How Malta’s recovery outperformed all other destinations in 2023.
Malta’s post-pandemic recovery is one of the remarkable success stories in the ELT sector.
Global recovery was slower than anticipated in 2023; the ELT sector was expected to recover 90% of its pre-pandemic student week volume, but our projections indicate it only reached 83%.
Malta’s statistics show a completely different picture. In 2021, as travel restrictions eased and institutions adapted to new safety protocols, Malta emerged as a popular destination in the early stages of post-pandemic recovery. Fuelled by an influx of students from the LATAM (Latin American) region, student weeks rose by 80% between 2021 and 2022.
By the end of 2022, recovery had already reached 104%. In 2023, English language centres in Malta recorded 15% more student weeks than in 2019, making the island nation the fastest-recovering ELT destination globally.
Malta’s convenient visa policies are one of the key factors contributing to its popularity as an educational hub. These policies, combined with Malta’s relative affordability compared to other destinations and its proximity to mainland Europe, have made the country an increasingly attractive option for students.
In terms of headcount, EU nationals still dominate the market, representing 74% of students. However, Malta is gaining popularity among non EU students as well; as non-EU students tend to study abroad for longer periods, they delivered well over half (59%) of all student weeks spent in 2023. Non-EU students spent an average of 7.9weeks in Malta in 2023, compared to 1.9 weeks for EU students.
Colombia emerged as the leading market for student weeks in 2023, as Colombian students spent an average of 14.4 weeks in Malta. Another market in the top 15 with an impressive average length of stay was Chile at 13.3 weeks.
According to the data from Malta’s National Statistical Office, the top 10 source markets recovered, on average, 118% of their 2019 student week volume in 2023. The only markets in the top 10 that have not fully recovered are Germany, South Korea, and Spain, reaching 96%, 91%, and 83% respectively. The fastest-growing markets in terms of student weeks in 2023 were Italy, Brazil, and Turkey.
After the rapid growth between 2021 and 2022, overall student weeks increased by 11% between 2022 and 2023. As a sign that demand is stabilising, student weeks declined slightly in a number of markets, including Colombia (−15%), South Korea (−34%) and Japan (−16%).
However, Malta’s appeal as a study destination continues to grow, driven by its increasingly diverse student profile and the demand for quality and affordable English language education.
Recovery in top 10 source markets (2023 compared to 2019, measured in student weeks)
Source: National Statistical Office Malta, 2024
As a traditionally strong junior student destination, welcoming 39,000 under-18s in 2023 (51% of the total), Malta will also capitalise on the projected growth of the global junior market in the coming years.
Ongoing uncertainty and policy changes in other destinations, such as Canada and Australia, may also benefit the ELT sector in Malta. Restrictive policies affecting international students can damage a country’s reputation, prompting students to consider alternative destinations: in this context, Malta could become an even more attractive option.
However, it will be crucial to ensure that institutions have the capacity to accommodate a larger influx of students. Over the past years, many study destinations have faced challenges due to accommodation shortages, and Malta will need to address this issue to ensure it keeps thriving as a study destination.
