Studying Medicine in Valletta: Costs, Structure and Recognition

Valletta at a glance

Before we get into the details, here are the key facts in compact form. All figures refer to MediCampus Europeo in Valletta.

The same line in this table catches my eye every time: 50 places per year. It explains the small groups, it explains the early hands-on training, and it explains why you should get moving early here rather than at the last minute.

University and teaching hospital

MediCampus Europeo is located in the historic centre of Valletta and is licensed by the Maltese authority MFHEA, with licence number 2024-020 listed on the campus website. Teaching takes place in Malta, but the diploma is issued by Trakia University in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Trakia University is a state institution founded in 1995 and accredited by the Bulgarian accreditation agency NEAA. Alongside the Faculty of Medicine, it also includes veterinary medicine, agricultural sciences and a medical college.

Clinical training from the third year onward takes place at partner hospitals in several European countries. The campus names the “Prof. Dr. Stoyan Kirkovich” University Hospital in Stara Zagora and the University Hospital of the Brothers of Mercy in Bratislava; further sites in Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic are, according to the campus, in preparation. In practice, this means you don't spend all six years at a single hospital, but see several healthcare systems from the inside.

Simulation training begins as early as the first year of study, taught in groups of around ten students. This combination is the real difference compared with large cohorts: in a group of ten at the simulator, you get your turn at every session.

It's worth understanding how responsibilities are split, since it answers two questions at once. The Maltese authority MFHEA reviews and licenses teaching on the island, so it's responsible for the quality of the campus. Trakia University is responsible for the curriculum and ultimately issues the diploma, which is why your degree is legally a Bulgarian one. When filling out official forms later, you therefore list Bulgaria as the issuing country and Malta as the place of study.

Which programmes are offered, and in which language?

The offering in Valletta is deliberately narrow. There is exactly one programme, and it is taught entirely in English.

If dentistry, pharmacy or veterinary medicine are what you're after, Valletta isn't the right location for you. That's not a drawback, just a question of fit – we have a suitable partner university for almost every case, and we work out which one during a free consultation.

On language: English from B2 level is required, and the entire programme is taught in English, from anatomy to your final exams. You won't need Maltese either in the lecture hall or in daily life, since English is an official language on Malta alongside Maltese. Subject-specific vocabulary is new for everyone in the cohort, and that gap closes quickly in the first semester. B2 is realistically the floor here, not the goal: with solid upper-secondary English, you'll be reading textbooks without a dictionary within a few months.

How does admission work?

There is no numerus clausus at MediCampus Europeo. Your school-leaving grade average does not determine your place here. What's required is a general higher education entrance qualification – in Germany, the Abitur.

The university's selection process has two parts. First, proof of English proficiency from B2 level. Second, a 90-minute multiple-choice test in biology and chemistry. It covers upper-secondary school material, not first-year university content. Test dates run between May and September, and the test is taken online – so you sit it from home and don't need to travel to Malta.

The whole process is handled for you at Medschool Experts. We coordinate directly with the campus: we organise your registration, application and test appointment, and we take care of the paperwork. We prepare you specifically for the subject test in biology and chemistry, as well as for the motivational interview and the English proficiency requirement, so you go into the test with a clear study plan rather than guesswork.

Studies start in the winter semester; there is no summer intake. Since only 50 places are available per year, starting the process early is the most effective thing you can do.

What many people underestimate: the subject test isn't a hurdle you somehow scrape through – it's an exam with a clearly defined syllabus. Upper-secondary biology and chemistry are finite subjects, and 90 minutes of multiple choice rewards thorough revision more than raw talent. Anyone who studies in a structured way for six to eight weeks generally goes into the test calmly.

What does the programme cost?

The fee structure is straightforward and stays constant throughout the programme.

That, however, only covers tuition. A realistic budget also includes living costs and incidentals. The following calculation is our own estimate, not a commitment from the campus, but it gives you a sense of the scale involved.

For context, here's a direct comparison with other locations in our network. Fees shown are for Human Medicine, and totals are calculated over twelve semesters.

Valletta is the most expensive location in this selection, and you should know that from the outset. Against that stands 50 places per year, groups of around ten students, a consistently English-speaking environment, and rotations across several European hospitals. Whether that premium is worth it to you is a decision best made with numbers, not gut feeling.

A word on financing, since the total is substantial: Malta is an EU member, so studying there can generally be funded through German foreign study grants (Auslands-BAföG). A specific regional office handles the decision, not the campus. Many students also use education loans, scholarships or family support, often in combination.

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How is the programme structured?

The curriculum follows the European standard: six years, twelve semesters, 360 ECTS, meaning 60 ECTS per academic year.

The currency behind it all is ECTS. Every course you pass is recorded in credits, with your grades and points listed on your Transcript of Records. You'll need this document for any credit transfer, for switching universities, and later during the licensing process. My advice from many conversations: request it after every academic year and file it away, rather than trying to gather everything at once at the end.

Where can you work as a doctor with this degree?

The key factor is where the diploma comes from. It's issued by Trakia University, and therefore from Bulgaria, an EU member state. Recognition is based on Directive 2005/36/EC, Annex V, point 5.1.1 for the medical profession, as amended by Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383 of 23 May 2023, applicable since 9 October 2023.

For Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the path is clearly laid out: no equivalence procedure, no knowledge test – just application, language proof and licensure. If the USA is firmly on your radar, check the WFME status of the Bulgarian agency before deciding, since that status can change and is continuously updated by the WFME.

One more thing worth adding here: licensing authorities work at different speeds, and processing times can vary noticeably between German states. Submitting your application with complete documentation and language proof in hand is the most reliable way to shorten the process. We'll help you with the paperwork together when the time comes.

Dentist, pharmacist, psychologist, veterinarian: the legal situation by profession

Dentist. Dentistry is separately harmonised across the EU, under Annex V, point 5.3.2, of Directive 2005/36/EC, with a minimum duration of five years. A dental degree from an EU state is automatically recognised in Germany. Valletta, however, does not offer dentistry; other partner locations are suitable for that.

Pharmacist. Pharmacy falls under Annex V, point 5.6.2, requiring at least five years of training including a six-month placement in a pharmacy or hospital. Automatic recognition within the EU applies here too. MediCampus Europeo does not offer this programme.

Psychologist. Psychology and psychotherapy are not harmonised at European level, and there is no corresponding Annex V entry. Each member state assesses foreign degrees individually; in Germany, the path to practising psychotherapy runs through a separate licensing process with its own admission requirements. Anyone pursuing this profession should clarify recognition in advance.

Veterinarian. Veterinary medicine is harmonised under Annex V, point 5.4.2, also with a minimum duration of five years. Interestingly, there's a connection to Stara Zagora here: Trakia University has its own Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. It is not, however, taught in Valletta itself.

Career paths after graduation

With the Doctor of Medicine degree and subsequent licensure, the same paths are open to you as to graduates of German faculties. The most common is specialist training at a clinic or practice with training authorisation. You choose your specialty freely, and depending on the field, training takes five to six years.

There are also paths that many people don't consider until later: research and doctoral study, public health, occupational medicine, health services research, medical journalism, or positions in the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory bodies. An EU degree is a strong starting point for all of these, since it counts throughout the Union without additional procedures.

Specialist training itself isn't tied to one location within the EU either. You can start it in Germany and complete parts abroad, provided the relevant medical chamber recognises them. The reverse also applies: those who complete training in Austria or Switzerland can later return to Germany, again under the directive's recognition rules.

English-medium teaching is more than a formality here. Spending six years examining, documenting and being assessed in English means you move into international teams and medical literature without missing a beat. We've broken down in detail which doors a European medical degree opens worldwide, and which exams are involved where, in our dedicated article on Career Paths with an EU Medical Degree.

Switching, transferring, and returning to Germany

Switching to a German faculty partway through your studies is possible, but not automatic. It requires an available place in an advanced semester, and the receiving faculty decides for itself which credits from Valletta it will recognise. Your Transcript of Records and module descriptions form the basis for that. Some students make the switch, but many stay through to graduation. Plan your studies as though you'll finish in Malta.

The reverse also applies: joining at an advanced semester is possible too, for example if you've already completed semesters elsewhere. Whether and how much is credited is decided by the campus case by case, based on content rather than semester count.

One note that keeps coming up, even though it doesn't apply to Valletta itself: in Serbia, Bosnia and Slovakia, medical studies are also possible with a vocational qualification (Fachhochschulreife), and in Serbia and Bosnia, with a completed healthcare qualification too. This is never automatic and always a case-by-case question, which we review during a free consultation. For MediCampus Europeo, you need a general higher education entrance qualification.

Life in Valletta: the city, getting around, costs

Valletta is Malta's capital and, with around 6,000 residents, one of the smallest capitals in Europe. The entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and housing is correspondingly historic and scarce. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and long summers. The airport is about eight kilometres outside the city.

The zero in the last row isn't a mistake. Since 1 October 2022, public transport on Malta and Gozo has been free for residents with a personalised Tallinja Card, according to Malta's infrastructure ministry. Buses connect Valletta with all major towns on the island, and since the island is small, distances are short.

That's exactly where the most effective money-saving tip comes from: rents in the old town are noticeably higher than in neighbouring areas, but commuting costs you nothing. Most students therefore rent a room in a shared flat outside Valletta. That way, a budget of €800 to €900 a month for rent and living costs stays realistic. Without sharing, it gets tight, since Malta imports a lot, and that shows up in prices.

Scale is part of everyday life here too. Malta covers around 316 square kilometres, and from Valletta you can reach almost any point on the island within an hour. That makes settling in easy and keeps the journey to university short. Some people do find this closeness limiting after a few months, though, and a weekend on the mainland always means a flight from Malta.

Who this location suits

Valletta suits you if you want to study Human Medicine in English, prefer small groups over large lecture halls, and need an EU degree that counts in Germany without extra hurdles. Anyone planning to work internationally later will also find a good starting point here, since English is not just the language of instruction but an official language too.

The location is less suitable if dentistry, pharmacy or veterinary medicine are your goal, since these subjects aren't offered here. And if your budget is tight, Sofia or Pleven offer Bulgarian locations where the same recognition principle applies and fees are noticeably lower.

My assessment: Valletta is a location for students who value structure and support more than price, and who are willing to pay the premium consciously. If you want to know whether your profile and budget fit, talk to us – we'll go through it together in a free consultation.