80,946 foreign students attended English language courses in 2024 – NSO

In 2024, a total of 80,946 foreign students attended English language courses at 33 local English Language Teaching (ELT) schools, marking an increase of 2,379 students, or three per cent, compared to the previous year.

This data was published in a report by the National Statistics Office, which analysed trends related to local ELT schools in 2024.

Here’s a summary of the key insights.

• Accommodation: 30 per cent of students stayed in hostels, residences, or guesthouses, 29 per cent in private accommodation, 15 per cent in hotels (mainly four-star), and the remaining 26 per cent lived with host families, in holiday-furnished premises, or in other/unspecified types of lodging.
• Delivery Mode: Foreign students attending ELT schools in Malta accounted for a total of 256,868 student weeks. 99.8 per cent of courses were held in person. Students stayed for an average of 3.2 weeks, slightly down from the previous year.
• Staffing: In 2024, there were 743 teaching and academic staff at local ELT schools. Of these, 24 per cent were aged between 25 and 34, and 66.4 per cent were female.
• Peak Months: July was the busiest month for student enrolments, followed by August and March.
• Age Breakdown: The largest group of students was aged 15 and under, making up 28.1 per cent of the total student population, followed by the 16-17 age group at 22 per cent.
• Country of Origin: Italy was the leading source of students, accounting for 24.9 per cent, followed by France at 10.3 per cent and Germany at 10.1 per cent.
• Gender: Female students represented 61.3 per cent of the total student body.
• Older Students: Students aged 50 and over comprised 8.9 per cent of the total, with 7,237 individuals in this category.
• Course Popularity: The ‘General English: Standard’ course was the most popular, with 62,299 students, or 77 per cent, opting for it. The ‘Intensive English’ course followed, chosen by 14.8 per cent of students.