I need to go to Beijing for a two week holiday. What documents do I need to have a visa?

Joe, your friend just need to mention that he/she wants to apply for a Schengen entry permit when he/she applies for the study type for Paris. Then he/she can go to Malta without a problem. If he/she studies more than one year in Paris, then it doesn't matter whether he/she applies for the Schengen type or not. You know, he/she needs to apply for long-term resident permit for his/her study. With this resident pemit, he/she can visit Malta too.

For you, you should apply for a L type. It requires your passport, filled appliction form, a recent passport photo, round-trip air tickets and hotel booking in Beijing. Besides, the embassy might ask you to provide financial standings, such as recent six months bank statement.