ESE Malta

The European School of English, known as ESE, is a language school in the heart of St Julian's, the resort town on Malta's east coast that is famous for its bays, restaurants and nightlife. Founded in 1996, it has taught English for more than twenty-five years and offers courses for adults, teenagers, juniors, teachers and companies.

The school is positioned as a place where study, accommodation and social life come as one package. Lessons take place in a modern building with bright classrooms, and students can stay in the school's own residence, in self-catering apartments, in hotels or with host families. UK readers can find ESE among the language schools in Malta in our directory.

About ESE and its accreditations

ESE is a member of the Claret Group, a privately held group that also includes the Executive Training Institute in Malta and English in York and York Associates in the United Kingdom. Between them they cover everything from general English to in-company language training and leadership development.

The school holds a long list of accreditations and memberships, including EAQUALS, IALC, Quality English, BAC, the British Council, English UK and FELTOM, the Maltese federation of English language teaching organisations. For a parent or an employer choosing a school abroad, that independent inspection is a useful reassurance.

Teachers are native speakers of English or have native-level proficiency, hold professional teaching qualifications and follow continuing professional development each year.

General English and long-term study

General English is the most popular option. Adult group courses start every Monday, last from one week upwards, and take students from starter level with a maximum of twelve in a class. The minimum age is eighteen. A weekly starting price of €250 is shown, and the final cost depends on how long you stay and where you live.

General English 20 has twenty lessons a week, equal to fifteen hours, and suits short stays or learners who want more free time. General English 30 adds ten lessons a week, either as group afternoons that are more conversational or as one-to-one lessons, so progress is faster. Ten extra private lessons can also be added, online or face to face.

For a longer stay, the Long-Term General English course lasts at least eight weeks and up to fifty-two, and the Academic Year Course is a more intensive route with extra homework, projects and counselling from the Director of Studies. Every adult booking includes access to the ESE e-Learning platform from enrolment until three months after the course, a certificate, a notebook and a welcome evening.

Exams, business English and special programmes

Exam preparation covers IELTS, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC and the Cambridge exams, and the school also lists Trinity GESE and ISE exams. Business English and Business English Intensive are offered together with English for Work, and online private tuition and eLearning courses are available for people who cannot travel.

Special programmes target particular groups. The Young Adults Programme, a 50+ Programme for people who want practical phrases for travel and everyday life, and a Family Programme sit alongside work placements and internships in Malta. Teachers can choose NILE Malta teacher development, TEFL plus TELT courses and Erasmus+ training, and there are Bildungsurlaub courses for German-speaking students taking educational leave. Anyone weighing up a longer move can read our guide to relocating to Malta.

Teen and junior programmes

ESE runs a range of programmes for younger students: a Day Programme for ages ten to seventeen, a Junior Camp for ten to thirteen year olds, a Teen Club for ages fourteen to seventeen, and a Teen Host Family option for ages thirteen to seventeen. There are also Diving and English for students aged fourteen and over, Tennis and English, and closed groups for teens.

Where you can stay

The ESE Residence is on the third floor of the school building, with twin-bedded rooms, private bathrooms, air conditioning, a study desk and a 24-hour receptionist, and wheelchair access. Seven self-catering apartments, ranging from economy to superior, are close to the school, and larger options include the Claret Apartments and Salini Resort studios.

Hotels in the same group, among them Number11, The George and the Salini Resort, are available for those who want a three-star or four-star stay, and host families are offered for adults and teens. Packages combine the course, accommodation, airport transfers and a certificate, with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, weekly cleaning and utilities included in the accommodation. For a wider picture of the area, see our hotels in Sliema and St Julian's page.

Welfare, leisure and the island

The welfare office is available night and day through school reception and by phone, which is particularly reassuring for parents of teenagers. The leisure team runs age-based activity programmes that change each week, and staff advise on tours to the capital and to Gozo.

Valletta is a short bus ride away, and our Valletta guide, Gozo guide and list of things to do in Malta help you plan days off. St George's Bay and other swimming spots are close; see the best beaches in Malta. If you are booking flights from the UK, our flights to Malta page shows the options.

How to enquire

Tell us what you are looking for: the course, dates, age of the student and whether you want accommodation. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to ESE, who will reply to you directly.