How GBS Malta students balance studies with celebration
There's no single formula. What works is adapting to the chaos rather than fighting it.
Some students use the early part of December strategically. They'll knock out assignments and readings before December 15th hits. This creates a guilt-free window to actually enjoy the season, attending festa (local celebrations), volunteering at nativity events, or simply sitting with family without a laptop glowing in the corner.
Others embrace what might be called “distributed studying.” Instead of intensive all-nighters, they dedicate specific afternoons to coursework, maybe Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This way, they are present for the social stuff, the midnight mass, the family meals, and the spontaneous gatherings, while still staying on top of things.
If you are an international student studying in Malta, don’t worry. You would not be left feeling homesick. Your local friends in Malta will make sure you feel welcome and those unexpected dinner invitations will make you feel at home.
The cultural richness and Christmas celebrations at GBS Malta
What makes Malta's student lifestyle during the festive season different from studying elsewhere is the cultural immersion. You are not just observing Christmas as a background event. You are participating in something genuinely tied to the island's identity.
Many GBS Malta students take on internships or project work that's intertwined with the season, helping local organisations with their celebrations, participating in community initiatives, or documenting the cultural significance of the season. This doesn't just feel good; it actually counts toward learning outcomes.
GBS Malta hosts a range of seasonal activities that bring the community together. Take the annual Christmas Jumper Day in December, for example; a day when students and staff arrive in fun and colourful holiday wear, transforming campus into a celebration of togetherness and festive spirit.
The student support team at GBS Malta supports and encourages students to actively take part in cultural events, community initiatives and seasonal activities. This enhances both your academic experience and personal growth, helping you experience the multicultural spirit yourself.
Practical advice for students that helps
If you are considering coming to GBS Malta and you are wondering how you will manage, here's what current students actually do:
- Front-load your work: Submit things early when possible. Professors appreciate it and it removes pressure when the season gets intense.
- Set boundaries, but not rigid ones: Decide which days you will definitely study and which you will fully enjoy. Then be flexible when life happens.
- Be open to experiences: There are beautiful spots perfect for studying with a view. Quiet corners of cafes. Spots near the harbour where concentration feels easier, thanks to the calming scenery.
- Embrace Malta's December rhythm. The island doesn't shut down, but it does slow down. Classes might be lighter. Expectations shift. Work with that momentum rather than against it.
- Find your people: Study groups become social groups. You will find other students in the same boat. Somehow, everything feels more manageable when you are not alone in the chaos.
Christmas in Malta as a student is not a perfectly balanced equation. Some days, you will feel like you have it all figured out. Other days, you will be stress-eating pastries while trying to finish an essay.
But that's kind of the point. You are not just a student managing time; you are a human living in a place where celebration matters. Where family and community are woven into daily life.
Studying and celebrating Christmas in Malta
If you are planning to study in Malta and are worried about the student life here, don’t worry. Hundreds of international students come to Malta every year and they quickly find a welcoming community, vibrant social life and plenty of opportunities to feel at home.
Malta student lifestyle during the festive season teaches you something deeper than time management. It teaches you that life doesn't pause for convenience. That you can be ambitious and celebratory simultaneously. That balance is not about doing everything equally well; it's about knowing what matters and showing up for it anyway.
This is your Christmas. Make it messy, make it memorable, make it Maltese.
Make Malta your home for your studies: GBS Malta welcomes you for the May 2026 Intake.
Join fellow students who are creating their own traditions at GBS Malta. Here, learning goes beyond the classroom and into real-life experiences like the ones you will enjoy this Christmas.
