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Malta Ongoing domestic scheme with periodic rule updates — check the current TESS guidelines on the official Maltese government / skills portal

Training Pays Scheme (TESS)

The Training Pays Scheme (TESS) is a Maltese government measure that helps students who self-finance accredited further and higher education recover part of their costs, typically delivered as a tax credit or refund on tuition and related fees. It is administered by Malta's education and skills bodies and is squarely a domestic, residency-based support scheme — it is intended for individuals resident and taxed in Malta who pay for their own MQF-accredited study, across multiple levels. For Sri Lankan applicants this is honestly not an entry scholarship: you cannot use it to fund a move to Malta from Sri Lanka. It becomes relevant only once you are living, studying, and (for the tax-credit route) paying tax in Malta. We include it for completeness because students already in Malta often ask about it. Always confirm the current TESS rules, covered courses, and refund/credit rates with the official Maltese scheme guidance — terms and rates are revised periodically.

Maltese Government (TESS)

Government-funded

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Support

Tax Credit / Fee Refund (rate per scheme)

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Level

Accredited Further & Higher Education

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Eligibility Basis

Malta-resident self-financed study

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Malta Residency / Tax Basis

TESS is for individuals resident in Malta who self-finance accredited study; the tax-credit route requires being taxed in Malta. Sri Lankan applicants without a Malta residency and tax basis do not qualify — this is not an overseas-entry scholarship.

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Accredited MQF Course

The course must be an accredited programme recognised under the Malta Qualifications Framework. Eligible levels span further and higher education; the official guidance lists which courses and levels qualify.

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Self-Financed Fees

Support targets fees you pay yourself. Courses already fully funded by another grant or employer are generally excluded or adjusted. Keep receipts and enrolment evidence for the claim.

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Confirm Current Rules and Rates

Covered courses, refund/credit percentages, and claim mechanics are set by the scheme and updated periodically. Verify all details against the current official TESS guidance before relying on it.

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Confirm you meet the residency/tax basis

First establish that you are resident (and, for the tax-credit route, taxed) in Malta and self-financing an accredited course — this is the threshold for TESS.

Enrol in an eligible accredited course

Register for an MQF-accredited further or higher-education programme that falls within the TESS-covered list, and pay the fees yourself.

Keep documentation and submit the claim

Retain fee receipts, enrolment proof, and completion evidence. Submit the TESS claim through the official channel following the current scheme guidance and timelines.

Receive the tax credit / refund

Approved claims are settled as a tax credit or refund at the rate specified by the scheme for your course and period. Processing timelines follow the official guidance.

Why this matters in Malta

Malta keeps the cost of study low partly through domestic support measures like TESS, which return part of self-financed fees to resident learners. It is a reason living-and-studying costs in Malta can be lower in practice than headline tuition suggests — once you have a Malta residency basis.