Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme for education, training, youth and sport, and many people hope it will pay for an English course in Malta. It sometimes does, but not in the way most people expect. The grant does not go to you as a private learner. It goes to the organisation you work or study for, which then funds your participation. Here is who qualifies and how the process works.
The rule that decides everything
The European Commission states it plainly on its page for individuals: for many Erasmus+ opportunities, you go through your university, training centre or other organisation. Your organisation applies for grants to run Erasmus+ projects, and those grants fund your participation.
So the first step is with your employer or institution, before any school in Malta: find out whether it takes part in Erasmus+ and whether it will include you.
Who qualifies: staff working in education
The Commission’s page on training opportunities for staff describes support for people working in education, in teaching and non-teaching roles. It covers four sectors:
- School education: professionals in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools. Training consists of structured courses, training assignments or job shadowing at schools and other organisations in an Erasmus+ Programme country.
- Vocational education and training: staff of VET institutions, with structured courses, training assignments or job shadowing.
- Adult education: staff of adult education organisations, with the same three formats.
- Higher education: staff of universities, with training periods at a higher education institution or, in some cases, at an organisation outside the sector.
Malta is an EU member state, so its schools and organisations sit inside the Erasmus+ Programme area. An English course for teachers or school staff fits the structured course format when it serves the professional development your organisation has planned.
Who does not qualify this way
- A private individual who wants to improve their English for personal reasons, with no organisation behind them.
- An employee of a company outside the education sector, applying alone.
- A university student hoping to use an Erasmus+ study exchange for a stay at a private language school. Student exchanges run through your university’s own agreements.
If you fall into one of these groups, plan the course as a self-funded stay. Our page on the cost of living in Malta for students helps with the budget.
How the process works, step by step
- Talk to your organisation. Ask whether it holds an Erasmus+ grant or plans to apply, and who coordinates it. In a school, start by asking the head teacher who handles European projects.
- Link the course to a plan. Erasmus+ supports professional development. Explain how an English course serves your work: teaching a subject in English, running exchanges with partner schools, or reading professional material.
- Choose the course in Malta. Check that the school appears on the official list of licensed schools, as explained in our guide to checking a school’s licence.
- Agree the dates. Your organisation decides the period with you, in line with its project.
- Keep your paperwork. Keep the enrolment confirmation, the course programme and proof of attendance. Your organisation reports on the mobility to its national agency.
Choosing a course that fits
Ask the school for the weekly number of lessons and their length. That figure tells you how much teaching your grant buys. Our article on how long it takes to improve your English in Malta explains how to turn lessons into a realistic goal. If the course leads to a certificate, compare the options in the guide to English exams in Malta.
Staff with physical, mental or health-related conditions are eligible for additional funding, according to the Commission, and have the right to the same support services as local staff at the receiving institution. Mention any need early, when your organisation prepares the application.
Questions for the language school
- Is the course a structured course with a written programme and stated learning outcomes?
- How many lessons per week, how long is each lesson, and how many participants per class?
- Does the school issue a certificate of attendance at the end?
- Are participants grouped by level after a placement test?
- What happens if a lesson falls on a public holiday?
Ask for the answers in writing and pass them to your organisation. They become part of the file it keeps on your mobility.
Practical points for your stay
- Accommodation: ask whether the grant covers it and who books it. Many staff choose a host family for daily practice in English.
- Health cover: our guide to healthcare in Malta explains what to bring.
- Longer stays: EU citizens staying more than three months register their residence. See our guide for EU students staying over three months.
The short answer
Erasmus+ funds English courses in Malta for people working in education, through their organisation, as part of professional development. It does not fund a private learner acting alone. Start the conversation with your employer or institution months before the course, not with the language school.
