Malta
Thomas Bichlmair, WS2024/25
First things first: This has been the best year of my life. I regret missing out on an Erasmus semester during my bachelor's (thanks COVID...), and my heart tells me to do it again. However, since I am already in my final master's term, this is not possible - but that does not mean I won't seek other opportunities to go abroad!
What I Would Have Liked to Know Before
Just because your Erasmus term officially starts on a specific date does not mean you cannot arrive a few days earlier. In fact, many students arrived in Malta 3-4 days before the official introduction event to get acclimated. The same applies to leaving - by far the hardest part.
Do Erasmus as soon as possible! Most students were between 19 and 22 years old, and at 24/25, I was one of the oldest. Additionally, starting earlier gives you more flexibility to extend your stay. I would have loved to stay longer, but my upcoming master’s thesis made it complicated.
What I Highly Recommend
The first 3-4 weeks are crucial. This is the period when everyone gets to know each other, and then, inevitably, groups will form. Even though it might be very hard on you (partying, sightseeing, beach, ESN-events and, of course, university often left me with 4-5 hours of sleep), you should not roll over and show your belly because the experiences you make and the friendships you form are almost impossible to catch up. Try to participate wherever and whenever you can! To illustrate my point: I met almost all my close friends on my arrival day. Through constant activities, we formed lasting friendships – even met my love on the first day ;-). If I had been sitting in my room because of being tired, love or lasting friendships would have been difficult to form. Get out and just do it!
“Just do it” brings me to my next point. Erasmus is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even if the party boat trip is more expensive than you would like it to be, participate! Afterall, it is highly unlikely you will experience all of this with these specific people in that setting again. Do not miss out and make the most of it! It should be priceless.
For this reason, I decided to go with my car and do a road trip through entire Italy to Malta. The memories I made with being able to drive my car in Malta with my new friends are unforgettable. It enabled me to have the same freedom I would have had at home, experiencing the island from a very different perspective and it
made my Erasmus truly special. If you have this possibility, do not think twice – best decision I ever made.
Lastly, I highly suggest going into university/student accommodation. Campus Hub, where I stayed, is heaven and hell at the same time. It might not be of the high comfort you would expect for the cost, but I would definitely go there again as there are 800 other students, dozens of activities, pool area, gym and simply endless possibilities to meet new people and forge plans. Even students who live in private apartments off-campus end up at Campus Hub to meet others. It is the hot spot! While it is expensive, everyone I asked would go there again because you cannot meet people easier – and the people you meet make up 95% of your Erasmus. It is a price worth paying.
The University
The university experience in Malta is definitely different from Innsbruck. For one, you wait outside for lectures to begin because it rarely rains in Malta—and when it does, only for a few hours. In other words, there are no indoor hallways connecting lecture rooms. Whenever you leave a class, you step directly into the sun, which is absolutely amazing! Studying outdoors is completely normal, and the campus is designed around this lifestyle.
The university itself is beautiful, with unique architectural elements. I would argue that form takes precedence over function, which is quite different from central Europe - a welcome contrast! However, do not expect state-of-the-art facilities. Some rooms could use a fresh coat of paint, and not all have smartboards; this varies by faculty. However, this was never a problem for me. In fact, I enjoyed the different environment. After all, Erasmus would be boring if everything felt like home!
The Island(s)
Malta consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. Comino is uninhabited and primarily a tourist destination due to its beautiful beaches and the famous Blue Lagoon. Gozo is incredibly picturesque; we once spent an entire day exploring it by car and even rented an Airbnb for a house party on another occasion.
Overall, Malta feels both large and small at the same time. Driving across the main island takes around 45 minutes, but the actual road distance is only about 30 kilometers. Keep in mind that being in the south, life moves at a slower pace - and the infrastructure is far from perfect anyway. For leisure time, I found it best to just go on Google Maps and skim across the country scouting for sights, museums and activities. My three favorite areas were Sliema, Valletta and of course Paceville.
What I Gained from This Experience
I had the opportunity to visit some management and entrepreneurship lectures within my interdisciplinary competences. Even though it was only 10 ECTS in total, I built a profound knowledge in that area. Regarding English, the subject that got me to Malta, I appreciated that some topics got rehearsed so I could refresh my memory. Again, to make the most of my Erasmus, I decided to diversify my assessments mode and did all four: written exams, oral exams, presentations and assignments. While it might sound stressful, I regard this as a valuable experience to expose myself to more stressful examinations in a different country other than doing just assignments.
Through Malta, I deepened my emotional intelligence. In general, I never had a problem approaching people but never approached those that seemed boring or uncomfortable. It drastically changed with Erasmus as I understood how valuable a network can be. Now, I approach all different kind if peoples with high confidence, having dealt with many different cultures and people in Malta. I can still rule out people I find annoying after I introduced myself. I learned to give people a chance before I judge. Furthermore, I am grateful for the experiences I had in terms of love. Erasmus and love is quite a fascinating topic anyway but you should find out yourself. Therefore, I do not want to delve too deeply into this topic but without Erasmus I would not be in the position I am in right now.
