Malta is one of the 48 member countries participating in the Bologna Process, which in 1999 embarked on a process to harmonise qualifications in education with an emphasis on Higher Education.

Malta Qualifications Framework

Malta Qualifications Framework

The Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) is the national framework that classifies qualifications according to a set of criteria based on learning outcomes. It aims to make the qualifications system in Malta easier to understand and more transparent at national and international levels. The framework supports the comparability of qualifications and promotes mobility between education and training institutions and sectors more easily.  

The MQF comprises eight levels, defined by learning outcomes, which measure what a student knows and can do across three pillars: knowledge, skills, and competence. These levels serve as neutral reference points applicable to all types of education and training, including general education, vocational education and training, and further education and higher education, as well as learning acquired through formal, non-formal (through organised courses such as micro-credentials in our case awards and informal contexts (recognised through RPL or VNFIL). 

Qualifications within the MQF are defined through learning outcomes and associated credit values (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System-ECTS). The level descriptors establish the expected learning outcomes for each level and indicate the number of ECTS credits normally required for qualifications. In Malta, one credit corresponds to 25 hours of total learning, including a minimum of five contact hours. 

The MQF is referenced to several overarching frameworks, notably the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA). Malta was among the first countries to reference its national framework to these frameworks, enhancing the transparency and recognition of Maltese qualifications internationally. 

All qualifications offered by providers operating within the further and higher education system must be aligned with the MQF level descriptors and credit requirements. Programmes accredited by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), as well as those delivered by self-accrediting institutions, are required to comply with these parameters. 

The MQF also supports lifelong learning and flexible learning pathways, enabling progression between different types and levels of education. It recognises traditional qualifications as well shorter forms of learning opportunities than traditional qualifications, such as awards (equivalent to micro-credentials). 

The referencing of the MQF to European and international frameworks facilitates the recognition of Maltese qualifications abroad and assists in comparing foreign qualifications with those awarded in Malta.