Deadline for application
The deadline forapplications for international (this includes EU) students is usually in May.This year for instance it was mid May. This is too early, since some of thestudents are still sitting for their examinations during that time period.Hence, they do not even know their results whilst they apply for university.
International office understaffed
Employees of theInternational office at the Universityof Malta areunderstaffed. This is particularly noticeable during the Freshers week whenthere are long queues of students waiting for the final documents to be sortedout. As regards the faculties; timetables change too many a time during thefirst month of the academic year. Rooms are overcrowded. Students who comelate, i.e. 5 minutes before the lecture starts do not have place where to sit.They are made to sit down on the floor or they have to stand up for the entireduration of the lecture, please note that some lectures last 2 hours.
Accommodation
International Studentsare made to stay for the first semester at least at the University residence inLija. This idea is very good since students are given the opportunity to staytogether and get to know each better. However, there are several problems. Inparticular, the price that students pay is above that of renting a 1 bedroomflat for that period of time. If they stay at the University Residence theyhave to share ‘their’ flat with 5 other students in 3 bedrooms, unless theydecide to live in the farmhouse.
Quality assurance
Since there is noNational Quality Assurance body that regularly checks/reviews the contents ofthe courses students from foreign countries might doubt the quality of thedegree that they will obtain once they graduate from University of Malta.
Work permits
International students (NONEU) are not allowed to take up any form of employment whilst they read for adegree at the UoM. This is a disincentive for such students, since in othercountries there is a special legislation dealing with work permits forinternational students who follow a full time course at such universities. Oncetheir course ends their work permits will be withheld.
Results (time when they come out)
Results do not have afixed date by which they have come out. Some results do not even come out afterthe start of the new academic year!!! This is a major problem especially for allthose students who return to their home country for the summer recess. They donot know if they can proceed onto the next academic year or if they have toundertake re – sits.
This article was written during my first year in KSU (2003/4)
