GET QUALIFIED MALTA SCHEME 2026

The Complete Guide to FundingYour Degree or MBA in 2026

Considering a return to education? Perhaps to finish a degree, start an MBA, or earn a professional qualification often listed in job ads?

If the financial commitment is your main obstacle, the Malta Enterprise Get Qualified Malta Scheme 2026 offers a solution. This initiative lets you recover a large part of your course fees by reducing your tax bill.

What Is the Get Qualified Malta Scheme?

The Get Qualified Malta Scheme is a Malta Enterprise tax credit scheme. It pays back up to 70% of fees for approved MQF Level 3 up to Level 8 courses. It also includes approved qualifications.

If you work for someone or run your own business in Malta, you can apply through the Malta Enterprise website after finishing your course. You claim the tax credit on your yearly tax return and can use it over up to 15 years.

Who Is Eligible for the Get Qualified Scheme 2026?

The scheme is open to anyone in Malta who pays tax. You must have started your course after turning 16. The course must lead to a qualifying certificate or degree.

You do not need to work full-time or be Maltese. Just live in Malta for tax purposes and enrol in a qualifying course.

General eligibility checklist

• You are liable to tax in Malta
• You were aged 16 or over when your course commenced
• You are enrolled at an MFHEA-licensed institution or approved awarding body
• The course leads to a qualifying certificate or qualification (MQF Level 3 and above, or an industry-recognised certification)
• You are personally paying the tuition fees, not fully covered by an employer, scholarship, or public grant
• You apply within 12 months of completing the course

Employed and self-employed applicants: an important note

If you work for someone or are self-employed and the course is directly related to your current job, your application follows EU small aid rules. This means:

• Your total de minimis aid from all schemes must not exceed €300,000 over any rolling three-year period
• You must include a de minimis declaration with your application
• State-employed public servants and NGO staff not engaged in economic activity are not required toprovide this declaration.

If the course is not related to your current work, the de minimis rules do not apply.

How Much Can You Claim Back? Tax Credit Explained

The Get Qualified Malta Scheme is calculated as 70% of the eligible course fees, capped according to the MQF level of your qualification. The credit is a direct reduction of tax owed, not a deduction from taxable income and is usable over 15 fiscal years.

Worked examples for Knights College programmes in Malta

• ‍MBA at Knights College in Malta (MQF 7, 90 ECTS): Fee €14,990 | 70% = €10,493 | Cap: 90 ×€170 = €15,300 | Effective credit: €10,493 | Net cost: ~€4,500‍
• BSc Business Management at Knights College in Malta (MQF 6, 180 ECTS): Fee €14,990 |Cap: 180 × €75 = €13,500 | 70% = €10,493 | Effective credit: €10,493 |Net cost: ~€4,500‍
• Foundation Degree in HR Management at Knights College in Malta (MQF 5, 120 ECTS): Fee €8,500 | 70%= €5,950 | Cap: €1,000 + (120 × €50) = €7,000 | Effective credit: €5,950| Net cost: ~€2,550‍
• Award in Change Management at Knights College in Malta (MQF 5, 10 ECTS): Fee €1,100 | 70%= €770 | Cap: €1,000 + (10 × €50) = €1,500 | Effective credit: €770

The Attainment Bonus: An Additional Tax Credit

Separate from the Get Qualified TaxCredit, the 2026 scheme includes an Attainment Bonus — a further tax credit for individuals who complete a full STEM degree or doctoral-level qualification. Crucially, the Attainment Bonus can be claimed even if your fees were fully funded by a third party.

For the 2026 scheme, STEM includes BSc and MSc degrees as well as qualifications in Science, Technology,Engineering, Economics, and Mathematics.

The Attainment Bonus is issued as a tax credit usable in the third and fourth years of assessment following the year of attainment, and can be claimed alongside the Get Qualified Tax Credit.

Example: BSc at Knights College in Malta

A graduate of the BSc in Business Management at Knights College in Malta could be eligible for:  

• Get Qualified Malta Scheme: up to €10,493  
• Attainment Bonus (BSc STEM): €3,000  
• Combined benefit: up to €13,493 on a €14,990 programme

Which Knights College Programmes Qualify for Get Qualified Malta Scheme?

Knights College Malta offers MFHEA-licensed programmes from MQF Level 4 through Level 8 — all eligible under the Get Qualified Malta Scheme 2026, subject to your personal eligibility.

*MQF 7 Attainment Bonusapplies on completion of a full Master's qualification, not individual Awardmodules.

What Costs Are Eligible Underthe Get Qualified Malta Scheme?

