Institute of English Language Studies (IELS Malta)
Presentation of IELS Malta School
The Institute of English Language Studies (IELS) is one of the largest and most prestigious schools in Malta, both in terms of size and reputation.
Founded in 1985, IELS was one of the first English language schools to open in Malta. It is conveniently located in the popular tourist and seaside town of Sliema, an attractive environment highly favored by expatriates from all around the world.
With its 45 classrooms, IELS can accommodate up to 750 students simultaneously, making it one of the largest educational institutions in the archipelago. The school has the capability to teach English to students of all ages, both adults and young learners (starting from 12 years old), and all levels, including advanced (C1 and above).
IELS School Certifications
IELS is one of the most internationally accredited English language schools in Malta. It is certified as an official Cambridge English training center. This accreditation demonstrates the school’s commitment to quality education and the excellence of its teaching staff. IELS ensures high-quality English courses for students looking to improve their English skills.
The license from the ELT Council is issued by the Ministry of Education in Malta. This license certifies that an institution is officially recognized by the Maltese government as an English language learning school.
IELS Malta School Presentation Video
Features of IELS School
IELS is a modern and spacious English language school. The classrooms are equipped with digital tools to facilitate learning, including interactive whiteboards. It offers courses at all levels with start dates every Monday throughout the year. All teachers are qualified and native English speakers. The school also benefits from 35 years of academic experience, making it one of the leading schools in Malta.
IELS is a large school that offers a wide range of English courses and a great diversity of classes and language levels. It caters to both beginner students and those with advanced mastery of the English language (C1 and C2 levels). The school also offers training for foreign English teachers.
Modern facilities, the size of the school, its affiliation with the University of Cambridge, the variety of courses, and the qualified teaching staff make IELS one of the best English language schools in Malta.
Useful Resources
Student Nationality Distribution at IELS School
IELS welcomes more than thirty nationalities to its school every year. The two most represented nationalities are Italian and Colombian.
Teaching English
IELS employs nearly 100 English teachers to deliver all 15 English courses offered by the school. All school teachers are native speakers.
The school is affiliated with the University of Cambridge and offers a specific 6-week preparation course for taking the Cambridge English exam. It also trains future English teachers by offering CELTA courses designed for native English speakers looking to become certified English teachers.
Language Courses at IELS Malta
IELS offers 15 formats of English courses for adults available throughout the year from Monday to Friday.
The school also offers 3 formats of English courses for young learners and adolescents, available during the summer holidays (from June 17th to September 3rd), as well as during the Easter holidays (from April 1st to April 22nd) and the All Saints’ Day holidays (from September 30th to November 4th).
IELS students are automatically placed in homogeneous level groups. Each student takes an online level test 14 days before their arrival, as well as an oral test (via Zoom) with a member of the academic department. Both assessments determine the student’s actual English level and the class they will be assigned to.
English Courses for Adults
General English Course (GE20)
20 English lessons (GE20) of 45 minutes each per week.
15 hours of English classes per week / 3 hours per day
Available year-round, classes from Monday to Friday
Beginner (A1) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 12 students per class
General English Course (GE30)
30 English lessons (GE30) of 45 minutes each per week.
22 hours and 30 minutes of English classes per week / 4 hours and 30 minutes per day
Available year-round, classes from Monday to Friday
Beginner (A1) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 12 students per class
Conversational English Course Conversation English
20 general English lessons of 45 minutes per week (15 hours) + 10 conversational English lessons of 45 minutes (7 hours and 30 minutes).
22 hours and 30 minutes of English classes per week / 4 hours and 30 minutes per day
Available year-round, classes from Monday to Friday
Beginner (A1) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 12 students per class
General English Course in Small Group
20 general English lessons (GE20) of 45 minutes per week in a small group.
15 hours of English classes per week / 3 hours per day
Available year-round, classes from Monday to Friday
Beginner (A1) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 6 students per class
Intensive English Course in Small Group
30 general English lessons (GE30) of 45 minutes per week in a small group.
