POST-SECONDARY AND TERTIARY 
STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS g S.L.327.178 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.178
POST-SECONDARY AND TERTIARY STUDENTS 
MAINTENANCE GRANTS REGULATIONS
1st October, 1999
LEGAL NOTICE 165 of 1999, as amended by Legal Notices 171 of 1999,
180 of 2000, 193 of 2001 and 204 of 2003.
Citation, 
applicability and 
commencement.
Amended by:
L.N. 204 of 2003.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Post-Secondary and
Tertiary Students Maintenance Grants Regulations.
(2) ( a ) Save as provided hereunder, these regulations shall
apply to:
(i) full-time students joining post-secondary
courses on or after the 1st October, 1999, as
indicated in Part I of the Schedule;
(ii) full-time students joining the University of
Malta on or after the 1st October, 1999 to follow
an undergraduate course as indicated in Part II
of the Schedule;
(iii) full-time students joining the University of
Malta on or after the 1st October, 1999, to
follow any one of the post-graduate degree
courses indicated in Part II of the Schedule.
( b ) Such full-time students as are mentioned in paragraph
( a ) hereof who continue their course of studies or part
of it overseas under schemes approved by the Minister
shall continue to be entitled to a student maintenance
grant as provided hereunder.
( c ) These regulations shall come into effect on the 1st
September, 2003.
Interpretation.
"the Board" means the Students Maintenance Grants
Management Board set up in terms of regulation 17;
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for education;
"maintenance grant" means the financial benefits paid to post-
secondary and tertiary students to facilitate and promote the
continuation of the pursuit of all forms of full-time post-secondary
education.
Part I: Eligibility to a Maintenance Grant by Post-Secondary 
Students
Maintenance grant 
of post-secondary 
students.
3. A maintenance grant shall be paid to full-time students
who have registered and been accepted to a course of studies as
indicated in Part I of the Schedule, and who -
( a ) are Maltese citizens, or students with at least one
parent being a Maltese citizen; and
( b ) have resided in Malta for a period of not less than five
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STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS
years from the date of commencement of the relative
course of studies; and
( c ) have completed their term of compulsory education;
and
( d ) are attending their course regularly and making
satisfactory progress:
Provided that students who are required to repeat a year of
their chosen course of studies, shall not be entitled to a
maintenance grant during the year that they repeat:
Provided further that students who have an element of
remunerated work as part of their course, shall receive a pro-rated
maintenance grant applicable only for those non-remunerated
periods of study within their course:
Provided further that, students whose progress (as assessed
through periodical assessment procedures) are deemed to be
unsatisfactory, or who are not attending this course regularly, shall
forfeit the right to receive the maintenance grant until such time as
the Head of the course concerned certifies that such students have
resumed satisfactory progress or that they are attending regularly:
Provided further that, students may be allowed to receive
other remuneration if it is declared in writing by the competent
educational authorities that the work performed does not interfere
with their duties as full-time students, and that when permission is
granted, in the case that the remuneration for that work exceeds the
sum of the maintenance grant, an amount equivalent to the
difference between the remuneration for the work and the amount
paid as maintenance grant shall be deducted from the maintenance
grant. Moreover, if students performing any other remunerated
work fail to make such declaration and/or fail to declare the correct
amount of remuneration received, they shall forfeit the right of
receiving a maintenance grant during that academic year.
Rates of 
maintenance grant 
for post-secondary 
students.
4. Students who qualify for a maintenance grant under the
preceding regulation shall be paid the maintenance grant as
prescribed in Part I of the Schedule.
Special 
maintenance grant.
5. The Minister may, in concurrence with the Minister
responsible for finance, prescribe in Part I of the Schedule, those
courses for which a special maintenance grant may be paid.
Supplementary 
maintenance grant.
6. Students who, due to proven hardship, are deemed by the
Board to qualify for a supplementary maintenance grant, shall
receive an additional fixed monthly rate as indicated in Part I of the
Schedule.
Periods of 
payment.
7. (1) The fixed monthly part of the maintenance grant is paid
during the academic year, including the Christmas and Easter
recesses, but excluding the Summer recess.
(2) Where the structure of particular courses so warrant, the
Minister may approve the payment of a maintenance grant during
the Summer recess.
