What mark do I need to pass each Stage 2 course?

Published figures describe two different requirements: a minimum mark of 65% for the Certificate in Maltese Language for Integration (the 50-hour course), and 80% attendance plus a minimum mark of 75% for the Certificate in Cultural Orientation (the 120-hour course). These are two distinct courses with two distinct thresholds — see the full course comparison for how they sit alongside Stage 1's courses.

Who actually delivers Stage 2?

Official information names the University of Malta and MCAST as the institutions delivering the Stage 2 courses — a detail worth knowing if you're trying to find timetables, venues, or enrolment contacts, since those may sit with the delivering institution rather than the Human Rights Directorate directly.

Does passing Stage 2 mean I automatically qualify for Long-Term Residence?

No. Official wording describes Stage 2 completion as "one of the requirements for Long Term Residence Status for Third Country Nationals" — one requirement among others that Identità's own Long-Term Residence guidance sets out (including residence-duration conditions). See how the certificate fits into the wider Long-Term Residence picture, including a figure discrepancy we found and are stating plainly rather than guessing at.

Stage 2: the Integration Course

What Stage 2 is, and who can take it

Stage 2 — the Integration Course — is described as the follow-on stage that only Stage 1 graduates can apply for: “only individuals who graduated from Stage 1: Pre Integration Course can apply for Stage 2: Integration Course.” It represents a step up in both depth and stakes — Stage 2 completion is the stage officially linked to Long-Term Residence eligibility (more on that below).

The two courses that make up Stage 2

Official information describes Stage 2 as consisting of two named courses, delivered by the University of Malta and MCAST:

Maltese Language for Integration

MQF level:: Level 2
Hours:: 50 hours
Published pass mark:: minimum 65%

Cultural Orientation

MQF level:: Level 2
Hours:: 120 hours
Published requirements:: 80% attendance and a minimum mark of 75%

Official wording for the overall stage states it “consists of the following courses delivered by the University of Malta and MCAST: Maltese Language for Integration (MQF Level 2) – 50 hours, and Cultural Orientation (MQF Level 2) – 120 hours.” Together that is 170 hours of instruction across the two courses — a figure worth keeping in mind, because it sits at the centre of a discrepancy we found in how a related certificate requirement is described elsewhere (see below).

See a full side-by-side comparison of every course across both stages for how these sit alongside Stage 1’s entry-level courses.

How Stage 2 connects to Long-Term Residence — and a figure that doesn’t add up cleanly

Official wording links Stage 2 directly to a separate immigration status: “Stage 2 is one of the requirements for Long Term Residence Status for Third Country Nationals.” Note the phrase “one of the requirements” — Long-Term Residence has its own separate conditions (including residence duration) that Identità administers, and this certificate is described as a part-requirement within that wider application.

Here is the discrepancy, stated plainly rather than reconciled by guesswork: Identità’s own Long-Term Residence guidance describes the I Belong certificate requirement as “completing Malta’s official ‘I Belong’ Integration Course (100 hours) and achieving a minimum score of 75% in the final exam” — a single figure of 100 hours and a single 75% threshold. But the Stage 2 course breakdown above totals 170 hours across two courses with two different published pass-mark conditions (65% for the 50-hour Maltese course; 80% attendance and 75% for the 120-hour Cultural Orientation course). Neither official source explains how the “100 hours / 75%” summary relates to this two-course structure — so we are not inventing a reconciliation between them.

See the full Long-Term Residence breakdown for every figure side by side, our internal verification note, and what this means if you’re relying on this certificate for an application.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to finish Stage 1 first?: Yes. Official wording is direct: "only individuals who graduated from Stage 1: Pre Integration Course can apply for Stage 2: Integration Course." There is no published path into Stage 2 that bypasses Stage 1 graduation.
What mark do I need to pass each Stage 2 course?: Published figures describe two different requirements: a minimum mark of 65% for the Certificate in Maltese Language for Integration (the 50-hour course), and 80% attendance plus a minimum mark of 75% for the Certificate in Cultural Orientation (the 120-hour course). These are two distinct courses with two distinct thresholds — see the full course comparison for how they sit alongside Stage 1's courses.
Who actually delivers Stage 2?: Official information names the University of Malta and MCAST as the institutions delivering the Stage 2 courses — a detail worth knowing if you're trying to find timetables, venues, or enrolment contacts, since those may sit with the delivering institution rather than the Human Rights Directorate directly.
Does passing Stage 2 mean I automatically qualify for Long-Term Residence?: No. Official wording describes Stage 2 completion as "one of the requirements for Long Term Residence Status for Third Country Nationals" — one requirement among others that Identità's own Long-Term Residence guidance sets out (including residence-duration conditions). See how the certificate fits into the wider Long-Term Residence picture, including a figure discrepancy we found and are stating plainly rather than guessing at.

Official sources for this page

Human Rights Directorate (opens in a new tab)
Official I Belong Programme overview: the two-stage structure, eligibility, course content, and current Stage 1 application status.
Source last checked: 8 June 2026
Government of Malta — reforms.gov.mt (opens in a new tab)
Official Government of Malta service description of I Belong Programme Stage 2 (Integration Course): prerequisite, course structure, and Long-Term Residence connection.
Source last checked: 8 June 2026