Accreditation & licensingGuiding your institution through the MFHEA licensing process, ensuring full compliance with Maltese educational standards and successful accreditation.
At Malta Quality Education, we specialize in helping educational institutions navigate the complex process of obtaining MFHEA licensing and accreditation. Our expert team provides step-by-step guidance to ensure your institution complies with Maltese educational regulations, allowing you to focus on delivering exceptional education.
Malta Quality Education – We help educational institutions navigate the complexities of licensing and accreditation, ensuring they meet the highest standards of compliance while leveraging their unique strengths to deliver exceptional learning experiences.
Comprehensive
support
We provide full support throughout the MFHEA licensing process, ensuring your institution meets all regulatory requirements.
Fast-Track
accreditation
We streamline the process to minimize delays and ensure a swift and smooth accreditation.
Resident
Agent
We act as your local representative, managing all communications with regulatory bodies on your behalf.
Compliance
assurance
We ensure your institution fully complies with MFHEA and European educational standards.
How we help you through the licensing & accreditation process
We begin with an in-depth consultation to understand your institution’s needs, current status, and goals. Our team assesses the specific requirements for your MFHEA accreditation and prepares a tailored plan.
Our experts help you gather, prepare, and review all the necessary documentation required for the MFHEA licensing application. We ensure that all paperwork is complete, accurate, and ready for submission.
We handle the submission of your accreditation application to MFHEA, maintaining ongoing communication with regulatory bodies to ensure timely updates and progress.
To ensure your institution is ready for the accreditation process, we conduct internal compliance checks and audits, aligning your policies and procedures with Maltese and European educational standards.
Even after submission, we continue to provide support, following up with MFHEA and addressing any additional requirements or queries to ensure a smooth and successful accreditation.
Types of licenses offered by MFHEA
Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) issues different categories of licenses based on the type and level of educational programs offered by the institution. Below are the main categories of licenses institutions can apply for, depending on the nature of their educational offerings.
University license
A license to operate as a University allows the provider to offer accredited higher education programs, including self-awarded degrees. To be eligible, the provider must be a corporate body and meet the criteria outlined by the MFHEA.
Target: Institutions offering higher education programs at MQF Level 5 and above.
Higher Education Institution license
This license permits the provision of accredited higher education programs that are either self-awarded or awarded by an external body. It includes programs pegged to MQF Level 5 or higher.
Target: Providers focusing on higher education but not classified as universities.
Further Education Institution license
A license to operate as a Further Education Institution allows the provision of further education programs pegged to MQF Levels 1 to 4. The institution must be a corporate body and may offer both self-awarded or externally accredited qualifications.
Target: Institutions offering vocational or general education below tertiary level.
Further Education Centre license
This license is granted to individuals (not corporate bodies) offering accredited further education programs up to MQF Level 4. It does not include the provision of higher education programs.
Target: Small providers or individuals offering specialized or vocational training.
Tuition Centre license
This license allows centers to offer non-compulsory educational courses that are not mapped to the MQF. These courses can cover general education or specific skills development.
Target: Providers offering supplementary education or specific training that does not lead to an accredited qualification.
Timing for licensing process
The timeline provided below offers an approximate guide to the typical steps involved in obtaining an MFHEA license. Please note that this timing is for reference only and may vary depending on the type of license being applied for, the complexity of the educational programs being accredited, and the responsiveness of the institution. While we strive to ensure a smooth and timely process, factors such as additional documentation requests or feedback cycles can extend the duration.
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5–10 days
Application submission
Estimated Time: MFHEA receives and acknowledges the application.
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2 weeks
Administrative vetting of the application
Estimated time: The application undergoes a review to ensure all required documentation is submitted. If anything is missing or incorrect, the applicant will be asked to correct it.
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2 weeks
Issuance of invoices and payment confirmation
Estimated time: After the application is approved, invoices are issued and the payment is processed.
Duration: Approximately 2 weeks to receive invoices and confirm payment. -
Up to 75 days
Start of first step of evaluation process
Estimated time: Once payment is confirmed, the first step of the evaluation process begins with administrative verification of the documents, business plan and financial plan.. An officer is assigned to conduct an initial review.
Duration: Up to 75 days, depending on the license category and financial project. -
20 days
Assignment of expert evaluators
Estimated time: If the first step is successful evaluators will be assigned to evaluate the institution and its programs. The number of evaluators varies depending on the level of education (one to three evaluators for higher levels).
Another invoice will be issued to pay for the licensing and accreditation costs of the programs. -
Variable time
Feedback and corrections
Estimated Time: After evaluation, any required corrections or clarifications must be submitted within 3 months. If no feedback is provided within this period, the application is considered null and void.
Duration: Variable, depending on the time taken to address corrections. -
Conclusion
Conclusion of the process
Estimated time: Once all corrections are made and the application complies with all standards, the licensing process concludes with the issuance of the license.
Total duration: The entire process can take between 6 and 12 months, depending on the quality of the submission and the complexity of the institution.
Fee structures for provider accreditation (Licensing) and programme accreditation
The current MFHEA fee structures for supplier accreditation (licenses) and program accreditation can be viewed by clicking on the buttons below.
Fee Structure for Provider Accreditation
The fee structures for Provider Accreditation are applicable as from 1st January 2024. These are the fees for the administrative fee only, provided by MFHEA, to obtain the license.