What I Want to Pass On
As a soon-to-be teacher, I see it as my duty to provide my students with the best possible education - and I have realised that this includes encouraging them to go abroad for an extended period. Erasmus is unlike anything else.
I miss my friends, I miss the island, I miss the weather and I miss the carefree lifestyle. But I know I will return soon because of the deep connection I built with this small, pretty island.
Do not ask yourself whether you should do an Erasmus semester - ask yourself how you are going to make the most of it.
Studying on a Mediterranean Island
Anna Niederer, SS 2024
The opportunity to study on a Mediterranean island is a rare and valuable one. For many, the proximity to the sea is a significant factor in their decision to pursue their studies in this location. For me, that was the primary factor that led me to select the University of Malta as the institution for my semester abroad. After spending 5 months in Malta, it is evident that studying at the University of Malta is so much more than just relaxing at the beach. It is an ideal environment for everyone who is passionate about their academic pursuits, outside sports and the Mediterranean climate.
The University
The university itself is relatively small. I found this quite convenient, as it meant that I never feared getting lost on campus. You may feel a little lost in the initial week but after that you will find your way to your lecture rooms very easily. Also, the UM app is quite helpful when it comes to looking for rooms. It must be acknowledged that the university rooms themselves do not offer much, as they are quite old. Also, you can recognize from the university edifices themselves that Malta is a rather poor country. However, this has not affected my learning outcomes and you can really sense that the university staff tries to make the best out of their buildings. Due to the warm climate in Malta, the campus is designed for students to be outside as much as possible. There are numerous seating options in the outdoor areas beneath the trees, where I spent most of my time writing papers or studying with friends. Additionally, the university offers a variety of study spaces, including the library and numerous other rooms where you can either study in silence or in groups. When it comes to lunch break, there is the canteen where you can get good food for little money or you can get something to eat from one of the various restaurants at Campus Hub, the local student dorm. So even though the university is quite limited in space, there is always some place to sit and spend your breaks between courses.
As I study English, the most of my coursework has been in this area. However, I must say that I faced some challenges in selecting my courses. It should be noted that Erasmus students of English are not allowed to enroll in Master courses at the department of English. Consequently, I was obliged to take Bachelor courses and count them as interdisciplinary courses at the University of Innsbruck. Still, it was very beneficial to repeat certain topics that I have already learned. I really enjoyed the courses I have chosen and I earned different insights on certain subjects.
Accommodation
During the organization of my semester abroad, it was quite challenging to find a decent and cheap accommodation. I was a bit overwhelmed with finding a web page that advertised shared apartments or anything similar. For this reason, I decided to live at Campus Hub, the university’s dormitory. Living there was very nice but expensive. The dormitory offers different housing conditions such as shared rooms, shared apartments or even studio apartments. In addition, there are many restaurants, a pool area, a study room, a barber shop, a grocery store, a nail salon, a shop for clothing, a gym and a pharmacy. What is particularly convenient is the dormitory’s direct location on campus, with a mere two minutes’ walk to your lecture rooms. As previously stated, I did not find any alternative options before going to Malta and I was reluctant to take the risk of not seeing my apartment before moving there. Nevertheless, some of my friends began looking for an apartment after they have already arrived in Malta. In general, it is easier to find a flat when you have already arrived in Malta, as landlords are typically seeking tenants that can move in immediately. However, this was an unacceptable risk for me personally and so the dormitory was the perfect solution for me.
Leisure Time And Social Life
There are about 3,500 students studying at the University of Malta. Given that about fifty percent of these are either Erasmus or international students, it was not hard to establish new friendships. I met most of my friends at the university’s Welcome Day, where you are introduced to the university’s orders and shown around the facilities. However, there are also other ways to make friends. The European Student Network (ESN) organizes regular events where you can connect with other people. For example, a welcome party was held during the first week of the semester. There, I got in contact with many other international students. Other events organized by ESN where hikes, boat trips to the Blue Lagoon, a boat party, weekly football games, dance and boxing classes, and many more. ESN events where always enjoyable and valuable opportunities to meet new people.
Personally, I enjoyed the many possibilities to get active outdoors. Even though I missed the Austrian mountains, I found other ways to hike on the Maltese Islands. Once, we even hiked on the Victoria lines and crossed the island from East to West on foot. Also, the island Gozo is a must-see when staying in Malta. Its nature, especially in March and April, is astonishing. I also tried many water sports on Malta, for example surfing, stand-up paddling, or kayaking. Furthermore, we went swimming every day. From Campus Hub, the sea is quite difficult to reach by bus; thus, we always walked about half an hour to Manoel Island to swim. People who like a little party every so often, will enjoy Malta very much. There is always a reason to party on Malta, either at ESN events or in Paceville, St. Julian. I also loved the many small coffee shops at every corner that sell coffee roasted in Malta. In conclusion, there is always something to do on the Maltese Islands.