Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Nursing

About the course

A 3-year, 180 ECTS honours degree (MQF/EQF Level 6) that prepares students to register as a first-level (general) nurse. MCAST teaches in English, and all notes and textbooks are in English. The course runs at MCAST’s Paola campus and combines about 2,300 hours of theory with 2,300 hours of supervised clinical practice, as required by EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• The university assesses the Irish Leaving Certificate individually and does not publish a fixed Irish requirement. Contact admissions to confirm. The published standard is either an MCAST Advanced Diploma in Health Sciences (or a related diploma) or 2 A-Level passes and 2 Intermediate-Level passes. A background in Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Psychology or Sociology is an advantage. Applicants with non-Maltese qualifications need an MQRIC recognition statement from the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (mfhea.mt).
• Selection: every applicant must pass a mandatory Values Based Interview, and international applicants have a preliminary interview first. You must also pass occupational health screening and provide a clean police conduct certificate. Without these you cannot do clinical placements or finish the course.
• English: MCAST teaches in English and says international candidates must meet its English language certification requirements. It does not publish the exact level on the pages checked, or say whether Irish students are exempt, so ask MCAST whether your Leaving Certificate English is accepted.

Working in Ireland afterwards

NMBI recognises EU/EEA nursing qualifications in a separate step before registration, and places each applicant in one of three groups. G1 is the EU automatic recognition pathway (Directive 2005/36/EC, Annex V), where NMBI only checks your paperwork. G2 is the general system, where NMBI also assesses your qualification, and you may have to complete a compensation measure. G3 covers qualifications outside the Directive. Under EU law, automatic recognition normally applies to general care (adult) nursing degrees listed in Annex V. Specialist qualifications such as psychiatric, children’s or intellectual disability nursing usually go through the general system, but NMBI does not publish a list. Its MyNMBI tool tells you which group you are in. English-language requirements also apply.

How to apply

1. Get your Leaving Certificate recognisedApply to MFHEA for an MQRIC statement on your Leaving Certificate (or predicted qualification) well before the summer application window.
2. Apply in the Main CallIn the 2026 cycle, the Main Call ran from 13 July to 14 August. If you have no Maltese e-ID, email mcast7888@mcast.edu.mt during the Main Call to get the alternative application route. Check the 2027 dates on the MCAST website.
3. Attend the interviewsPrepare for the Values Based Interview (international applicants have a preliminary interview first). No interview dates are published.
4. Complete health and police checksPass the occupational health screening and get a clean police conduct certificate before clinical placements start. The course starts in October.

Costs

• MCAST states that its courses are free for Maltese and EU candidates, so Irish (EU) students should pay no tuition fee. Only non-EU international students pay fees. You pay for your own accommodation and living costs in Malta, and for an MQRIC recognition statement for your Leaving Certificate if a charge applies. Confirm the fee position with MCAST before you apply.

At a glance