More than 18,000 students pursuing post-secondary, vocational and tertiary education are expected to benefit from government stipends and grants during the new academic year, with applications opening online.
Education and Sport Minister Byron Camilleri said the government was investing more than €40 million annually in direct financial assistance to students, with the number of eligible beneficiaries increasing by an average of around 300 each year.
"This is not just an investment of more than €40 million, but a direct investment in our young people and their future," Camilleri said, adding that the government wanted to ensure that students who wished to continue their education had the opportunity to do so.
During the 2025/2026 academic year, more than 16,600 students benefited from stipends and grants. Since January, stipends have increased by 15%, in addition to the cost-of-living adjustment. These increases will continue to apply to eligible students during the new academic year.
Students can qualify for different stipend rates, including the general rate, the prescribed rate and a higher priority rate. The classification of certain courses is reviewed, among other considerations, in light of STEAM-related fields and workforce requirements across different sectors.
The financial assistance available extends beyond regular stipends. Students may also qualify for an annual grant, a one-time grant at the beginning of a tertiary-level course, supplementary stipends for those experiencing difficult circumstances, and assistance for single parents who are raising children while studying.
Additional support includes a Top Up Stipend for students undertaking courses that incorporate apprenticeships, a Free Internet Voucher for those who continue their studies immediately after compulsory education, a Teaching Practice Grant for students training to become educators, and payments covering summer placements for students in health-related fields.
Josephine Sultana, assistant director of Student Maintenance Grants, said more than 18,000 students were expected to apply this year, with the aim of making the application process as clear and efficient as possible.
She urged students to submit their applications on time and ensure that all the information provided was correct, so that they could receive the assistance to which they were entitled as quickly as possible.
Applications must be submitted online through the e-ID system. Students are encouraged to apply between October and the end of December to receive the annual grant as early as possible and benefit from their stipend from the beginning of the academic year.
Those who submit their applications from January 2027 onwards will only be entitled to the stipend and grants due from the date on which their application is submitted.