First Hand Advice for New Students at the University of Malta

Established in 1592, the University of Malta is one of the oldest European colleges and Malta's only university. The Maltese have one of the highest standards of living in the Mediterranean and an impressive record in health and education.

The present campus, opened in 1968, has recently been greatly extended to include theater-type lecture rooms and science, language and computer laboratories. The sports complex includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a football ground, tennis courts, and a track. Most of the 8,000 Maltese students enrolled in this university not only don't pay tuition fees but receive a state funded student allowance.

The best accommodation for foreign students studying in Malta

For those who travel to Malta to enroll in the various programs offered by UoM, a university residence is located only 2 km away from the university campus. The boarding rates are reasonable and the residence operates a free bus service directly connected with the University that runs every hour.

The University residence has extensive private grounds with a large common pool and is within walking distance to the town center of Lija and a short car ride away from various shopping centers, historic sites and beautiful beaches. The place is impeccably maintained and the staff is very friendly.

Though you will find plenty of studio flats at reasonable prices within a few miles away from campus, the University Residence is the ideal setting for the international traveling student who needs a clean, comfortable and friendly live in facility.

How to have a good relationship with your lecturers

My experience with the lecturers is that they go out of their way to help you with your difficulties, if you show that you are willing to work hard and interest during their lessons.

Do' s Contributing to a discussion with intelligent and appropriate feedback is a great way to show that you are interested in the topic being discussed and will win you points with your tutor. Always hand your assignments in time and follow your tutor's guidelines when submitting your work.

Don't s One of the things that will positively irritate any lecturer on campus is when students are late to the lesson. Many lecturers have studied in Britain and see a lack of punctuality as a sign of disrespect. If you plan to attend a lecture you have to be there on time. Making it 10 to 15 minutes late to a lecture is disruptive for your fellow students and is guaranteed to put you in your tutor's black book which will negatively reflect on your grading.

If you have a class at 8 or 9 in the morning you have to take into account the heavy peak hour traffic and the flooding in some areas near Msida, so leave early.

Insider's tip Most of your lecturers have published material in the Melitensia section, and reading their work will give you an idea what they are expecting from you.

Finding your way on campus

During my freshman year and sometimes even in the second and third year at UoM, I did get lost when I was trying to find a lecture room. The multitude of lecture theatres scattered on campus feels like a crazy maze and it does take time to get used to it.

The various student organizations, will give you maps that should help you find your way, but there always seems to be a work in progress going on, and new additions to lecture theaters are often made.

Insiders tip Your best bet is to stick to more experienced students who know their way about, better than you do. If you are in doubt ,ask for help and don't leave it to the last minute to make it to a lecture room you are not familiar with.

Finding the best resources for your assignments

One of the places you should spend most of your time during your college years is the university library. The library is well equipped and offers the best reference section on the island.

Unfortunately there is a limit to the number of text books available and students will hog great material. If you are one of the unlucky ones who has not made it on time, join a study group where the reference text you need is available. Another option is to look on line to see if there is any material to help you with your assignment.

Insider's tip One of the biggest tricks to get the best resources for your assignments is to get your material as soon as your tutor assigns work.

If you happen to be in a lecture room with another two or three hundred students, especially if you are attending a compulsory class in law or psychology, rest assured that by the time the lecture is over, the more experienced sharks will already be rushing to the university library to gather the best material.

The best freshmen parties, faculty parties and places to hang out and meet people

Most students simply hang out on campus between classes or go to the canteen when it is raining. My experience with canteen food is lukewarm. It is not the best food you'll eat in your life, but as far as I know it has never killed anyone as long as you stay away from greenish tuna and icky pastries. In general the atmosphere on campus is relaxed and it is very easy to make friends with other students.

Going to the multitude of parties and activities organized by the various faculties is also another great way to meet people. The best parties are organized by the law and medicine students, but events change from semester to semester so keep your ears open, as your friends will usually suggest the best places to chill out and have fun.

Some parties especially if you are meeting a group of friends at someone's house can get pretty wild in minutes. There is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of good fun, so enjoy it while you can, because when you start paying taxes and changing diapers you wont get back those years, but don't be afraid of walking out if the atmosphere gets too much for you.

Tips about partying

Making new friends and winding down after long hours poring over boring reference books, was one of the best things during my college years, but waking up on Monday morning after a weekend of partying was very very very hard.

If you have an important presentation or an end of semester test on a Monday morning, stay away from Paceville on Sunday evening and try to make it to bed at least by 1 in the morning. No amount of caffeine or energy drinks can give you back your focus if your body is recovering from sleep deprivation and a bad hang over.

The secret to a successful working career

No one brags about studying but the only way to get good grades, (and good jobs when you finish your course), is to work hard. Join a good study group and take your time to research and present your work appropriately.

Competition on campus is fierce and none of your friends will push you to study and get better grades than they do.

Golden tip

Summer placements and the opportunity to work on the various research projects at UoM will be an invaluable addition to your resume, so choose wisely and work hard to leave a positive impression on your tutors. A great reference from an esteemed professor is a very good start for your future career.

Good luck, study hard but hey... Don't forget to have fun!

Works cited

Personal experience

Isep.org

University residence.com