Minister for Education Justyne Caruana announced several amendments in the Students’ Maintenance Grants Scheme, a government scheme for students who choose to continue their studies in higher education. Students Maintenance Grants are given to eligible students as a form of extra support, in addition to the stipend also distributed by the government.
Among the amendments announced there is the possibility to waive the means testing extended to students who are residing in residential care; and the option for full-time students – considered to be eligible in accordance with the applicable regulations – who follow a course of further and/or higher education, to apply for such grants once in their first year of studies, rather than applying annually. Furthermore, students who pursue the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Sciences (Intercalated Year) and students who, after following this course, continue their studies as third year students in the Doctor of Medicine course, shall be eligible to receive the maintenance grant.
“As a ministry it is our priority to continue to help students in their educative journey. This government has always supported those students who continue with their studies and therefore we felt that these amendments are necessary to continue to incentivise our students”, said Minister Caruana.
Minister Caruana also announced that grants will now also be extended to students who are accepted by the relative educational institution to pursue a repeat year or an extension year. “This government introduced the stipend for repeaters and now this grant has also been similarly extended. We want to encourage students not to give up and that is why we are making this change to incentivise them to continue their studies”, continued the minister.
Foreign students who choose our country to continue their educational journey will also have the opportunity to apply for these maintenance grants. “Through this initiative, our country will become more attractive for foreign students to choose Malta to further their studies”, added the minister.
Non-Maltese/Non-EU citizen students applying for maintenance grants shall apply for an exemption of fees at the ministry after they apply for a programme or course of study within their institution. If the application gets approved the students may be considered eligible for the maintenance grants.