Part II: Eligibility to a Maintenance Grant by University Students
POST-SECONDARY AND TERTIARY 
STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS g S.L.327.178 3
Maintenance grant 
of University 
students.
8. A maintenance grant shall be paid to students who have
registered and been accepted by the University of Malta as regular
students for a full-time day course in a course of studies as
indicated in Part II of the Schedule, who -
( a ) are Maltese citizens; and
( b ) have resided in Malta for a period of not less than five
years from the date of commencement of the relative
course of studies; and
( c ) are not more than 30 years of age at the
commencement of the course; and
( d ) are attending regularly and are making satisfactory
progress:
Provided that students who are over 30 years of age at the
commencement of the course and who satisfy the above conditions
may, in exceptional cases, qualify for a maintenance grant where
the students are the principal breadwinners in a household and the
Board deems that they are deserving of a maintenance grant:
Provided further that students who are required to repeat a
year of their chosen course of studies, shall not be entitled to an
allowance during the year that they repeat:
Provided further that, students whose progress (as assessed
through periodical assessment procedures) are deemed to be
unsatisfactory, or who are not attending their course regularly, shall
forfeit the right to receive the maintenance grant until such time as
the University of Malta certifies that such students have resumed
satisfactory progress or that they are attending regularly:
Provided further that, students may be allowed to receive
other remuneration if it is declared in writing by the University
authorities that the work performed does not interfere with their
duties as full-time students, and that when permission is granted, in
the case that the remuneration for that work exceeds the sum of the
maintenance grant, an amount equivalent to the difference between
the remuneration for the work and the amount paid as maintenance
grant shall be deducted from the maintenance grant. Moreover, if
students performing any other remunerated work fail to make such
declaration and/or fail to declare the correct amount of
remuneration received, they shall forfeit the right of receiving a
maintenance grant during that academic year.
Rates of 
maintenance grant 
for University 
students.
9. Students who qualify for a maintenance grant under the
preceding regulation shall be paid the maintenance grant as
prescribed in Part II of the Schedule.
Maintenance grant 
to undergraduate 
students.
10. There shall be paid the maintenance grant indicated in Part
II(A) of the Schedule to students following University
undergraduate courses.
Supplementary 
maintenance grant.
11. Students who, due to proven hardship, are deemed by the
Board to qualify for a supplementary maintenance grant, shall
receive an additional fixed monthly rate as indicated in Part II of
the Schedule.
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STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS
Special 
maintenance grant.
12. The Minister may, in concurrence with the Minister
responsible for finance, prescribe in Part II(B) of the Schedule,
those courses for which a special maintenance grant may be paid.
Maintenance grant 
to post-graduate 
students.
13. There shall be paid the maintenance grant indicated in Part
II(C) of the Schedule to students following post-graduate courses at
the University of Malta.
Minister to publish 
notice.
14. The Minister shall, in June of every year, publish a notice
in the Gazette indicating those fields where there is a proven
shortage of qualified human resources and listing those University
post-graduate courses scheduled to start the following October in
such fields of studies for which students will be entitled to a
maintenance grant. The said notice may also indicate the number of
places in each particular post-graduate course for which a
maintenance grant shall be paid.
Periods of 
payment.
15. (1) The fixed monthly part of the maintenance grant is
paid during the academic year, including the Christmas and Easter
recesses, but excluding the Summer recess.
(2) Where the structure of particular courses so warrant, the
Minister may approve the payment of a maintenance grant during
the Summer recess.
Part III: Students Maintenance Grants Board
Establishment of 
Board.
16. A Students Maintenance Grants Board shall be established
to manage the allocation of maintenance grants to students at post-
secondary and tertiary levels and to make policy recommendations.
Composition of 
Board.
Amended by:
L.N. 204 of 2003.
17. The Board shall be appointed by the Minister and shall be
composed of:
( a ) a Chairperson;
( b ) a member representing the Education Division;
( c ) a member nominated by the Minister responsible for
finance;
( d ) a member nominated by the Employment and Training
Corporation;
( e ) a member nominated by the Rector of the University
of Malta;
( f ) a member nominated by the Principal of the Malta
College of Arts, Science , and Technology;
( g ) a member nominated by the Kunsill Studenti
Universitarji (KSU);
( h ) a member chosen from amongst members of post-
secondary Students’ Councils;
( i ) a secretary.
