Does the University of Malta’s tuition waiver cover living costs? No. It covers only tuition (40–100%, merit-based). You need separate funds or funding for accommodation, travel, and health insurance.

Do I really not need IELTS for Malta? Some programs accept a Medium of Instruction letter instead, but IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge certificates are still listed as standard requirements by the University of Malta for many programs. Confirm with your specific course.