Education Document Translation for Malta

English being an official language shortens the process

The body that determines what higher education and vocational qualifications are worth in Malta is MFHEA. It makes its comparison by placing a foreign degree at a level within the Malta qualifications framework; the outcome, in other words, is not expressed as “equivalent to such-and-such a Maltese degree” but as “corresponds to such-and-such a level”. This approach shares its logic with the UK and Ireland, and is kept separate from professional recognition. If you want to work in a regulated profession, the level comparison alone will not do: a separate application goes to the relevant professional authority.

Malta’s practical advantage is that English is an official language. Documents drawn up in English in Türkiye can be used directly; Turkish documents are translated into English, and no Maltese translation is asked for on top. Compared with multilingual countries, that noticeably simplifies the preparation of documents.

What each document does

The diploma shows the degree, the academic transcript the course load and the duration; the level placement largely follows from those two. Information about the recognised standing of the institution supports the validity of the degree. Course descriptions are asked for only where a detailed comparison by field is needed. A student certificate shows an enrolment still in progress. A language proficiency certificate may also be required in its own right as a condition of application to programmes taught in English.

Language of the document	What has to be done
Document in Turkish	Translation into English with a statement of accuracy
Document drawn up in English	No translation needed, the original is submitted
Bilingual document	Ask the institution what it prefers

The mistake made most often

The commonest problem with applications to Malta is a translation sent without a statement of accuracy. Since there is no sworn translator system, the assurance here is the signed statement of the translator or the office; with no statement, the translation has no identity attached to it and is not accepted. The second frequent problem is the level comparison being taken for professional recognition; the candidate obtains the MFHEA letter but, having made no application to the professional authority, cannot work. The third is leaving out the explanation of the grading scale on the academic transcript.

Where translation fits into the process

The original document is obtained, the certification step is completed in Türkiye, and then the whole text, the certification endorsement included, is translated into English and a statement of accuracy attached. The statement carries the translator’s identity and contact details together with a declaration that the translation is complete and accurate. You can see which form of approval is looked for on which document on our document page, and what other countries do in our country guide.

Which of your documents are already in English

The first step with a Malta file is to separate out which of the documents you hold were drawn up in English to begin with. Many universities in Türkiye issue the academic transcript bilingually, in Turkish and English; some institutions provide an English diploma supplement. Having these translated as well is money spent for nothing. There is one detail to watch, though: where only the English part of a bilingual document is to be read, the text of the seals and endorsements in the Turkish part is expected to be intelligible too. A partial translation may be sufficient in that case.

The second step is to check whether the English document really is official in character. An English transcript drawn up and sealed by the university itself is an official document; an unsigned printout taken from the student information system is not. Seeing the difference between the two at the outset determines whether the file will be accepted.

• Put bilingual documents on a separate list.
• Confirm that the English document bears a seal and a signature.
• Plan a partial translation for endorsements and seals that remain in Turkish.
• Do not confuse a system printout with an official document.

Another feature of the application process in Malta is that the number of institutions is limited and they can be contacted directly. A short message to the international office confirming the list of documents usually produces a quick answer. That exchange should cover not only which documents will be wanted but also what is expected by way of translation; the form the statement takes, and the documents it is required for, can differ from one institution to another.

The difference between a level comparison and professional recognition changes your planning too. If you are only going on to further study, the level comparison and the university offer are enough. If you are thinking of working in a regulated profession after graduating, additional documents such as course descriptions and placement records come into play. Gathering those while you are still studying is far easier than asking for them from Türkiye afterwards.

When a file comes back, asking for the reasons in writing makes the correction a targeted one and reduces the chance of a second refusal.

Malta’s small scale keeps processes moving comparatively quickly; that speed does not mean preparation can be relaxed, however. Institutions send an incomplete file straight back, and the second round does not move at the same pace. Being complete on the first submission is therefore the most realistic accelerator here. Scans of the documents are expected to be legible, the seals visible, and the source document presented alongside the translation. Since the originals may also be called for at the enrolment stage, it is useful to have the documents with you. Candidates close to graduating can start the process early with a provisional graduation letter; when the diploma is printed the file is completed and the timetable holds.

If you have documents in English, the volume to be translated shrinks; separating them out at the start brings the cost down. Take a look at our pricing page, or upload your documents and request a quotation.

This page is meant as guidance; countries’ approval regimes and the document formats they ask for may be updated over time. Because practice can change, take the requirement as it stands at the moment of application.