Staffing of Board. 18. The Board shall ensure the necessary levels and
complement of administrative personnel that will enable it to fulfil
its duties effectively and efficiently.
Functions of the 
Board.
19. The functions of the Board shall be to:
( a ) manage and monitor the effective allocation and
POST-SECONDARY AND TERTIARY 
STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS g S.L.327.178 5
payment of maintenance grants to students at post-
secondary and tertiary levels;
( b ) formulate and regularly review procedures regarding
the assessment, allocation, payment and entitlements
for the receipt of maintenance grants;
( c ) establish the criteria and assess, decide and review
applications for a supplementary maintenance grant, as
prescribed in the Schedule, submitted by students in
cases of special financial hardship;
( d ) consider reports received from the competent
educational authorities regarding the students’
academic progress and to apply sanctions when the
minimum requirements are not achieved;
( e ) monitor any other remuneration paid directly to
students for work approved under the provisos to
regulations 3 and 8 hereof;
( f ) subcontract services from other entities when it is
more cost-effective and efficient for the better
management and payment of the students maintenance
grants, especially those parts of the grants which are
intended to cover expenses related to the purchase of
educational materials and equipment;
( g ) plan and implement in a cost effective manner any
students work experience scheme that the Minister
may, from time to time, decide to provide;
( h ) recommend changes to the national policy on post-
secondary and tertiary educational financial support.
General provision 
regarding courses 
at the same level.
20. Students pursuing a second or subsequent course after
having completed or partially followed another course at the same
level, shall not be entitled to receive a maintenance grant for that
period of time that is equivalent to the period spent in the previous
course, if for that previous course they were in receipt of a
maintenance grant. Such students shall only be entitled to a
maintenance grant for the remaining period of time after
termination of the first period without a maintenance grant:
Provided that a course progressing from a diploma to a
general degree level, or from a general degree to an honours level,
or from a degree to a doctorate in Laws or in Medicine and Surgery
shall not be deemed to be a second or subsequent course for the
purposes of this regulation.
Maintenance grant 
in special 
circumstances.
21. Notwithstanding the provisions of these regulations, the
Minister may, in special circumstances and on the advice of the
Board, order an issue of the maintenance grant according to the
Schedule, to a student who is not eligible for such a grant under
these regulations, but who is following one of the courses indicated
in the Schedule.
Students on paid 
study leave or 
under contract.
22. Students who follow one of the courses indicated in the
Schedule, whilst they are on paid study leave by their employer for
the purposes of a course of studies, or who accept an offer to enter
into a contract with an employer whereby they bind themselves to
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STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS
work for that employer following the completion of their course,
and who would therefore benefit from that pay or the agreed
remuneration, will be entitled to that pay or remuneration in lieu of
the maintenance grant as provided for in the Schedule.
Transitory 
provisions.
23. (1) Full-time students who joined a recognised Sixth Form
course prior to the 1st October, 1999 and who shall be completing
their second year of such a course shall continue to be eligible to
the monthly allowance provided for in the Sixth Form Students
(Rate of Allowance) Regulations, 1996.
(2) All other students who have joined a University of Malta
course prior to the 1st October 1997 and who were in receipt of a
stipend under the University Students (Revised Rates of Stipends)
Regulations, 1994, shall continue to be eligible for such a stipend.
POST-SECONDARY AND TERTIARY 
STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS g S.L.327.178 7
Amended by:
L.N. 171 of 1999;
L.N. 180 of 2000;
L.N. 193 of 2001;
L.N. 204 of 2003.