22 hours and 30 minutes of English classes per week / 4 hours and 30 minutes per day
Available year-round, classes from Monday to Friday
Beginner (A1) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 6 students per class
English Exam Preparation (TOEIC / TOEFL / IELTS)
20 general English lessons (GE20) of 45 minutes per week (15 hours) + 10 exam preparation lessons of 45 minutes (7 hours and 30 minutes).
22 hours and 30 minutes of English classes per week / 4 hours and 30 minutes per day
Available year-round, classes from Monday to Friday
Intermediate (B1) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 12 students per class
Business English Course (Business English)
20 business English lessons (Business English) of 45 minutes per week in a small group.
15 hours of English classes per week / 3 hours per day
Available year-round, classes from Monday to Friday
Intermediate (B1) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 6 students per class
Intensive Business English Course (Intensive Business English)
30 business English lessons (Business English) of 45 minutes per week in a small group.
22 hours and 30 minutes of English classes per week / 4 hours and 30 minutes per day
Available year-round, classes from Monday to Friday
Intermediate (B1) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 6 students per class
Cambridge Exam Preparation (FCE / CAE / CPE)
30 English lessons of 45 minutes per week specifically tailored for Cambridge exam preparation (22 hours and 30 minutes per week). The training lasts for 6 weeks and starts on fixed dates based on the chosen exam date.
22 hours and 30 minutes of English classes per week / 4 hours and 30 minutes per day
3 to 4 sessions per year based on exam dates
Upper Intermediate (B2) to Advanced (C2)
Maximum of 10 students per class
Linguistic Stays for Young People and Teenagers
Linguistic Stay in Malta for Young People – Residence (Young Learner)
A comprehensive program for young students, including 20 English lessons of 45 minutes per week (15 hours per week) and a program of fun, sports, and cultural activities.
Accommodation in club residence
Full board (breakfast / lunch / dinner)
15 hours of English classes per week / 3 hours per day
3 afternoons + 6 evening activities
Available from June 17 to September 23
Beginner (A1) to Intermediate (B2)
Maximum of 15 students per class
Linguistic Stay in Malta for Young People – Homestay (Young Learner)
A comprehensive program for young students, including 20 English lessons of 45 minutes per week (15 hours per week) and a program of fun, sports, and cultural activities.
Accommodation with a host family (Host family)
Full board (breakfast / lunch / dinner)
15 hours of English classes per week / 3 hours per day
3 afternoons + 6 evening activities
Available from April 1st to April 22nd, from June 17th to September 23rd, and from September 30th to November 4th
Beginner (A1) to Intermediate (B2)
Maximum of 15 students per class
Linguistic Stay in Malta for Young People without Accommodation (Young Learner)
The linguistic stay program without accommodation is a daily program from Monday to Friday for young students traveling to Malta with their parents. It includes 20 English lessons of 45 minutes per week (15 hours per week) and a program of fun, sports, and cultural activities.
15 hours of English classes per week / 3 hours per day
3 afternoons of activities
Available from April 1st to April 22nd, from June 17th to September 23rd, and from September 30th to November 4th
Beginner (A1) to Intermediate (B2)
Maximum of 15 students per class
Accommodations at IELS School
IELS School offers three accommodation options for adults who choose “Package” or course + accommodation options. Students can choose between the Day’s Inn Hotel residence, which provides the comfort of a hotel with additional facilities (kitchen, laundry, etc.), shared apartments Onsite located within the school premises, and homestay options.
Minor students, on the other hand, can choose to stay at either the Center Residence, located about a hundred meters from the school, or the Club Residence (Topaz Hotel) in San Pawl il-Baħar.
Accommodations for Adult Students
Day’s Inn Hotel
- Air Conditioning (AC)
- WIFI
- Television
- Pool
- Laundry
- Fully Equipped Kitchen
- House Linens
The Day’s Inn Hotel & Residence is conveniently located within a 5-minute walk from the school. The residence offers a choice of 54 standard rooms and 45 studios for IELS students.
