Certificate in Foundation Studies in Engineering and ICT

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

1 Year

62 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time

The Certificate in Foundation Studies in Engineering and ICT will provide you with the knowledge, personal and inter-personal skills and organisational framework, upon which to base your future undergraduate studies in Engineering / ICT / Built Environment / Design and Technology studies. The aim of the course is to provide you with the knowledge base, transferable skills, linguistic skills and general competence to allow you to progress successfully onto the University of Malta's undergraduate Engineering, ICT, Built Environment and Design and Technology courses. The course offers specific training and support in those core science and English areas where you will require further assistance. The course will provide teaching in the subject areas of mathematics, physics, computer science (including programming), graphical communication and English. The course will include continuous assessments to help you build up a realistic profile of your competent and acquired abilities.

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Information for International applicants

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

The Course shall be open to all applicants who:

present a secondary and/or high school certificate issued abroad and who studied within an educational system that is not comparable to the Maltese educational system (in terms of curriculum, years of study, etc.) and
satisfy the University English language requirement as published on the University official website at the time of applications and
are in possession of qualifications allowing access to an undergraduate course in the selected discipline in the country where such qualifications originate, but
are deemed to require further study to be admitted to undergraduate degree courses at the University of Malta.

At the discretion of the Board, applicants shall be required to pass an interview and/or a written test.

Applicants who are deemed ineligible to join the Course may be allowed by the Board to enrol as students in the Foundation Commencement Programme which is detailed in Appendix I to the regulations for the Course.

EU, non-EU and Maltese dual citizens who previously studied abroad and then join higher secondary schools in Malta for more than one year shall not be admitted to the Course.

You are viewing the entry requirements for International applicants. Switch to Local qualifications.

You can submit your application online. The deadlines for submission of applications vary according to the intake and courses. We encourage all international applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. This is especially important if you require a visa to travel and eventually stay in Malta.

You can compare your national qualifications to the local requirements by visiting our qualifications comparability webpage. Access more information about our admission process and English language requirements.

The University of Malta has student accommodation on campus called Campus Hub. Campus Hub is just a 2-minute walk from the main campus. For more information, visit the accommodation website.

Our dedicated team at the student recruitment office is here to support you every step of the way. From the moment you start your application to the moment when you receive your decision letter, we're here to assist you. If you have any questions or need further information, don't hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us at info@um.edu.mt, and our team will be more than happy to help.

After you receive an offer from us, our International Office will assist you with visas, accommodation and other related issues.


Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

FST0121	Technical and Academic English Writing	5 ECTS
FST0122	Technical and Academic English Reading	5 ECTS
FST0412	Introduction to Computer Systems and Programming	5 ECTS
FST0511	Research and Reasoning	2 ECTS
IFS0125	Technical and Academic English Listening	5 ECTS
IFS0126	English Grammar and Logic	5 ECTS


Semester 1

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

IFS0011	Algebraic Techniques, Trigonometry and Vectors	5 ECTS
IFS0014	Calculus and Numerical Methods	5 ECTS

The following study-unit is compulsory only for students who wish to specialise in Engineering or to follow the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Technical Design and Technology:

FST0414	Principles of Classical Mechanics, Waves and Optics	5 ECTS

The following study-unit is compulsory only for students who wish to specialise in ICT:

IFS0428	Principles of Motion, Moments and Waves	5 ECTS


Semester 2

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

IFS0012	Coordinate Geometry, Matrices and Probability	5 ECTS
IFS0013	Complex Numbers, Functions and Series	5 ECTS

The following study-units are compulsory only for students who wish to specialise in Engineering:

FST0411	Principles of Electrical Circuit Theory and Electromagnetism	5 ECTS
FST0413	Principles of Thermodynamics	5 ECTS

The following study-units are compulsory only for students who wish to specialise in ICT:

IFS0410	Advanced Programming and System Design	5 ECTS
IFS0429	Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits and Electromagnetism	5 ECTS

The following study-units are compulsory only for students who wish to follow the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Technical Design and Technology:

FST0411	Principles of Electrical Circuit Theory and Electromagnetism	5 ECTS
IFS0420	Principles of Graphical Communication	5 ECTS

This programme of study is governed by the Certificate in Foundation Studies Course Regulations, 2014 under the auspices of the International School for Foundation Studies.

The course will provide you with:

A sound scientific knowledge of mathematics, physics, computer science and programming and graphical communication;
The reading, writing, listening and critical thinking skills necessary to function effectively as a student of Engineering, ICT, Built Environment and Design and Technology at the University of Malta;
Training to apply scientific reasoning skills to the evaluation of physical results;
Grounding in the use of grammar and logic together to precisely understand questions in English and differentiate between similar statements and ideas;
An understanding of how to apply formal logic to scientific problems; and
Opportunities to think and reason more effectively in the abstract.

Non EU Applicants:

Total Tuition Fees: Eur 6,600

You are viewing the fees for non EU nationals. Switch to EU nationals if you are a national of any country from within the EU/EEA.

As a certificate holder, you will be eligible to apply for the following courses at the University of Malta:

B.Eng. (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (4 year degree)
B.Eng. (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (4 year degree)
B.Sc. (Hons) in Computer Engineering (3 year degree)
B.Sc. (Hons) in Computing Science (3 year degree)
B.Sc. IT (Hons) in Computing and Business (3 year degree)
B.Sc. IT (Hons) in Software Development (3 year degree)
Diploma in Design Foundation Studies (1 year degree) ֠to lead to B.Sc. (Hons.) in Built Environment Studies (3 year degree)
B.Sc. (Hons) in Technical Design and Technology (3 year degree)

Every effort has been made to provide information that is current and accurate. However, as the content is being constantly updated, users are advised to verify the details contained in these web pages with the relevant University office or authority before making decisions based on the published information.