The University of Malta currently has 1,073 international students, the highest number ever.

According to the annual report on internationalisation trends at the university, written by Pro-Rector Professor Godfrey Baldacchino, eight per cent of the student population of the 14 faculties are international students.

The Faculties of Medicine & Surgery, Arts and Economics, Management and Accountancy registered the highest number of international students.

Within the University’s institutes, centres and schools, the proportion of international students is even higher: 18 per cent.

The data also shows an increase of international students following doctoral level programmes. The Doctorate in Pharmacy programme was the main contributor to this surge, with numbers doubling over the previous year. 

The reports also revealed more interest by students to undertake exchange study periods overseas when compared to previous years.

A total of 356 university students took up an Erasmus mobility experience, while 14 other students opted to go and study for a semester in a non-EU country. This was 13 per cent higher than the previous year.

The university, in turn, hosted 359 Erasmus students and 41 other students from non-EU countries. This was 12 per cent lower than the previous academic year.

The report attributes these positive results to the development of agency networks in specific feeder countries, along with improved and fine-tuned communication and marketing tools that the University is using to reach out to both local and overseas audiences.