Malta Postgraduate Scholarship 2026: Who Can Apply, Plus Master’s Options for Nigerians

The Malta postgraduate scholarship for 2026, called Endeavour II, is not open to people living outside Malta. If you are in Nigeria and have never lived in Malta, you cannot apply. The scheme is for Maltese citizens, EU and EEA nationals, and non-EU long-term residents who have all lived in Malta for five years. The 2026 call closed on 5 June, and no date for the next call is published. This guide sets out the rules, then covers the European master’s scholarships Nigerians can still target, and the basics of a Malta student visa if you study there with your own funds.

Last checked against official sources: October 2026.

1. Who Can Apply for the Malta Postgraduate Scholarship 2026

The fifth-call regulations name four routes in. Each one has the same condition: you must have lived in Malta for the past five years by the closing date. A Maltese citizen who spent time abroad for study, health or work does not lose those years.

The regulations are the only document that decides who qualifies, and they leave no route for an applicant who lives abroad. The table sets out each route in plain terms.

Quick Answer: A Nigerian with no Maltese residence history is not eligible. A Nigerian who has lived in Malta for five years and holds long-term resident status can apply. Foreign nationals must also upload a permanent residence permit with the application.

The call funded one thing only: a master’s degree at MQF Level 7, starting between 27 April 2026 and 26 April 2027. If you already hold a master’s, you may apply for another one, but not for a postgraduate certificate or diploma. Anyone holding an MQF Level 8 qualification, such as a doctorate, cannot apply.

Applicants also pick one study area from a fixed list: education, environmental studies and sustainability, finance, health, information and communication technology, law, management, maritime studies, STEM, tourism and hospitality, transport and logistics, or veterinary studies. The online form needs an e-ID login, and the programme must be at an institution recognised by Malta’s higher education regulator.

2. What the Scholarship Pays and How Applicants Are Scored

Endeavour II does not pay full tuition. It pays a grant for each ECTS credit you achieve: €67 per credit for a programme awarded by a Maltese institution, and €116 per credit for one awarded by a foreign institution or run as a joint programme. As a worked example from those rates, a 90-credit master’s in Malta would bring €6,030, and a 120-credit master’s abroad would bring €13,920.

Half of the expected credits are paid after you sign the grant agreement, and the rest follows as you pass modules. Extra allowances sit on top, as the table shows. Your real tuition bill may be higher than the grant, so check the programme fee before you commit.

Key Statistic: The grant is €67 per credit in Malta and €116 per credit abroad. It is paid on credits achieved, so it can fall short of the tuition you owe.

Selection is weighted heavily toward one document. The motivation letter of about 300 words carries 65 percent of the marks, academic merit 20 percent and work experience 15 percent. Applicants who clear the pass mark on the letter are interviewed, and a pass does not by itself mean an award.

The regulations do not mention an English test. Universities set their own entry rules, though, and some business programmes ask for a GMAT or GRE score that the scholarship does not pay for. Read the admission page of each course you list.

3. The Next Malta Postgraduate Scholarship Call: What Is Known

The fifth call ran from 27 April to 5 June 2026, closing at noon Malta time. People shortlisted had until 9 October 2026 to send their university offer letters and transcripts. Nobody can enter that call now.

The scheme’s own FAQ says future calls are intended, but no date for the next one is published. The regulations for the last three calls were uploaded in June 2024, May 2025 and April 2026, which points to spring, though that is only a pattern. Check the Scholarships Unit page on myscholarship.gov.mt before you plan around it.

If you qualify, prepare before the call opens. Many courses close admissions before the scholarship does, and a university offer is required, so apply to your course first. Foreign qualifications may also need an equivalence report from the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre.

4. Master’s Scholarships in Europe That Nigerians Can Target This Cycle

Because Endeavour II is closed to you, these are the main alternatives. Each was checked on its official page on 9 October 2026, and each has its own rules. None is a guarantee, and all are competitive.

The sections below say what each one asks for. Eligibility can change from one year to the next, so read the official page before you spend money on documents.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships (UK)

This is the only scheme in the table taking applications right now. You need a 2:1 first degree or better by September 2027, must be unable to afford UK study without help, and must not already hold a UK master’s. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission does not take direct applications, so you apply through a nominating body, and the Commission’s page gives 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October as its closing date.

Pro Tip: Nominating bodies set their own earlier dates and send candidates to the Commission by December 2026. Contact the body you plan to use today, not on the Commission’s last day.

DAAD EPOS (Germany)

EPOS funds development-related master’s courses at German universities. You need a bachelor’s degree with results in the upper third of your class, at least two years of related work after it, and a degree normally no more than six years old. You apply straight to the course, for up to three courses, and DAAD does not forward applications sent to it.

