Friday, 18th July 2008 - 10:37CET

Growing number of Maltese at UK universities

The number of Maltese students following under-graduate and post-graduate studies in the UK in 2006/2007 rose by 7 percent over the previous year to reach 835, the British Council said. In contrast, only 390 Maltese
students were registered in the UK in 2003/2004.

The Council said the majority of Maltese students are studying at postgraduate level (600+). While still relatively low, the number of Maltese students registered in the UK at undergraduate level (i.e. 3 year courses) is increasing (200+).

"The growth has been driven predominantly by enrolments in non-traditional subject areas such as the Creative Arts and industry-related subjects," the Council said.

The Council added that there were indications that Maltese students tend to 'cluster' in the same universities. For example, a majority are studying education in Sheffield; medicine in Ulster; engineering in Southampton
and Brunel.

The top three subject areas for Maltese students in the UK are medicine, business and administrative studies and engineering and technology.

Requests for more detailed information should be submitted in writing to information@britishcouncil.org.mt

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 8, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

G Borg (on 18/7/08)

Where are the large number of people shouting for fines for all those newly graduated doctors who are seeking better post graduate training and education abroad?

Shouldn't they come shouting in this article, asking for the fines to be extended to other areas of studies?

Or are we just discrimanting against doctors?

Don't Get me wrong, I agree very much with post graduate, and undergraduate studies with foreign universities.

What I don't understand is the prejudice of the general public against newly graduated doctors, as opposed to other areas of studies with regards to post graduate training

Claire Farrugia (on 18/7/08)

Tuition fees in Germany are much cheaper than in England or the US, during my studies I just paid 50 Euros per Semester (in one year there are two Semesters). So I studied almost for free and in the weekends I could earn enough money to finance my studies and living costs (which are also quite cheap in Germany, especially as a student). Since one year, most universities have included a fee of 500 Euros per Semester, but this is still cheaper than English universities.

Odette Longo (on 18/7/08)

Another reason locals opt for a UK university is that although they would have earned good grades, they would have failed Maltese. Furthermore, now that we are in the EU, local students can take a UK loan for tuition... that is interest free (only the rate of inflation is added). They do not have to start paying this back until they are earning Sterling 15,000 per annum. Tuition fees for "regular" courses... (not medicine and such)... are about Sterling 3,200 per annum. Courses are usually 3yrs long and 4 yrs for a masters.
For Maltese students attending university in Scotland.... tuition is FREE.

Steve Bonello (on 18/7/08)

Having also carried out my postgraduate studies in Germany, I agree completely with Claire Farrugia and would join her in strongly encouraging students to include universities on mainland Europe in their search for a suitable institute for their studies.

The thought of considerably improving a secondary language may seem daunting at first, however it will prove to be an asset since if one wants to work in a european environment, one's lingustic skills will be as valuable as their academic ones.

LINA CARUANA (on 18/7/08)

It is more likely that students follow the same patterns of other students or heads before them. they would be likely to be advised about universities which are known from experience . that is the reason they would cluster in the same places. When i n was there in 1970 ,Bristol was a preferred choice for many Maltese students taking education ,psychology .Bristol was also preferred for engineering and Public Health ..

Claire Farrugia (on 18/7/08)

I did my postgraduate studies in Germany, in 1999 I received a scholarship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the first two years in Germany. I would like to encourage more Maltese to do their studies in Germany, I was the only Maltese for 5 and a half years at my university and quite an exotic here. I don't know of any Maltese who studied here before me, the last one I know of graduated 30 years ago. I find that more Maltese should study in French, Italian and German universities, these are languages we learn at secondary level in most Maltese school and should also be encouraged.

Growing number of Maltese at UK universities

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