The full guide
Malta takes in language students year-round: mild winters, an English-speaking population outside the classroom, and a big enough international student scene that you are never the only new arrival. The part that actually varies is which school and which course type suit you, and that is what this page is about.
Why Malta for an English course
The island is bilingual, English and Maltese are both official, so the immersion does not stop when class ends. You practise ordering food, riding the bus, and talking to flatmates in English by default, not just in a classroom for four hours a day.
Add a cost of living lower than Ireland or the UK, a school year that runs continuously rather than in fixed intakes, and a student population large enough that you will not be the only newcomer, and it explains why Malta has become one of the more popular language-course destinations in Europe.
Course types
Schools structure their programmes around a handful of formats. Which one fits depends on your level, your schedule, and how fast you want to move.
General English
The standard course for most students, usually around 20 lessons a week in groups of 6 to 10, open to any level. Built for steady, well-rounded progress rather than speed.
Intensive English
The same ground covered faster, typically 30 lessons a week in smaller groups, with more of the class time spent speaking. Suits students on a shorter stay who want visible progress in a few weeks.
English for adults 30+
Some schools run separate classes for older students, same 20-lesson structure, but grouped with people closer to your own age and life stage rather than mixed with school-leavers.
English for families
Parents and children are taught in separate classes running in parallel, so a family can travel together without splitting into two separate trips.
English for teenagers and for children
Age-banded groups, usually 13 to 17 for teenagers and split further for children, with the same weekly structure but content and pace adjusted for the age group.
Exam preparation
For IELTS, Cambridge or TOEFL, these run for a minimum of several weeks rather than one, since a certification course needs more contact hours than a general one.
What actually changes the price
Course fees vary by school and by season, more than most students expect. A few things move the number more than the course type itself.
Group size
A course capped at 8 students costs more per lesson than one capped at 15, for the same number of weekly hours. If speaking practice is what you are paying for, group size matters more than the course label.
Season
Summer is when demand peaks, and schools price accordingly. The same course booked for October or February typically costs less than the same weeks in July.
Length of stay
Longer bookings usually bring the weekly rate down. A four-week booking is rarely four times the price of one week.
What is actually included
Registration fees, course materials, and a placement test are sometimes bundled and sometimes charged separately. The headline weekly price is not always the full price.
How to compare schools without losing days to it
Malta has enough English schools that comparing them one website at a time is a real time cost. Malta English Schools is a comparison platform built specifically for this, listing courses and schools across the island in 13 languages, with a free-advice request form if you want a shortlist rather than a full list to work through yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an English course in Malta cost?
General English courses typically start around €95 a week; intensive courses from about €189. Exact prices depend on the school, the season and what is included, so treat these as a starting point rather than a fixed rate.
How long can I study English in Malta?
Anywhere from one week to a full academic year. Exam preparation courses have a practical minimum of several weeks; general and intensive courses can be booked by the week.
Is Malta a good place to learn English?
Yes, specifically because English is an official language spoken outside the classroom, not only used to teach it. That is the main advantage over a course taken somewhere the local language dominates daily life.
Do I need a minimum level to start?
No for general and intensive courses, most schools place you by level after a short test. Exam preparation and business courses usually do ask for a minimum, often B1.
Is it easy to meet people and make friends?
Yes. Malta’s international student scene is large relative to the size of the island, and most schools run social activities alongside classes.
Other guides
Rooms for students in Malta
Real prices by zone, and what to check before you sign anything.
Finding a flatmate in Malta
Where to publish a seeker profile now that Flatmate Malta has closed.
How to find a room in Malta
The three platforms worth using, and how not to lose a deposit.