Malta, Italy and Cyprus are three of Eduvisa's most popular destinations — and the most common question students ask is: which one is right for me?
The honest answer depends on your budget, your programme, and how long you want to stay in Europe after graduation. Here is how each country stacks up on the factors that actually matter.
Cost of studying and living
Italy has the most publicly documented tuition structure. Government universities charge between €900 and €4,000 per year depending on your income declaration. Living costs in cities like Bologna, Palermo or Messina run around €600–900 per month. The financial proof requirement is €10,179 per year, which must be shown at the consulate in Dhaka.
Malta is more compact and more expensive per square metre. Tuition at MCAST (the main public institution) is heavily subsidised — often under €3,000 per year. Private universities cost more. Living expenses in Malta average around €700–1,000 per month, partly because the island imports most of its food and goods.
Cyprus sits in the middle. Tuition ranges from €3,000 to €8,000 depending on the university and programme. Limassol and Nicosia are affordable by European standards — expect €600–900 per month for a student lifestyle.
Visa process
Italy has fixed intake windows with hard deadlines. The Universitaly portal opens and closes — miss the 31 January deadline for the February intake and you wait until the next cycle. Processing a Type D student visa from Dhaka takes two to three months on average.
Malta's visa is processed through the Maltese High Commission in Dhaka. The timeline is similar to Italy — roughly two to three months. Admission decisions from Maltese universities come faster, which helps.
Cyprus is technically not in Schengen. Bangladeshi students apply for a Cyprus National Visa through VFS Global in Gulshan, which then routes to the High Commission of Cyprus in New Delhi. This is a point of confusion for many families — you do not apply in person at a Cyprus embassy because there is none in Bangladesh.
Language of instruction
All three countries teach in English at the universities that enrol international students. You will not need to learn Italian, Maltese, or Greek to complete your degree. However, daily life in Italy is harder without some Italian — while in Malta and Cyprus, English is widely spoken on the street.
Schengen access
Malta and Italy are both inside Schengen. With a student visa for either country, you can travel freely across 26 European nations. Cyprus is not in Schengen as of mid-2026 — a Cyprus student visa does not grant Schengen access.
After graduation
Italy has a one-year post-study job-search visa. Malta has a work permit pathway. Cyprus allows graduates to convert their status to a work permit.
None of these pathways are automatic or guaranteed. They all depend on your field of study, your university's reputation, and current immigration policy at the time of graduation.
Which one is right for you?
If your priority is the lowest tuition cost and Schengen access, Italy's public university route is hard to beat — if you can hit the Universitaly deadlines. If you want a smaller, English-friendly environment and faster admission, Malta makes sense. If you want a European degree with moderate costs and are not relying on Schengen travel, Cyprus is a solid option.
The right answer depends on your specific programme, your HSC grades, and how soon you can have your financial documents ready. Book a free consultation and we will map out the realistic path for your profile.
