The University of Malta (UoM) has its foundation since 1592 and is the second oldest university within the Commonwealth outside Britain. The university is a state funded university, the highest teaching institution of the State and is open to all those who have the requisite qualifications. Over the past few years, the University has reviewed its structures in order to be in line with the Bologna process, which envisages the establishment of the European Higher Education Area by 2010. Conscious of its public role, the university strives to create courses, which are relevant and timely in response to the needs of the country as well as for its international students. To this end, a basic Foundation Studies Course is available to enables international high school students who have completed their secondary or high school education overseas but who do not have the necessary entry requirements, to qualify for admission to an undergraduate degree course at the University of Malta.

The university has a staff of over 990 serving a student population of about 10,000 out of which about 8% are foreign students from 80 different countries, including the USA and various countries in Europe and over 2,500 students graduate in various disciplines annually. The medium of instruction is English and its degrees are recognised throughout Europe and beyond. The degree courses at the University are designed to produce highly qualified professionals, with experience of research, who will play key roles in industry, commerce and public affairs in general and many of them are run on the modular or credit system. It offers 33 undergraduate courses including (medicine and surgery) and 14 postgraduate courses in various subjects. It has ten faculties, fourteen institutes, four European Centres and also the home to four International Centres including the renowned Edward De’ Bono Institute and the European Centre for Gerontology and Geriatric.

The University of Malta is a member of the European Universities Association, the European Access Network, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Utrecht Network, the Santander Network, the Compostela Group and the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP). It has also established a link campus in Rome, which offers four Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree courses in the areas of International Studies, International Management, International Legal Affairs and Communication Management while Masters programmes are offered in the latter two fields as well as Business Administration (MBA) and in the area of Intelligence and Security.