Undergraduate Diploma in Credit Management and Collections
Mosta, Malta
Diploma
DURATION
20 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Nov 2026
STUDY FORMAT
Key Summary
About: IDEA College (Malta) offers an accredited, industry-led Level 5 diploma comprising 60 ECTS and interest-free payment plans. The programme trains students for credit management and collections across B2B and B2C environments. It covers accounts receivable, debtor management, cash flow control, financial statement interpretation, financial analysis, legal frameworks, corporate credit policy, and research skills. It equips students with competencies to adapt to evolving market conditions and compliance.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue roles in credit risk, debt recovery, and collections. Potential positions include: Credit Manager, Credit Controller, Credit Analyst, Collections Specialist, Financial Assistant, accounts receivable manager, and debt recovery officer.
Change is the only certainty in today’s business, and the Credit Management function is by no means an exception. Credit has become an important element to gain a competitive advantage in today’s dynamic business environment. Consequently, it has become easily accessible to both individuals (B2C) and businesses (B2B) in Malta, so much so that a number of individuals and traders are consuming or trading predominantly on credit, and the suppliers’ lists of overdue debtors are increasing both in numbers and in value.
If one had to look into the balance sheets of organisations trading on credit, ‘Debtors’ (accounts receivable in the balance sheet) would represent one of the biggest assets of these organisations.
Therefore, ‘debtors’ being so important to these organisations should raise some fundamental questions which the directors or business owners need to ask:
- Who is managing credit in these organisations?
- Who is making sure that credit is being granted only to those clients who are genuinely creditworthy?
- Who is balancing the cash inflows with the cash outflows to ensure a healthy cash flow?
- Who is reviewing the debtors’ accounts on an ongoing basis?
- Who is chasing after the money, and what are the collection procedures in place?
- Who is deploying the best credit management practices and complying with the respective legislation?
- Who is behind the corporate credit policy?
This Level 5 diploma, comprising 60 ECTS, specifically addresses the needs of people working/who would like to work in the field of credit management in Malta, irrespective of the commercial sector they are trading in or would like to trade in. This programme covers the unique challenges of both B2B and B2C credit environments, equipping students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies that a credit professional should have.
Programme Objectives
- To equip students with the knowledge and skills to apply, promote, and contribute to good credit management and collections practices across the full range of credit environments.
- To develop the ability in students to interpret financial statements and conduct comprehensive financial analysis to support informed decision-making.
- To enhance students’ understanding of the legal context and structures governing credit management and collections.
- To enhance students’ understanding of the internal and external business environment, enabling them to adapt to evolving market conditions.
- To provide students with the necessary competencies to analyse best practices to collect dues on time in order to secure sound cash flow in today’s Maltese economy.
- To foster research skills that enable students to identify and address gaps in the field of credit management and collections, contributing to advancements in the industry.
- Managing Finance
- The Business World
- Credit Management Fundamentals
- Business Law & Credit Management Legislation
- Collection Procedures and Processes
- Applied Learning Project
Competences:
At the end of the module/unit, the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:
- Navigate business finance.
- Explore the activities of businesses, their structures, and identify the credit function’s role within these various types of businesses.
- Appreciate the importance of working capital management
- Familiarise oneself with the various types of business organisations and entities in the market.
- Recognise and understand the differing needs and objectives of each and every type of business organisation.
- Establish and discuss ways in which the legal environment and framework can affect decisions made by the credit department.
- Apply a series of transversal skills to access data, analyse information, and synthesise knowledge.
- Actively lead and manage group initiatives and/or small-scale projects which simulate real-world scenarios.
- Engage in ethical, socially responsible, and stakeholder-driven decision-making within team-based and community-oriented settings.
- Reflect on own learning and personal development.
Knowledge:
At the end of the module/unit, the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:
- Navigate business finance.
- Explore the activities of businesses, their structures, and identify the credit function’s role within these various types of businesses.
- Appreciate the importance of working capital management
- Familiarise oneself with the various types of business organisations and entities in the market.
- Recognise and understand the differing needs and objectives of each and every type of business organisation.
- Establish and discuss ways in which the legal environment and framework can affect decisions made by the credit department.
- Apply a series of transversal skills to access data, analyse information, and synthesise knowledge.
- Actively lead and manage group initiatives and/or small-scale projects which simulate real-world scenarios.
- Engage in ethical, socially responsible, and stakeholder-driven decision-making within team-based and community-oriented settings.
Skills:
The learner will be able to:
- Apply advanced financial analysis techniques to assess the creditworthiness of individuals and businesses, including analysing financial statements, cash flow statements, and other relevant financial data.
- Analyse and interpret financial-related information.
- Appreciate and evaluate the critical importance of the dynamic nature of the organisation’s external environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop and implement effective credit management strategies.
- Interpret and apply relevant laws and regulations governing credit management, demonstrating knowledge of trade and consumer credit laws, debt collection regulations, and other legal aspects impacting credit decisions.
- Analyse the various types of methods used to collect money from customers.
- Communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders in credit management contexts, demonstrating proficiency in negotiation techniques, conflict resolution, and relationship management.
- Critically investigate an identified issue within the area of study of credit management.
- Apply theoretical knowledge and analytical skills to real-world credit management scenarios.
- Develop higher-order thinking skills, including problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, and evaluation.
This programme equips the audience with the competences, knowledge, and skills listed in this application.
The potential positions for which this programme aims to prepare could be and are not limited to:
- Credit Manager
- Credit Controller
- Credit Analyst
- Collections Specialist
- Financial Assistant
This qualification targets:
- Individuals seeking to advance their academic and professional knowledge in Credit Management and Collections.
- Individuals wanting to pursue a wide range of career paths within this field.
- Individuals wanting to enhance their ability to interpret, assess and communicate credit management related information.
The course comprises:
- Evening classes for part-time courses.
- Classes are held throughout the day for full-time courses.
- Guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos.
- Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.
Assessment
Assessment is carried out via two mandatory components:
- Assessment 1
- Assessment 2
The programme includes different forms of assessment which allow for and promote students’ critical engagement. The formative and summative assessment tasks may include an in-class assignment and/or a home-based written assignment using diverse assessment tools, which may take the form of online and in-class discussions, examinations, case studies, reports, proposals, essays, and presentations, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules.
