Which GBS MStudy in Malta for Brazilian students: cost, visa, programmes and career opportunities alta course is right for you? A complete student guide

Is studying in Malta worth considering for Brazilian students?

Malta may feel unfamiliar at first, but several aspects can make the transition easier.

English is widely used in education and everyday life, while the Mediterranean climate supports an active outdoor lifestyle. Additionally, students encounter a multicultural environment that extends beyond the classroom. This is particularly relevant for Brazilian students who want a European experience without studying in a country where a new language is required from their first lecture.

There are differences to prepare for. Malta is considerably smaller than Brazil, rents can be high in popular areas and daily life is conducted in euros. Portuguese is not widely spoken, so students need confidence in using English for banking, housing, healthcare and academic work.

The decision is therefore a trade-off, not a slogan. Malta offers an EU location, an international student environment and English-taught programmes, while applicants must plan around the euro-to-real exchange rate and student visa requirements. Course duration, practical learning, part-time work rules and post-study options should all be weighed against the total cost.

What is the cost of studying in Malta?

Tuition depends on the institution, subject and qualification level. At GBS Malta, the current published fees for several full-time programmes provide a useful reference point.

Note: These are the fees displayed on the official course pages in September 2026. Students should confirm the applicable fee, payment schedule and any scholarship conditions before accepting an offer.

Converting tuition into Brazilian reais

As of 21 September 2026, the European Central Bank reference rate was €1 to R$5.892. At that indicative rate:

Exchange rates can fluctuate considerably between application, deposit and final payment dates. Banks and payment providers may also add margins or transfer charges. Brazilian families should therefore build a currency buffer into the cost of studying in Malta rather than budgeting for the last real.

Monthly living costs in Malta for international students

Accommodation will usually be the largest monthly expense. Where you live, whether you share and how often you eat out will have a significant effect on the total.

For a student-facing estimate, the GBS Malta guide to living costs for international students provides the following monthly planning range:

Official rental data shows why accommodation needs its own margin. The Malta Housing Authority reported that, in the first half of 2024, the median monthly rent for an entire two-bedroom apartment was €800 in St Paul’s Bay and €1,300 in Sliema. St Julian’s was also among the most expensive localities. Students sharing a property may divide the rent, but deposits, utilities and agency charges can still increase the initial cost.

At the ECB reference rate used above, the €600–€1,200 monthly planning range is approximately R$3,535–R$7,070.

Transport can be one of the more predictable costs. Malta Public Transport currently lists a standard €25 application charge for a personalised Tallinja card. Cardholders can use day, night and selected special bus services for free, although Tallinja Direct, Airport Direct and on-demand services are excluded. Registration, eligibility and charges should be checked before travel because promotional offers may change.

These figures are planning estimates rather than guaranteed prices. Students should also budget separately for visa and residence costs, health insurance, occasional taxis, eating out and travel. A student who shares accommodation and cooks regularly may stay near the lower end of the range; private housing in a high-demand locality can take the total above it.

What a first-year budget should include

A common mistake is to multiply monthly rent by 12, add tuition and assume the budget is complete. The first few weeks usually cost more because several payments arrive together.

Before leaving Brazil, allow for:

• Tuition fees or the required initial payment
• Student visa and application charges
• Travel and medical insurance
• Flights and baggage
• Temporary accommodation on arrival
• Rental deposit and advance rent
• Residence permit expenses
• Bedding, kitchen items and other set-up costs
• Emergency funds for exchange-rate movements or delays

Using the planning range above, 12 months’ living costs would be approximately €7,200–€14,400. A first-year undergraduate planning figure would therefore be around €13,200–€20,400 when €6,000 tuition is included, before flights, visa costs, insurance and deposits.

That calculation makes the trade-off visible. Choosing a room that saves €100 per month reduces annual expenditure by €1,200, while small weekly purchases can have the opposite effect.

Malta student visas for Brazilian students

Brazilian passport holders can ordinarily make short visa-free visits to the Schengen area, but that exemption does not cover a full higher education programme. Malta’s Identità agency states that non-EU students intending to study for more than 105 days must obtain a national D-visa before travelling.

