Malta University Residence

Ray is the bright spot here. He puts together hikes and actually seems to value exchange students as people, not just as a way to make money. There’s a shuttle to Paceville three times a week, plenty of people around, and a lively party scene. The residence itself is in rough shape: mold, bugs, trash in the pool, old dirty facilities, and beds that fold up against the wall when they’re not in use. The kitchen has plastic garden chairs, a tiny fridge shared by lots of people, and no air conditioning in the main room. A friend found her shower covered in ants. The receptionist brushed it off with “That happens in Malta” and did nothing. Music started blasting as soon as exam season began, which felt like a terrible idea, or maybe spite. The costs add up fast. Sharing a room is expensive, and getting a private room for six months is nearly twice as much. Rules can mean threats of extra fees, and air conditioning costs €10 a day when Malta gets hot. The small on-site supermarket recently raised the price of a six-pack of water from €2.50 to €4 without explanation. You pay a €350 deposit, but everyone I know has received less back. Laundry costs €3 each time, and detergent isn’t included. The cleaning staff show up early, kick at doors, shout at people, and can be dismissive if you try to speak with them. A friend was physically abused for not getting up. They also enter rooms when people aren’t there and go through their things, even stealing belongings. Residence staff admitted this in the Facebook group. It also gets used for events with people who don’t live there: a first communion, a child’s 13th birthday, Bible study, weekly line dancing, and youth groups splashing around in the pool. Those groups are often louder than the exchange students, and nights can be noisy. There’s no contract, and you have to pay the full rent upfront. This could be a great place if it focused more on students than profit and took better care of the building. There can be a great time here, but the downsides are real.