Erasmus Experience in Msida, Malta by Conor

Why did you choose to go to Msida, Malta?

I chose Msida because it was within close proximity to the university, I lived on Triq-l-Iskola which was around a 5 minute walk to campus.

Source

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I received a grant of €800 spread over the full academic year to help me.

What is the student lifestyle like in Msida?

Student life was great, the international students always organised social events and it was really easy to meet people.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Msida to other students?

Yes, highly.

How much does it cost to live in Msida?

It's been over 4 years since I lived there but at the time the cost of living was extremely low.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

As Malta is a bilingual country (Maltese and English), there weren't any issues for me communicating with locals, apart from some colloquialisms! There were courses available to get to grips with Maltese if you wanted.

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What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Msida from your city?

Well, the buses at the time were really old and rackety but they had their own character, at the time it was only 47c per trip. For getting to university I simply walked though.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Msida?

Paceville was the main area for going out, about a 20 minute walk from Msida or just a few minutes on one of the previously mentioned buses!

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Msida?

Msida itself didn't have too many options however the likes of Sliema really nearby has lots of options.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Valletta is really nearby and places like Gozo, Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk (fishing village) are all easily accessible by transport or by car if you drive.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Msida in the future?

For anyone thinking about going, my experience was obviously a few years ago so many things might have changed. A main thing to keep in mind is that Msida is not really a "city", Malta is a very small place and the capital is Valletta. From there around the coast you have Msida, Sliema and St Julians (where Paceville is also located). I'd recommend staying somewhere around Msida for access to the university but also if you live in Sliema or St Julians it's not an issue and both of those places are great social areas.

Like I said a lot might have changed - for example I think they modernised the buses and the cost of living may have increased. I also heard Paceville has changed a lot as well!

I had an incredible year there though, and I would highly recommend it.