Masters Degree Award

Since 1996, the Government of Malta has been providing financial sponsorship to enable a number of public officers to read for a Masters Degree in specific areas.

The aim of these awards is to further develop the professional competence and enhance the career prospects of successful candidates through distance learning or part-time evening tuition.

Areas identified by the Public Service for sponsorship include Policy, Human Resources Management (including Training and Development), European Studies, and General Management.  

To be eligible for an award, applicants should:

1. hold an appointment in the grade of Principal (Scale 10) or analogous; (scale 17-11 may also apply according to the conditions outlined in the relevant call for applications)

2. be in possession of:

   - a First Degree or a University Diploma in Public Administration, or a University Diploma in a related field, and/or

   - satisfy the entry requirements of the academic institutions;

3. have a minimum of one year full time service with the Government on the closing date of the applications;

4. not be occupying a position at Director level or above. 

5. have been accepted to read for a degree by the institution concerned.

Conditions of Sponsorship

1. Sponsorship will commence with the current academic year in October.

2. The total financial amount awarded will not exceed €8160 for the whole course.

3. The SDO will only authorise payment against invoices which are issued in its name.  The academic institutions requesting payment are to be informed by the successful candidate that those invoice exceeding this amount or, the amount which the SDO declares that is available, will not be honoured.

4. Successful candidates must inform the SDO in writing of the schedule of studies they wish to pursue and the date they aim to graduate.  At the end of each academic year and immediately before graduation the SDO must be provided with a report of progress achieved.

5. Before commencing studies and before any funds are issued, the sponsored officer must sign a form of undertaking, as shown on the Manual on Staff Development in the Public Service, wherein the said officer undertakes to serve Government for five (5) years from the date of completion of studies.

6. Those officers who are chosen for a sponsorship but who have already commenced reading for a degree on their own initiative will benefit, pro-rata from the financial offer and will also be tied pro-rata as regards the number of years to be served.

7. The obligations under the form of undertaking will come into effect once the officer has been informed by the academic institution concerned that s/he has been conferred with a degree.

8. Expenses incurred by Government will have to be refunded if scholarship holder fails to graduate or if s/he quits government employment.  If employment is, for whatever reason, terminated before the beneficiary of the scholarship has worked the full term of the undertaking, the amount has to be refunded pro-rata.