The DAAD EPOS page links the course list for the 2027/28 intake, and each course shows its own deadline. English-taught courses ask for an IELTS or TOEFL result. The page does not say whether tuition is covered, so check each course.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

These programmes are run by several European universities together, and you apply to the programme itself, not to one central office. The Erasmus+ scholarships page says most applications fall between October and January for the following academic year. Not every listed programme offers scholarships, so confirm that before applying.

Chevening and the Swedish Institute

Chevening needs at least two years and 2,800 hours of work after your first degree, and a commitment to return home for two years. Its Nigeria page shows the 2027/28 round as closed, with no date yet for the next one.

The Swedish Institute scholarship asks for 3,000 hours of work, leadership experience and admission to an eligible master’s programme through Sweden’s University Admissions service. Its last round began on 16 October 2025 for the 2026 intake, and its page on si.se does not yet show the next dates, so check it this month. Eiffel scholarships for France are applied for by the French university, not by you, so ask your target school whether it will nominate you.

5. Malta Student Visa and Residence Permit Basics for Non-EU Students

If you study in Malta without a scholarship, you need a permit that matches your course. Identità, the Maltese agency that handles residence permits, issues study residence permits for full-time higher education at MQF Level 5 or above, at a licensed institution. Part-time courses do not qualify, and the University of Malta says online or hybrid programmes cannot get its D-Study visa.

Nigerian passport holders need a visa to enter, and Identità says it must be one issued for education purposes. After arrival you apply for the residence permit online through the Expatriates Portal, but you submit it in person in Malta. The University of Malta tells students to apply within three months of arrival, once they are enrolled and have paid tuition.

Important Note: Amounts and document lists change, and the sources above disagree in places. Identità says UM, MCAST and ITS students are exempt from the insurance requirement, yet UM’s own checklist still lists it. Confirm every figure with Identità or the university’s international office, and never pay a stranger who promises to guarantee a visa.

Identità’s study FAQ says students may work up to 20 hours a week after the first 90 days, but only with an employment licence that the employer obtains. It also describes a one-off nine-month post-study permit that does not by itself allow work. Do not plan to cover tuition from part-time pay.

The University of Malta warns that the minimum funds for the visa do not cover rent and living costs. Budget above the minimum, buy travel insurance for the journey, and use a regulated international money transfer service for fees rather than cash or an informal agent. If your qualification is foreign, ask the university early whether it needs an equivalence report.

1. Get an unconditional offer from a licensed Maltese institution for a full-time course.
2. Enrol and pay the tuition deposit the university asks for.
3. Apply for the education visa through the process the international office sets out, with bank statements and insurance.
4. Travel to Malta, complete the health screening and gather your accommodation papers.
5. Book an appointment, apply on the Expatriates Portal within three months and pay the €50 fee.
6. Renew the permit each year, with proof of progress and attendance.

6. English Tests, Credentials and Scam Warnings

Most scholarships above want an English result, usually IELTS or TOEFL, unless your degree was taught in English and the scheme accepts that. Book the test early, because results can take weeks and some funders set a validity window. Keep certified copies of your degree certificate and transcript ready, since every application asks for them.

Scholarship fraud is common. A real funder does not charge to process an award or promise a place for a payment. Apply only through the websites named in this article, and be wary of anyone who offers a Malta scholarship to Nigerians living abroad, because the official rules exclude them.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Can Nigerians apply for the Malta postgraduate scholarship in 2026?

Only if they have lived in Malta for five years and hold long-term resident status. The fifth call also closed on 5 June 2026.

Does Endeavour II pay full tuition?

No. It pays a grant per ECTS credit achieved, plus set allowances. The amount depends on whether the degree is awarded in Malta or abroad.

Do I need IELTS for a Malta master’s?

The scholarship rules do not mention an English test. The university sets its own language requirement, so read the course page.

Which scholarship can I still apply for now?

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is open for 2027/28 study through a nominating body, and DAAD EPOS and Erasmus Mundus courses have deadlines coming up. Check each official page for exact dates.

Can I work while studying in Malta?

Identità’s FAQ allows up to 20 hours a week after the first 90 days, with an employer-obtained licence. You must remain a full-time student.

8. Next Steps

If you qualify for Endeavour II, start your university applications now and watch the Scholarships Unit page for the next call. If you do not, pick one of the open scholarships above and contact its nominating body or course this week. After a UK degree, see our guide to UK employers that sponsor skilled workers, and for German work routes read our Germany factory jobs guide.

Before you pay any agent, check that they are regulated, as set out in our guide to choosing an immigration adviser. A genuine Malta postgraduate scholarship in 2026 or later should only ever ask you to apply on an official government or university site.