The government’s regulatory arm in higher education – the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) – is refusing to explain why it renewed the operating licence of the International European University (IEU) to continue operating from a building in Gzira despite students’ claims that the institution is “one big scam.”
Since it relocated some of its courses to Malta in 2023 through a one-year temporary licence due to the ongoing war, The Shift is informed that tens of students and their parents contacted the MFHEA complaining of alleged “fake courses”, leaving many students and their families several thousand out of pocket.
Despite complaints, the MFHEA agreed to renew the ‘university’s’ operating licence for another year until mid-2025, basing its assessment on the fact that the IEU has a collaboration agreement with the American University of Malta (AUM), which also faces criticism.
In its renewal notice announcement, the Maltese authorities underlined that the IEU must make a “financial and institutional audit” by January 2025. If this fails, the “licence will be revoked immediately”.
Latest announcement from the Maltese regulators
While giving its nod, the MFHEA distanced itself from the IEU, making it clear that “the IEU is NOT a Maltese institution and hence it is not accredited by the MFHEA”.
Sources told The Shift that “pressure was made from political quarters to issue a licence renewal.”
The Shift asked the MCHFE to explain why the IEU was still allowed to keep its business running and to state what action was being taken about the complaints it received. No replies were given.
What university?
Based in Gzira’s Edgar Bernard Street, the IEU was established in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2019. It offers several degree courses, but these are not recognised by the EU’s educational certification standards.
Instead, the IEU is regulated under Ukrainian law by the country’s National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance in Ukraine, NAQA.
Since the war in Ukraine, the IEU has transferred its operations to Poland. However, the Polish government never officially recognised it, and the public prosecutor of Poznan is reportedly investigating it due to complaints.
In 2023, the IEU was issued a Maltese licence to transfer three courses to Malta temporarily. These are medicine (only the theoretical part, as neither the IEU nor the AUM has any laboratory facilities) and two business-related courses.
No one knows how many students are enrolled at the IEU. Sources state that these are not Ukrainian and are mostly non-EU citizens.
The IEU charges students up to €6,000 per year and thousands in added costs, including one-time accreditation fees and high accommodation prices.
Many students took their complaints online. They said they were never paid back their money, even when they decided to leave the university. They also complained that their reports to the MHFEA were ignored.
“Collaboration agreement” with the (so called) American University of Malta?
That says it all – and explains the authorities’ complacency in the face of the negative publicity by those seeking their education there and classifying it as ‘one one big scam’!
Yes indeed, it is a massive scam! I am first hand experienced in this mafia run so called university! Stir clear from them. They are not registered with the Ministry of health nor education in Ukraine. They are under PKA investigation for the Polish campus in Poznan, and have been asked to shut it down. Besides, they give fake diploma in MD! But the NAQA never accredited them for a MD but o ly a MSc in medicine. Completely different education! Please, help to close this scam school! Even if they can buy the corrupted Maltese accreditation office. EU has other requirements when it comes to medical education!
Indeed. I am so disturbed to see how medical education became so so cheap in Malta! They are supposed to be in the EU and play by high standard. But, when money talks, everyone listen. With our money! All the white and blue eyes people in the picture do not exist! Our class was Foreigners o ly. I never had any Ukrainian student in my 3 years of education with them and still not one of them to date! Get rid of this mafia from Europe!
I wonder where my post has gone! I approve the posts from Joseph nd Lw. Yalana, never heard of it. Yalana, you should do your research please. The IEU don’t have any accreditation. This morning friend of mine who was with us s well, sent us this link
https://registry.edbo.gov.ua/university/4374/study-programs/
This is legit. Click on Educational Program. Scroll down to Master, look for Medicine 222 and you will see the the red box. And the text comment which tells you that; there is NO certificate of accreditation of the educational program.
So who ever you are, since I know you are not a student, because I am convinced that both of your parents will have never let you study in a random med school!!!
Again, we, around 200 of us being scammed. You have the proof within the link and if you don’t believe any of us, please follow the link people. And, don’t fall for the pretending student called Yalana. Besides her still of writing remind me someone who is from the US, florida and being causing a lot of troubles at the IEU since her arrival! She befriend with the so called administrative team and she will be completely capable of posting such lies to save her friends from IEU. They had a special arrangement.
Anyway, everyone, click the link and you will have your answers.
Again, we are here to save people money and reputation!