Need help understanding the process? GBS Malta’s dedicated Visa Support Team provides specialist assistance through the stages of a student visa application, including helping students understand potential requirements and prepare institution-issued documents. The team cannot decide an application, so official requirements should still be checked with Identità and VFS.

Applications are submitted through the VFS route provided by Identità. An official Malta visa application centre is available in Brasília.

The current student D-visa checklist includes:

• A completed application form
• A passport with the required validity
• A compliant passport photograph
• The VFS appointment confirmation
• An enrolment letter showing the course, level and duration
• Proof of tuition payment
• Bank statements covering the previous three months
• Proof of accessible funds for each study month
• Travel and medical insurance with at least €30,000 cover
• A flight itinerary
• Evidence of accommodation for at least the first 14 nights
• English translations of documents where required

For applicants aged 12 or over, the checklist currently states a €100 standard visa fee or €150 for the extended appointment service. Identità also advises that an additional VFS administration fee of approximately €150 may apply.

Processing time varies by application and season. GBS Malta recommends applying three months, or around 12 weeks, before the course begins. Starting early creates time to translate documents, organise sponsorship evidence and correct any inconsistencies.

GBS Malta provides further information through its visa assistance service. Immigration rules and charges can change, so students should confirm the latest requirements with Identità and VFS before paying or booking travel.

Can Brazilian students work while studying?

Eligible third-country students may work part-time in Malta once the necessary residence and employment permissions have been issued. Identità currently sets a maximum of 20 hours per week, while Jobsplus states that an Employment Licence is required.

Part-time work can help a student gain experience and supplement a budget, but it should not be treated as the main source of tuition or living funds. A job may take time to secure, and permission is not automatic.

A better financial plan assumes no employment income during the first months. Any later earnings can then support additional expenses rather than rescue an underfunded budget.

Career opportunities after studying in Malta

Malta’s labour market is smaller than Brazil’s, but official data shows activity across several sectors.

The National Statistics Office’s Job Vacancy Survey recorded 9,619 vacancies in the second quarter of 2026. More than half were found across wholesale and retail, transport and storage, accommodation and food services, and professional, scientific, technical, administrative and support activities. The private sector represented 96% of vacancies.

These figures indicate where recruitment activity exists; they do not guarantee a job for any graduate. Career prospects depend on student qualifications, skills, experience, English ability and legal permission to work.

Brazilian students can strengthen their position by:

• Choosing a programme connected with a clear professional direction
• Developing confident written and spoken English
• Building evidence of practical projects and technical skills
• Attending careers events and employer sessions
• Adapting a CV to European recruitment conventions
• Learning how work and residence permits apply after graduation

Students considering employment after their course can read GBS Malta’s guide to the post-study work visa in Malta. Current rules should always be confirmed with the Maltese authorities before making career plans.

Turning the move from Brazil into a practical plan with GBS Malta

For a Brazilian student, the value of a programme is not simply the course title. It is the relationship between tuition, time, skills and the opportunities the qualification may support.

GBS Malta currently offers bachelor’s programmes at €6,000 per year and the full-time postgraduate programmes reviewed above at €10,000 per year. This gives students a clear tuition figure to place alongside their living-costs and currency calculations.

The programme choice can then follow the career objective. A student interested in the digital industries might compare computer science and IT management routes. Someone focused on leadership could examine business management or the MBA, while health-focused students can explore undergraduate health and social care or postgraduate public health.

Moving from Brazil also means building a new social circle. GBS Malta’s account of cultural diversity on campus offers a closer look at how students from different backgrounds learn and connect. That sense of belonging matters: it can influence whether a student asks for help, joins group activities and begins building a professional network.

The strongest plan brings these pieces together: select the right programme, calculate the full cost, prepare the visa application early and start developing career-relevant skills from the first term.

Ready to turn your plans into a realistic course and budget? Contact the GBS Malta team at enquiries@gbs.edu.mt to discuss your study options.