Each room is designed to accommodate one to two students and features a private bathroom, air conditioning, and a television. The studios are equipped with a small kitchenette with a mini refrigerator, sink, and microwave for preparing simple meals.
All students can use the large communal kitchen located on the ground floor, equipped with numerous cooking facilities and refrigerators. Additionally, a small pool and laundry facilities are provided for the students’ convenience.
Campus Onsite Residence
- Air Conditioning (AC)
- WIFI
- Television
- Laundry
- Fully Equipped Kitchen
- House Linens
The Onsite Residence is a series of shared apartments located on the top floors of the IELS school. The apartments consist of multiple rooms that can accommodate from one to four students per room.
These modern apartments were completely renovated in early 2023 and feature a communal kitchen and a common lounge for the students’ comfort.
Host Family (Host family)
- Air Conditioning (AC)
- WIFI
- Television
- Laundry
- Half-Board (breakfast / dinner)
- House Linens
IELS works with many Maltese host families to accommodate its students. Families are carefully selected and are typically located within a 20-minute walk from the school. They can accommodate between 2 and 4 students.
IELS School Reviews
Positive Aspects of IELS School
- A diverse, multicultural school with a wide variety of nationalities among its students.
- High-quality teaching provided by native and qualified teachers.
- A modern main building and comfortable classrooms equipped with digital whiteboards.
- Modern and functional accommodations for adults (Day’s Inn and Onsite).
- Favorable value-for-money ratio on packages (courses + accommodation) for 3 weeks or more.
- An ideal location within a 5-minute walk from major shopping centers in Malta and a 25-minute walk from the Paceville district.
- The opportunity to prepare for the Cambridge exam in 6 weeks (only 4 schools offer this in Malta).
Negative Aspects of IELS School
- Host families are mainly focused on providing meals and are less involved in student life. This is a common characteristic of most host families in schools in Malta.
- The activity program for young students is less elaborate compared to other schools.
Location
Address of IELS School Malta: Triq Mattew Pulis, Tas-Sliema, Malta
IELS School is located in Sliema Ferry. It enjoys an ideal location, just a few steps from the ferry terminal to reach Valletta, and close to the large shopping center The Point as well as many supermarkets.
The school is also a short distance from the Sliema ferry, which allows you to reach the capital of Malta in less than 10 minutes by boat. The center of Saint Julian’s, including its famous Paceville district, is accessible in about twenty minutes on foot.
Frequently Asked Questions about IELS Malta (FAQ)
What is the price of a language stay in Malta at IELS?
The price of a language stay in Malta at the Institute of English Language Studies (IELS Malta) depends on various factors such as the duration of the stay, course format, accommodation, timing, etc. Therefore, the price can range from a few hundred euros to several thousand. You can check the IELS price brochure for an idea of the prices. Feel free to also contact our team to get a customized quote from IELS, with a best price guarantee.
Where is the Institute of English Language Studies (IELS Malta) located?
The Institute of English Language Studies (IELS Malta) is located on Triq Matthew Pulis in the town of Tas-Sliema in Malta.
What certifications does IELS Malta’s English school have?
IELS is a certified school recognized by the Ministry of Education in Malta (ELT Council). It also holds four major certifications: Feltom, ALTO, Cambridge, and Erasmus+.
Is IELS Malta a good school to learn English?
IELS is one of the best schools to learn English in Malta. IELS is one of the oldest and largest schools in Malta, renowned for providing high-quality courses.
What are the advantages of choosing IELS for a language stay in Malta?
IELS ranks among the best schools in Malta for learning English, with numerous prestigious certifications and affiliations, such as the Cambridge English Language Training Centre. IELS is recommended for young adults aged 18 to 35 looking to improve their English during a language stay.
Does IELS offer language stays for young people and teenagers?
The IELS Malta English school offers language stays for young people during the main school holidays, in partnership with the Kennedy Nova Hotel and the Plaza Regency for accommodation of minors. Both three-star hotels provide a quality and secure environment for teenage students.
How many classrooms are there at IELS?
IELS English school has 45 classrooms for teaching English.