When Bettina, a primary school teacher from Germany, moved to Malta with her two children five years ago, her first concern was not housing or permits. It was schools. Her daughter was fourteen, her son was nineteen, and the question of where they would continue their education felt like the hinge on which the entire move would turn. Five years later, her daughter attends Verdala International School, has a class with children from twelve nationalities, and has emerged with three languages and a kind of ease in unfamiliar cultural situations that Bettina attributes directly to that schooling. "The diversity stays with you for life," she says. "I couldn't have planned that from Germany."
For expat families considering Malta, the school question has a logic to it once you understand the landscape. Malta's education system has three tiers — public, church, and private/international — and the right choice depends on how long you plan to stay, how young your children are, what qualifications they need to carry forward, and honestly, what your budget allows. None of the options is wrong. They are different, and the difference matters.
The simple guide: For short stays (1–3 years) or children older than 10 who need international curriculum continuity: international schools, €4,500–€13,500/year. For families planning 3+ years with young children: consider Maltese state schools — free, surprisingly good, English-taught from age 7, and the route to genuine Maltese integration. Church schools: free with a nominal donation, quality comparable to state, limited places. The Migrant Learners' Unit provides induction support for non-English/Maltese-speaking children.
The State School System
Malta's state education is free for all children, including those of EU nationals and residents. The system follows a broadly British model: children start school at age five, compulsory schooling runs to sixteen, and those continuing to university sit the Matriculation Certificate examinations at eighteen. State schools are grouped into six college systems, each covering a region of Malta, with children progressing from their local primary school to the secondary school within their college.
The language reality in state schools: from nursery through approximately age seven, teaching is bilingual in Maltese and English. After that, the primary medium of instruction shifts toward Maltese, with English maintained as a strong second language and taught as a subject throughout. For expat children old enough to struggle with Maltese, the Migrant Learners' Unit runs induction programmes to help non-Maltese and non-English-speaking children integrate. For very young children (under seven), state school is often cited by expat parents as an excellent option — children this age absorb language without the friction older children experience, and the bilingual outcome is genuinely valuable.
The surprise most expats encounter is that Maltese state schools are better than their international reputation suggests, particularly at primary level. Class sizes are manageable, facilities have improved considerably with EU investment, and the teaching quality — while variable, as in any public system — is generally solid. The thirteen-week summer holiday is longer than Northern European norms and requires childcare planning.
Church Schools
Malta's church schools operate under an agreement with the government that makes them effectively free to parents — a nominal annual donation rather than a fee, typically well below private school costs. They are accredited by the Ministry for Education, follow the national curriculum, and their graduates sit the same SEC and Matriculation examinations as state school pupils. Quality is consistently regarded as comparable to or slightly above state schools, with a notably engaged parent community. The catch: places are limited and oversubscribed, allocated through a tiered priority system. Non-religious families can send children to church schools — religious education is standard but children can be exempted on parental request.
International Schools: The Main Options
Verdala International School (Fort Pembroke, Pembroke) — the benchmark for international education in Malta and the only school offering the complete IB programme from primary through diploma level. Over 500 students from 40+ nationalities. Supported by the US State Department for children of diplomats and US government employees. Fees: approximately €3,230–€7,686/year depending on grade level. Boarding available.
QSI International School (Mosta) — approximately 225 students from 40 countries, fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (USA). Strong individual focus, small class sizes. American curriculum approach.
Chiswick House School (primary) and St Martin's College (secondary) — follow the British curriculum with an enhanced French section through collaboration with the French Embassy. Popular with French-speaking families and those wanting British curriculum continuity.
St Edward's College (Cottonera) — a boys' college with IB programme, English-medium instruction, and a tradition rooted in the British public school model. More affordable than dedicated international schools: approximately €410–€1,797 per term.
Budget Reality for International School Families
Total annual cost per child at a mid-range international school runs €6,000–€17,000 when you include tuition (€4,500–€13,500), registration (€500–€1,500 one-time), uniforms and supplies (~€700–€1,000/year), and school transport if needed (€500–€1,500/year). Some employers — particularly large iGaming and corporate employers in Malta — include an education allowance in their relocation packages. If yours does not and you have two school-age children at international schools, the combined cost becomes a significant fraction of your total Malta budget.
