Spotlight on Malta

You’ve finally made that decision and you’re off to travel, study and/or work abroad – through the EU’s exceptional scheme, Erasmus+. No doubt, you’re excited – where will your journey take you? Who will you meet? Perhaps you’ll gain the experience you need to decide what you want to focus on when you finally go into the world of work or maybe you’re desperate to fine-tune your language skills? Getting out of your hometown to experience somewhere and something completely different has a multitude of incredible benefits!

As with any Erasmus+ mobility, there’s the option of gaining a grant to travel, work and study in Malta. You can always ask your careers advisor at your school or university what’s open to you. Expect a grant of up to 500 Euros to help you along your way and as it’s an inexpensive yet still fabulous European destination, you won’t need much to make the most of your trip.

Erasmus+ Has So Many Brilliant Benefits!

Not only will you discover a whole new way of life, but you’ll also get to explore a brand-new country. Enjoy the local delicacies, get involved in day-to-day life and really involve yourself in the culture, make lifelong friends and improve your knowledge. So much so that when you complete your Erasmus+ mobility abroad, you’ll have an outstanding CV that potential future employers will value above others. There are just so many brilliant reasons why Erasmus+ is right for you and in this series, we’ll give you an insight into our most popular destinations, starting with sunny Malta.

Small Is Beautiful

The beauty of Malta is that it’s small – and small is often beautiful. There’s one university, the State University of Malta, which is situated in Msida, a fantastic location that’s smack-bang in the middle of Paceville (known for its party and festival atmosphere) and Malta’s stunning capital Valletta. You’ll get to enjoy the social side of Malta while learning at a notable university too.

A Huge Amount of University Choices to Choose From!

Malta is the right choice for you if you’re studying or want to enter the world of art or architecture. It also has an impressive dentistry, medicine and surgery faculty not to mention law, IT, engineering, accountancy & economics, education, the sciences and more. If university isn’t quite for you – there are other institutes in Malta that may well suit your needs. You could study agriculture, criminology, health, sustainability, physical education and more. Plus, as a foreign student, you won’t be alone. The university has more than 1,000 foreign students out of its 10,000 other students – and everyone’s so welcoming, you’ll soon feel at home.

Are You Italian?

If you’re an Italian, there’s even more synergy. Did you know that the University of Malta is connected with many Italian universities, including Rome so check with your careers’ office or your professor if there’s an agreement in place with your own university. If you’re not Italian – don’t worry, you can still go on an Erasmus+ mobility to Malta. If you have a level of English, then Malta is definitely worth thinking about as the locals tend to speak English – so you’ll get good practice.

There are lots of other reasons why Malta is great for an Erasmus+ mobility too:

• It’s an island that attracts lots of tourism. You’ll enjoy meeting people from all over the world especially during the holiday season.
• If you like warm weather then Malta is pretty much guaranteed, it averages about 21 degrees C and gets nice and hot during the summer months, up to 30 Degrees C!
• It’s also low-cost so your grant goes further. Rent is around 500 Euros a month and eating out is inexpensive, at around 15 Euros a meal in an average restaurant.
• It’s small and safe, with very low crime.

Excursions and Things to Do In Malta

There’s more too – the beach, the pool, culture and plenty of activities, especially water-based excursions and as Malta is a Portuguese island, the landscape is just breathtaking with plenty of natural beauty to admire. Do visit Coup de Coeur on Gozo and the Blue Lagoon which is dramatically beautiful and go to the National Aquarium to view the sea life   (or better still, why not try a snorkelling trip and get right up close and personal?). Malta is also home to the original Popeye Village, which is a must-see, what child didn’t grow up watching Popeye?

Walk around the ancient city of Mdina on a 2-hour walking tour (take in the dungeons if you dare) and if you love a sunset, spend a few hours late afternoon in St Paul’s Bay. For views, you have to hike up the Dingli Cliffs and take in the spectacular backdrop to this incredible island. One thing’s for sure, you will not be bored when you choose Malta as your Erasmus+ destination.

Travelling Around Malta

Travelling around Malta is easy, as everything is relatively close by. You can take a taxi but there are plenty of hop-on, hop-off buses to get you around and you could even take some exercise by hiring a bike, better for the environment too! As Malta is small, you needn’t spend a fortune on travel. If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of ride-share apps (which is a great way to meet people).

Final Words on Malta as Your Erasmus+ Destination

If you love island destinations, don’t want to travel too far (Malta is very accessible, usually just 3 to 4 hours by plane from most Western European countries) and want somewhere low-budget but with lots of value for money, then Malta is for you. Furthermore, with the warm, balmy climate, you’ll only need to pack a few pairs of shorts and that all-important swimwear too!

For more information on Erasmus+ destinations and how to gain a grant to help you get started, contact our team here.