SCHEDULE
Maintenance Grants of Students in Post Secondary and Tertiary 
Education
Part I: Post-Secondary Students
Students who, under the terms established under regulation 3,
have completed a term of compulsory education, and are following
any one of the following full-time courses in approved post-
secondary educational institutions, qualify for the following
maintenance grant for the duration of the course of studies:
Post-Secondary Full-time 
Courses
Student Maintenance Grant
- Certificate in Banking and
Financial Services
- Certificate in
Administrative and
Secretarial Studies
Students shall receive a
maintenance grant to be paid in
the following way:
1. A fixed rate of Lm40 per
month, payable to students
between the 1st of October
and the 30th of June for
the duration of their
course of studies except
for courses offered by the
Malta College of Arts,
Science and Technology;
- MCAST Certificate in
Retailing
- Certificate in Insurance
Studies
- Certificate in Marketing
Studies
- MCAST/BTEC National
Certificate in Business
- Accounting Technician
Certificate
- Matriculation Certificate
Course
- MCAST Intermediate
Certificate in Business
- MCAST/BTEC Higher
National Diploma in
Business
- Certificate in Hairdressing
- ITEC Diploma for Beauty
Specialists
- MCAST/BTEC First
Diploma in Care
- MCAST/BTEC Diploma
Early Years
- MCAST/BTEC First
Diploma in Health Services
- MCAST/BTEC First
Diploma in Sports and
Exercises Science
2. In the case of students
attending courses at the
Malta College College of
Arts, Science and
Technology, a fixed rate
of Lm40 per month,
payable to students betwe
course of studies.
2. Lm100 made available
once every scholastic year
for the duration of the
course of studies, to partly
cover expenses related to
educational materials and
equipment.
A Supplementary
Maintenance Grant of Lm20 a
month shall be paid in terms of
regulation 6.
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STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS
Part II: University Students
A. Undergraduate Students
Students who, under the terms established under regulation 8, are
following a full-time undergraduate degree course at the University
of Malta, qualify for the following maintenance grant for the
duration of the course of studies:
- OIC Navigational Watch
- OIC Engineering Watch
- Chief Mate
- Second Engineer
- Master Mariner
- Chief Engineer
- MCAST/BTEC First
Diploma for IT
Practitioners
- MCAST/BTEC National
Diploma for IT
Practitioners
- MCAST/BTEC Higher
National Diploma in
Computing
Courses Student Maintenance Grant
Full-time diploma, degree,
LL.D. and M.D. courses offered
by the University of Malta
according to its Statutes.
Students shall receive a
maintenance grant to be paid in
the following way:
1. A fixed rate of Lm60 per
month, payable to
students between the 1st
of October and the 30th of
June for the duration of
their course of studies;
Full-time Degree courses
offered by the Institute for
Conservation and Restoration
Studies of the National Centre
for Restoration.
2. Lm200 per academic
year, to partly cover
expenses related to
educational materials;
3. Lm400 paid on a once-
only basis to partly cover
expenses related to the
purchase of educational
equipment.
A Supplementary
Maintenance Grant of Lm60 a
month shall be paid in terms of
regulation 11.
POST-SECONDARY AND TERTIARY 
STUDENTS MAINTENANCE GRANTS g S.L.327.178 9
B. Special Maintenance Grant
Students who, under the terms established under regulation 12
are pursuing a full-time course at the University of Malta from
amongst the courses listed hereunder, qualify for the following
special maintenance grant for the duration of the course of studies:
C. Post-Graduate Students
Full-time students who, in accordance with regulations 13 and
14, are following University post-graduate degree courses shall, for
the duration of their course of studies, be paid a maintenance grant
in the following way:
( a ) a fixed rate of Lm60 per month for the duration of
their course of studies; and
( b ) if, due to proven hardship, a student is deemed by the
Board to qualify, for a Supplementary Maintenance
Grant, such a student shall receive an additional rate of
Lm60 a month.
Course Student Maintenance Grant
- B.A. (Hons.) Public Policy;
- B.Eng. (Hons.) Electrical
Engineering
Students shall receive a
maintenance grant to be paid in
the following way:
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Maths and
Computer Science
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Maths and
Informatics
- B.Sc. Business and
Computing
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Information
Technology
1. A fixed rate of Lm90 per
month, payable to students
between the 1st of October
and the 30th of June for
the duration of their
course of studies;
2. Lm200 per academic year,
to partly cover expenses
related to educational
materials;
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing
Studies
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Midwifery
Studies
3. Lm400 paid on a once-
only basis to partly cover
expenses related to the
purchase of educational
equipment.
- B.Sc. (Hons.)
Communication Therapy
- B.Sc. Medical Laboratory
Science
- B.Sc. Radiography
- B.Sc. Physiotherapy
- Diploma in Nursing
- Diploma in Midwifery
A Supplementary
Maintenance Grant of Lm60 a
month shall be paid in terms of
regulation 11.
