Teaching English as a Foreign Language: 2025
The majority of students attending English language courses in Malta came from Italy (23.0 per cent), followed by Germany (10.6 per cent) and France (10.4 per cent). Overall, 71.8 per cent of total students originated from an EU country (Table 1).
Foreign students enrolled in local licensed ELT schools accounted for 262,255, an increase of 5,387 weeks when compared to 2024. The absolute majority of courses (99.7 per cent of total student weeks) were held physically while online courses accounted for only 0.3 per cent. The average number of student weeks during the year under review stood at 3.4, an increase of 0.3 compared to previous year (Table 7). With an average of 12.1 weeks, students from Colombia recorded the highest number of student weeks, followed by Chilean and South Korean students with average student weeks at 11.9 and 8.6 weeks respectively (Table 8 and 9).
The largest share of language students was in the 15- and under age bracket, accounting for 29.2 per cent of the total students following ELT courses, followed by the 16 and 17-year-old age group, which accounted for 20.9 per cent. Students aged 50 and over were in the minority and numbered 7,836. Female students outnumbered males and others, and accounted for 63.2 per cent of the entire ELT student population (Tables 2 and 3, Chart 1).
1 Some courses were held remotely.
July was the busiest month for local licensed ELT schools for courses attendance, accounting for 16.5 per cent of the annual total. August and March followed at 15.8 and 9.6 per cent respectively (Table 4).
The most popular course uptake in local licensed ELT schools was ‘General English: Standard’, whereby a total of 55,432 students, or 72.9 per cent opted for this course. This was followed by the ‘Intensive English’ courses, with 19.2 per cent of total students (Table 5, Chart 2).
1 Some courses were held remotely.
Notes:
1. English specific purposes courses include business English.
2. ‘Other’ includes exam preparation courses, one-to-one lessons, combination of courses, and other courses.
3. Totals may not add up due to rounding.
In 2025, teaching and academic staff in local licensed ELT schools numbered 712, with the largest proportion (24.4 per cent) being in 18-24 age group. Female teachers accounted for 67.7 per cent of the total (Table 10). Non-teaching staff amounted to 664, of whom 70.5 per cent were employed on a full-time basis (Table 10 and 11).
1 Some courses were held remotely.
Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding.
Tables
Tables
Methodological Notes
1. Data used in this News Release is based on information collected by the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation which was subsequently analysed by NSO.
2. Data was collected by the ELT Council during the period January 2026-April 2026. All local licensed English Language Teaching (ELT) schools operating in 2025 responded to this questionnaire. A full list of ELT schools can be accessed here.
3. Breakdowns by country are based on the students’ citizenship as provided by the student. Thus, figures for foreign citizens are not directly comparable to other tourism figures published by the NSO.
4. Figures on type of course followed and type of accommodation cannot be compared with data of previous years due to methodological enhancements held in 2020.
5. Definitions:
ELT schools refer to institutions which provide English-related courses for foreign students. More information can be accessed here.
Teaching/Academic staff refer to professional personnel directly involved in teaching students, including teachers, assistant teachers, ELT instructors and other ELT permit holders.
Non-Teaching staff refer to persons employed by educational institutions who have no instructional responsibilities, and do not hold an ELT permit. Examples are school management staff, front office staff, group leaders, administration staff, sales, marketing and reservations staff.
Full-time employment: includes employed persons on a full-time basis.
Part-time employment: includes employed persons whose normal hours are less than those of comparable full-time workers.
Casual employment: includes temporary workers, working irregular hours, who are employed on a part-time basis.
6. Number of student weeks by foreign students is calculated as follows:
7. Average number of student weeks per student is calculated as follows:
8. References to this news release are to be cited appropriately. For guidance on access and re-use of data please visit our dedicated webpage.
9. For further assistance send your request through our online request from.
10. A detailed news release calendar is available online.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language: 2025
- Foreign students enrolled accounted for 262,255 student weeks, an increase of 2.1 per cent when compared to 2024. Staff employed in local licensed ELT schools numbered 1,376, the majority being teaching/academic staff (51.7 per cent).
- In 2025, 76,063 foreign students attended English language courses at 34 local licensed English Language Teaching (ELT) schools, a drop of 4,883 (-6.0 per cent) over 2024.
- The largest share of language students was in the 15- and under age bracket, accounting for 29.2 per cent of the total students following ELT courses, followed by the 16 and 17-year-old age group, which accounted for 20.9 per cent.
