Teach English in Malta

Plenty of jobs, the beautiful Mediterranean climate, a low cost of living and the chance to meet people from all over the world: Malta really is a TEFL gem.

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If the Mediterranean climate, thousands of years of history and a considerable audience for teaching English appeals, Malta has to be on your list of TEFL destinations. A jewel of South Europe, Malta has everything you could want from a Mediterranean island from a cultural, culinary and travel perspective.

An island sharing influences from nearby Tunisia and Italy alike, Malta is a melting pot of cultures; its name means ‘honey’ in Greek, and there’s plenty in common with both southern Europe and northeastern Africa. Plenty of languages are spoken by the Maltese population, as you might expect, but Maltese and English are the two official languages on the island.

With its sunny weather, classic southern European architecture and slower pace of life, we’re amazed more TEFL teachers aren’t already out in Malta. Where are the job opportunities? How well do they pay, and what’s the cost of living like?

Let's take a closer look at what it's like to teach English in Malta.

Malta: An overview

Firstly, a major plus for TEFL teachers: English is widely taught. The school education system in Malta teaches English at all levels of compulsory education. As you’ll find when you teach English in Europe more broadly, countries with compulsory English education tend to have high levels of English proficiency. This is particularly true in countries with a thriving tourism industry, like Malta.

Cities like Valletta, St. Julian’s and Sliema are where the majority of jobs are, with more in the way of private language schools, universities and other teaching opportunities. With thousands of residents coming from outside Malta, there are lots of new Maltese citizens who don’t speak English fluently. This means that, beyond the state school system, there are jobs in private schools, international schools, language schools and in tutoring, let alone the universities and colleges within Malta.

With its vast tourism industry, rich history and extremely international demographic make-up, the need for English teachers - as seen in countries like nearby Croatia - has expanded rapidly over previous decades.

Requirements for teaching English in Malta

So, what are the requirements to teach English abroad in Malta? Firstly, a bachelor’s degree is crucial. Most schools in Malta require teachers to hold a bachelor’s. There may be opportunities to teach English abroad without a degree in Malta if you are an EU citizen and have a range of TEFL-relevant qualifications.

The process of becoming a licensed TEFL teacher in Malta is different to other countries. The standard of English teaching in Malta is high, and that’s largely due to the work of the ELT Council of Malta. To teach English in Malta, you’ll need an ELT permit.

To get one of these, you’ll either need a Test for English Language Teachers (TELT) certificate, which is issued by the Council itself, or meet other conditions. These conditions are as follows: a Level 5 Certificate TEFL certificate from a body recognised by the Maltese ELT, a SEPTT certificate (unless you have a Cambridge DELTA, Trinity DipTESOL, Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics, Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA. TESOL) or Master in Teaching and Learning (MTL) in English), a police conduct certificate, Maltese citizenship, EU citizenship or a Maltese Employment License.

You can teach English as a non-native speaker in Malta, provided you can ascertain fluency. Completion of an IELTS or TOEFL certificate, or a bachelor’s degree from an English language institution is demonstrable evidence.

It can be difficult to find teaching jobs abroad without experience, but Malta provides a hospitable environment to first-time ESL teachers. We’ve seen teachers start their careers in Malta, and though many employers like their teachers to have some previous teaching experience, it’s not always mandatory to get a job teaching English in Malta.

Salary and cost of living in Malta

Salary

When you’re teaching English abroad, salary is important. So what can be earned in Malta?

A full-time salary for a TEFL teacher in Malta is typically around €700 – €1,000 (£600-£856/$746-$1,066) per month. If your area of focus is tutoring, you can charge around €10-€15 (£8-£13/$11-$16) per hour, depending on your level of experience, and your qualifications. You can usually charge a little more in cities than you can in rural areas of Malta. There won't usually be much in the way of added incentives beyond the average salary, but most employers provide health insurance coverage as part of their job offer.

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Malta	€700 – €1,000 £600-£856 GBP $746-$1,066 USD		September		Sometimes		None

Benefits

Benefits can include paid visa and health insurance, free airport transfer, and end-of-year bonuses for long-term teachers. However, benefits like relocation allowance and health insurance are not universally provided.

Cost of living

What does that kind of TEFL salary get you, day to day? Per Numbeo, we can see that a typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is about £800/$996 per month, falling to £663/$825 per month outside of the busy city centres. Monthly utilities generally cost about £81/$100, and while public transport isn’t quite as it is in Germany or France, Malta’s will only set you back about £22/$28 for a monthly pass.

You’ll want to head out to enjoy the amazing food and drink; a three-course meal at a mid-priced restaurant costs around £60/$74, and a pint of beer is about £3/$4. Sahha (cheers)!

Restaurants	EUR	USD	GBP
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	EUR	USD	GBP
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	EUR	USD	GBP
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	EUR	USD	GBP
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage (for a regular apartment)
Regular prepaid monthly mobile tariff with 10GB+ data
Internet (60 Mbps, unlimited data, cable/ADSL)
Clothing and shoes	EUR	USD	GBP
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes

Download our teaching English in Europe guide

English teaching jobs in Malta

As we told you earlier, the Maltese education system places a great deal of importance on English. Highly qualified teachers with a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certificate can usually teach English in the state school system. There are private schools and international schools in Malta; English teaching positions in these schools usually require at least a master’s degree and a solid level of teaching experience. It's best to apply towards the school year's end, in anticipation of the next term.

Colleges and universities will have some jobs, though it’s more likely that these kinds of jobs will be tutoring for students who don’t come from Malta. Maltese students will typically have an advanced understanding of English by the time they reach university.

Summer camps are a great way to teach English in Malta, especially for newcomers. Watch out for these kinds of opportunities every January-March, across a range of institutions within Malta.

The range of language schools across Malta isn’t particularly extensive, but there are enough of these facilities to make them a viable option. Language schools don’t tend to pay as much as state or private schools, and you’ll usually have to work evenings and weekends, but typically, these roles don’t require as high a level of qualification and experience.

Teacher story

What's it like teaching English in Malta? Rachael McGettigan has the inside scoop:

“My first day as a teacher was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Stepping into a classroom filled with eager students from different corners of the world, I realised the huge responsibility I had undertaken. However, over time, I found my footing, and the experience has been so rewarding and well worth the extra weeks of study.

“During my first two months, I worked at Embassy Summer, a summer camp organised by EC Malta where teenagers come from around the world to improve their English language skills. I worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, which gave me plenty of free time to explore the picturesque, Mediterranean island. Life was good and I was getting more and more confident in my teaching skills every day. I made friends with some amazing teachers who provided me with a wealth of knowledge and made the experience even better.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are English teachers in demand in Malta?

Yes, English teachers are in demand in Malta, where English is widely spoken. The state education system teaches English from an early age, and it’s a compulsory subject. The tourism industry in Malta, especially in the busy summer months, is also considerable and creates a need for English proficiency.

Q. How much do English teachers make in Malta?

Usually, teachers in Malta working full-time can expect a salary of €700 – €1,000 (£600-£856/$746-$1,066) per month. For private tutoring, you can charge around €10-€15 (£8-£13/$11-$16) per hour.

Q. How can I become a teacher in Malta?

The best route to becoming a teacher in Malta is through TEFL certification. Many jobs will also require a bachelor’s degree, but previous teaching experience isn’t always required. If you’re a new teacher, summer camps are a great option.