Eligible costs

• Registration fees
• Tuition fees and educational services charged by the Education Service Provider
• Study materials are provided as an integral part of the fees
• Examination fees, including costs for resits required to achieve the qualification
• For MQF Level 6,7, and 8: educational and ancillary services (e.g. laboratory facilities) endorsed by the Awarding Body

Ineligible costs

• Travel and accommodation
• Stationery, printing, communication costs, and late payment charges
• Graduation-related costs
• Application or membership fees for professional bodies

Bank loans and employer funding

Financing your course through a bankl oan keeps you fully eligible for the Get Qualified Tax Credit. If your employer or a public grant fully covers your fees, you cannot claim the credit on those costs. If you co-fund alongside employer support, your personal portion remains claimable.

How to Apply for the GetQualified Malta Scheme 2026: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Enrol in an eligible programme

Check with your school if the programme has anMFHEA licence and leads to a qualifying Award or Certificate. Confirm the programme’s eligibility before you enrol with Knights College.

Step 2: Complete your course and keep all receipts

After finishing your course, gather and keep your bills and payment receipts. Completing your programme and saving these documents is essential for your application.

Step 3: Submit your application within 12 months

Apply online at maltaenterprise.com/support/get-qualified within 12 months after finishing your course. You will need: your acceptance letter with startdate, transcript or certificate, copies of bills and payment proof, a signed statement that you haven’t been reimbursed, and a de minimis declaration if needed.

Step 4: Receive your Tax Credit Certificate

Malta Enterprise issues a Tax Credit Certificate. Submit this to the Commissioner for Revenue when claiming.

Step 5: Claim on your annual income tax return

Claim the tax credit on your yearly income tax return for up to 15 years. Make sure to file your tax return each year to retain your remaining credit, regardless of whether you owe tax.

Application limit

You can submit up to 4 applications in an rolling 5-year period. Make sure to apply within 12 months of completing each course to meet this limit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Get Qualified Malta Scheme

What is the Get Qualified Malta Scheme2026?

The Get Qualified Malta Scheme 2026 is a Malta Enterprise initiative providing a tax credit to individuals in Malta who complete approved MQF Level 3–8 programmes. The scheme entered into force on 1 January 2026 (Version 1.0 guidance notes issued 1 April 2026). The credit is applied against income tax owed and can be spread over 15 fiscal years.

How much can I claim back through Get Qualified Malta Scheme?

Up to 70% of eligible course fees, capped per ECTS credit by MQF level.

Is there an Attainment Bonus separate from the tax credit?

Yes. The 2026 scheme includes anAttainment Bonus: €3,000 for BSc STEM, €3,000 for a full Master's (non-STEM),€5,000 for a Master's STEM, and €10,000 for a full Doctorate. It is usable in the third and fourth years of assessment after qualifying, and can be claimed even if fees were paid by a third party.

Does Get Qualified Malta Scheme cover MBA programmes at Knights College?

Yes. MBA programmes at MQF Level 7 from Knights College in Malta are MFHEA-licensed and eligible. A full MBA (90 ECTS)at €14,990 qualifies for up to €10,493 Get Qualified Tax Credit plus a €3,000 Attainment Bonus — reducing the net cost to approximately €1,500.

When do I apply — before or after my course?

After completing your course, within 12months of successful completion. Applications are submitted online through the Malta Enterprise portal at maltaenterprise.com/support/get-qualified. Keep all invoices and proof of payment throughout your studies.

Can I apply if my employer is paying for my course?

If your employer covers the entire cost, the personal tax credit does not apply to those costs. You may still qualify for the Attainment Bonus. If you co-fund alongside your employer, your personal portion remains claimable.

How long can I use the tax credit?

The Tax Credit Certificate is usable over 15 fiscal years. You must file a tax return every year — even a NIL return— to preserve your remaining balance.

What are the 2026 application limits?

You may submit a maximum of 4applications in any rolling 5-year period. Each application must be submitted within 12 months of completing the relevant course.

Does the 2026 scheme cover courses started before 2026?

The scheme covers awards attained on or after 1 January 2026. For courses commenced before that date, you can request an application under the previous Get Qualified Scheme 2017–2025 parameters, provided you submit the request to Malta Enterprise by 31 December 2026.

What is the difference between GetQualified Malta Scheme and Training Pays?

The Get Qualified Malta Scheme is a personal tax credit for individuals investing in their own approved studies. Training Pays is aimed at employers funding employee training. Both can apply to the same programme — Get Qualified Malta Scheme on your personal contribution, Training Pays on the employer's contribution.

Source: Malta Enterprise Get QualifiedGuidance Notes, Version 1.0, issued 1 April 2026. For official details and to apply: maltaenterprise.com/support/get-qualified. Contact Business First: 144or [email protected]