The University Residence


Commonly referred to as the rez, almost always in deragatory or slanderous undertones. A majority of the inmates are American/Canadian students here on exchange, which gives it a conservative feel. Most of the American/Canadian students admit they didn't travel around the world to hang out with other American/Canadians.... but yet they do and they seem to enjoy themselves. However there is a myriad of cultural influences around the central salt water swimming pool, and Russians, Germans, and representitives from many a country can be found. I myself have lived there for a year and had an amazing time. If you have already applied to the University of Malta, you are most likely familiar with two myths which the residence propituates year after year to unsuspecting applicants.


The first is that you have no choice but to live there. Officially, long, long ago, the University made a deal with the rez saying that all first year students would be referred to the residence. However, due to massive complaints, the university in practice does not get involved. Every year a drama is re-inacted. Some newly arrived students decide they cannot live a semester/year at the rez, and opt to move out. Upon application, you are supposed to send a deposit to the residence to book a room. Once they have this deposit, there is virtually no way in hell you'll see it again unless you stay the entire year. So these rebel students either A) lose their deposit completely, which ecomonomically could still be cheaper than remaining, (In some cases they leave after a couple of months without paying their bills and point out to the residence that the deposit they are holding more than covers the bill), or B) managed not to pay their deposit at all, in which case they just walk out. In either case, the residence threatens them with expulsion from the University or even deportation. Neither punishment has ever been carried out. However the management will become your mortal enemy and refuse you entrance into their private little club. Sneaking into the windows is fun but dangerous because of the crumbling stone balconies. And this year some people got caught, so the management hired two security guards to stand around and look mean. They also keep a blacklist and will check your name at the door to see if they have any problems with you. I was on it, but I begged and after three months was grudging allowed visitation privileges.


The second myth revolves around the fictitious little flyer they send you with pictures of quaint bedrooms and the tennis court and the pool. Expecting a high class resort, people tend to be disapointed when they see the 'jogging track' is a rough dirt path that winds through an shrub infested plot of unused land behind the buildings, or that you have to pay to share a washing machine with hundreds of people, or that guests can only stay until a certain time, or that the pool is filled with salt water. The actual university is about a half hour walk away, and although the frequent bus service is valuable, public buses pass infrequently, depending on how badly you need them, through Lija and going out to the more exciting areas can be tiring. The rooms are all different sizes and you may be put in the smallest of apartments, where up to six people (two per room) could share a ridiculously underporportioned kitchen. Some people also complain about the short term private groups who use the premises for tours or conferences and are treated with preference, or the lack of privacy, the loud parties, and the continuous state of decay and garbage that marches on through weekly cleanings. A friend of mine arrived home drunk after a night in Paceville and blew up his oven and took this picture. The garbage is normal but the glass shards on the ground are from the explosion.


Despite its conservative management style, many people enjoy living at the residence. It is intensely social, you will meet people from all over the world who are in the same situation as you are. Relationships flourish earning the constant comparison to Melrose Place. Especially if it is your first time abroad, the residence can be a comfort and an asset to make the most of your experience. Even a number of long term students have chosen to make the residence their permanent home. My recommendation is, if possible, not to let them take advantage of you. My roomate last year informed them upfront that she'd lived off campus for years and had no interest in staying at the residence. They wrote back, "Send Deposit Immediately". She pushed the issue but received the same reply, so she came to Malta without paying her deposit and stayed at the residence for a couple of weeks while looking for apartments; (something that they have become extremely cautious of. Now you may need to look for other short term lodging if you plan on looking for an apartment, of which they are plenty including several youth hostels). In the end she met me and we found a beautiful house of character, with three floors, two big bedrooms, a full living, dining, and kitchen as well as a little garden with a prosperous orange tree. We paid about U.S. $250 per month each, which I think is a little less than what they're charging now for a single room at the rez. Getting an apartment in a group is much cheaper, and at the moment I'm paying U.S. $125 to share a three bedroomed flat with two roomates, which is considerably cheaper than the residence. It is also on the 3rd floor across the street from the coast, with one of the best views on the island, deep in the commercial district of Sliema with the most frequent busroutes. Again, this is a personal preference and I wouldn't recomend it to everyone; my first year I lived at the Residence and I have no complaints about my time there. I just don't like people getting stuck or staying because they feel they have to. Almost all of the long term students, and almost half of the short term (on exchange for a year) are living in groups outside the Residence. Some friends of mine are splitting a brand new, shiny and modern four bedroom apartment across the street from the University and paying the same as I pay, about $125 each. They're are many Real Estate Agents who will drive you around to properties for free, and if you choose one they take half of one months rent.