University of London offers full-time courses in Malta

The University of London is to offer full-time degree courses in Malta, in a joint initiative with St Martin's Institute, in Hamrun.

Maltese or foreign students will be able to study for one of a number of degrees on offer by attending lectures, presenting assignments and sitting for exams in Malta "without having to go to London," the institute's principal, Charles Theuma, said yesterday.

The degrees include some of those offered by the prestigious London School of Economics.

Mr Theuma said the university wanted to use Malta as a hub for the region.

"Our intention is to attract foreign students. If a foreign student studies for a degree at the LSE it will cost him £12,500 annually. The same degree in Malta will cost just £3,000 annually. One also has to take into account that it costs much more to live in London than in Malta."

Mr Theuma said the institute and the University of London had engaged a network of agents to attract foreign students.

The institute has been organising part-time degrees with the university, focusing on information technology, for a number of years.

"The feedback from Maltese students has been extremely encouraging and we have had a 100 per cent pass rate. Now we believe it's time for a quality leap."

The institute will organise full-time LSE BSc (Hons) degree courses in business, management, economics and management, and information systems and management, as well as University of London courses in computing and information systems. A part-time BA (Hons) degree in English is also being offered.

Mr Theuma said the institute and the University of London would announce full details of the venture today.