Living and studying in Malta at a glance
| A student’s question |
What Malta offers |
What to consider before moving |
| Can I manage daily life in English? |
Maltese and English are both official languages. |
Confirm the teaching language of your chosen programme. |
| Will I meet students from other countries? |
Foreign students represented 37% of tertiary enrolments in 2023–24. |
Look for orientation activities, student groups and collaborative classes. |
| Is it easy to build a routine? |
Malta covers 316 square kilometres, creating a relatively compact living environment. |
Check the journey between your accommodation and campus. |
| Can I balance study and personal life? |
Students can combine academic work with cultural, social and outdoor activities. |
Plan your study time and monthly budget before arranging leisure activities. |
| What support can I access? |
Support depends on the education provider. GBS Malta offers academic, welfare and career-related guidance. |
Review the provider’s official support services before applying. |
Daily life can feel manageable
One of the first adjustments when moving abroad is learning how a new place works. In a large city, a simple journey to class or the supermarket can take time to understand. Malta’s smaller scale can make that transition less intimidating.
The Maltese Islands cover 316 square kilometres, according to the Government of Malta. That does not mean every journey is instant, and students still need to consider transport when choosing accommodation. However, it can be easier to develop a familiar routine when your campus, local shops, study spaces and social plans are all on the same island.
Picture a typical first week. On Monday, you may still be checking every bus stop. By Friday, you know where to buy an affordable lunch and which route gives you enough time to reach class. A few weeks later, those small uncertainties have become habits. This gradual sense of familiarity is one of the practical benefits of living and studying in Malta.
English makes everyday communication easier
Language affects much more than lectures. It shapes whether you can explain a problem to a landlord, ask a shop assistant for help or contribute confidently to a group project.
Maltese and English are both official languages in Malta, as confirmed by the Government of Malta. For many international students, being able to use English in academic and everyday situations removes an important layer of anxiety.
You may still hear Maltese in the street and encounter the island’s distinct local culture. That is part of the experience rather than a barrier to it. Students can operate in a familiar international language while gradually learning how people in Malta communicate, work and socialise.
When students ask why study in Malta , this combination is often more meaningful than it first appears. It can help them participate sooner, whether they are discussing an assignment, arranging an appointment or getting to know their neighbours.
An international community changes the classroom
Choosing Malta for international students is not simply about being surrounded by people from different countries. The real value appears when those people must solve a problem together.
Imagine a group assignment involving students with different professional backgrounds and ways of communicating. One person may prefer to plan every task in advance, while another begins by discussing ideas informally. Learning to listen, clarify expectations and reach a shared decision develops skills that are difficult to gain from a textbook alone.
Official data supports the international character of Malta’s higher education environment. Malta’s National Statistics Office recorded 22,276 tertiary students in the 2023–24 academic year. Of these, 8,252 were foreign students, representing 37% of tertiary enrolments. The number of foreign tertiary students had increased by 27% from the previous academic year, although the figures include programmes delivered from Malta both online and face to face.
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Eurostat’s 2024 learning-mobility data also found that students from abroad represented 35.6% of Malta’s tertiary student population, the second-highest proportion reported in the EU.
These figures do not guarantee that every student will settle in immediately. They do suggest that meeting people who have also crossed borders to study is a normal part of higher education in Malta.
Student life is built through ordinary moments
The benefits of studying in Malta are often described through weather, culture and location. Those things can enrich the experience, but student life is usually built through smaller moments: sharing notes after a difficult lecture, cooking with flatmates or taking a walk after submitting an assignment.
A healthy routine might include setting aside focused study hours, planning meals instead of relying on last-minute takeaways and joining classmates for an activity at the weekend. These choices sound simple, but they can protect both a student’s budget and wellbeing.
Homesickness can still appear unexpectedly. It may arrive during a family celebration back home or after a demanding week of assessments. Staying connected with family helps, but building local connections matters too.
This more honest picture explains why Malta is good for international students: it offers opportunities for independence and connection, but students still need to participate actively in the life around them.
Study and personal growth can reinforce each other
The advantages of studying in Malta for international students extend beyond the classroom when students treat daily life as part of their education.
Managing rent and groceries develops financial discipline. Working with classmates from different cultures builds patience and communication. Finding your way around a new country strengthens confidence. Even asking for help is a skill: it requires recognising a problem early and knowing that independence does not mean handling everything alone.
That is why Malta can stand out among the best places to study abroad for students seeking more than a change of scenery. The setting gives them opportunities to practise the adaptability, judgement and intercultural awareness that employers increasingly value.
How GBS Malta supports the experience
A study destination only works when the institution helps students turn initial uncertainty into progress. For someone considering living and studying in Malta, support should not be separate from the academic experience. It should help them stay engaged when coursework, personal adjustment or career planning becomes difficult.
GBS Malta provides an inclusive learning community with targeted student support, including personalised mentoring, skills training, career guidance, planning and workshops. Its campus is designed with facilities for learning, while its programmes focus on areas including business, entrepreneurship, information technology, public health and marketing.
The institution’s learner support policy also outlines confidential welfare guidance and one-to-one academic tutorials covering areas such as writing, research and presentation skills. This matters in real terms. A student struggling with an unfamiliar assignment format can seek academic guidance, while someone finding the transition emotionally difficult can approach student support rather than allowing the problem to grow.
For students deciding is Malta a good place to study, that connection between academic learning, wellbeing and career preparation makes the answer more convincing. The location may attract you, but the right support helps you make something meaningful from being there.
A place to build a life, not just earn a qualification
The question is not simply whether Malta looks appealing. It is whether you can imagine building a workable life there: attending class, managing your budget, forming friendships, asking for support and becoming more confident as the months pass.
For students who want an international education in an English-speaking, culturally varied environment, Malta deserves serious consideration. Its greatest value may lie in how quickly extraordinary plans become ordinary life, and how much personal growth can happen in those ordinary days.
Explore the programmes and student support available at GBS Malta. For guidance on choosing the right course and taking your next step, contact enquiries@gbs.edu.mt.
