MFHEA introduces the 2025 framework for accreditation programs. Find out about requirements, procedures and timelines for institutions that intend to offer recognised courses in Malta, including accredited programmes abroad.

In July 2025 the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) presented a new framework for accreditation programmes. This is a major change that redefines the process by which higher education providers in Malta will obtain and maintain official recognition of their courses. The aim is to ensure that every programme, whether new or already active, complies with the standards of the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) and the European Quality Guidelines.

The revision stems from the need to align program accreditation procedures with international best practices, with European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) standards for quality assurance in higher education. The new model introduces nine mandatory standards that cover the entire life cycle of a program: curriculum design, resource planning, teaching and learning methods, student assessment, governance, monitoring of learning outcomes, and continuous improvement mechanisms. For doctoral programs, two specific criteria are added, related to research and academic supervision.

This approach aims to make program accreditation a structured, periodic and data-based process, overcoming the logic of one-off evaluations and promoting constant quality improvement.

Procedures, timelines and new evaluation phases

One of the main innovations introduced by the 2025 framework is the requirement for each institution to submit a Self-Assessment Report (SAR) as an integral part of the application for accreditation programs. The SAR must be drafted in a transparent manner, based on verifiable evidence and include the involvement of students, teachers, administrative staff and external stakeholders. This document is not just a formal requirement: it becomes a tool to demonstrate the institution’s ability to critically analyze its work and identify areas for improvement.

Another significant novelty concerns the on-site visit. The panel of experts appointed by MFHEA will have the task of verifying in the field the correspondence between what is declared in the SAR and the operational reality. This phase includes meetings with academic and administrative staff, students, governance representatives and the direct evaluation of infrastructure. The aim is to obtain a complete and concrete picture of the quality of the programme and the conditions of delivery.

The new system also provides for re-accreditation every five years. It will no longer be enough to obtain initial approval: each program will have to demonstrate over time its ability to maintain the required standards. This periodic review makes it possible to promptly intercept any critical issues and ensure an up-to-date training offer.

In terms of timing, the program accreditation process may take from 12 to 18 months from the time of submission of the application until the final decision. The increase in duration compared to the past is due to the greater articulation of the evaluation phases, which include in-depth documentary analysis, on-site visits and direct discussion with the applicant institution. For this reason, institutions will have to plan their initiatives well in advance, especially in the event of the launch of new courses.

Foreign programmes and the role of internal quality systems

The new framework does not only concern courses designed and developed locally. Already accredited abroad programs  that you intend to offer in Malta will also have to go through the MFHEA process of accreditation programs. In some cases, it will be possible to submit accreditation documentation issued by agencies registered on EQAR to support the request. However, even in the presence of a recognized foreign accreditation, the MFHEA may require a formal verification of alignment with the MQF standards.

In this context, the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC) remains a key point of reference. The MQRIC is responsible for certifying the formal equivalence of a foreign qualification with a level of the MQF, providing a useful basis of recognition during the accreditation process. This is not a substitute for the MFHEA process, but it is an important preliminary step to facilitate the outcome of the assessment.

The 2025 framework also attaches great importance to internal quality assurance systems (IQA). Each institution applying for accreditation programs must demonstrate that it has documented procedures, periodic audits, tools for collecting and analyzing feedback, and ongoing staff training activities. This approach ensures that quality is not just the result of external auditing, but a practice rooted in the day-to-day management of the institution.

Institutions already accredited by MFHEA can see this update as an opportunity to strengthen their reputation and demonstrate compliance with international standards. At the same time, they must be prepared to invest in strategic planning, documentation and governance, to successfully address every step of the program accreditation process.