Studies & Degrees in Language Courses

Language Courses Study Programs

A language course teaches a foreign language to people who do not speak it as their first language. It is not a degree: the aim is practical command of the language, measured in levels, and often an internationally recognised certificate at the end. Courses range from a week or two of intensive classes during a holiday to a full academic year abroad, and from general conversation to preparation for university study or a specific profession.

Students work on four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking, together with grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. A course taken in a country where the language is spoken adds daily practice outside the classroom, which is the main reason students travel for it. Most schools start with a placement test and put each student in a group at the right level.

Levels, course types and certificates

Most schools in Europe, and many elsewhere, describe levels with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). According to Cambridge English, it describes language ability on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners up to C2 for those who have mastered a language. The levels in between are A2, B1, B2 and C1.

Course types are similar from school to school:

• General courses at different intensities. CastiLa in Granada, for example, lists a general course of 20 hours per week and a super-intensive course of 30 hours per week; at Istituto Venezia group courses last three hours a day, with a maximum of 12 students per class
• Long-term courses of several months or an academic year
• Exam preparation courses
• Courses for specific purposes, such as business language or courses for language teachers
• Private lessons, online classes, junior courses and programmes for school or university groups

A school's own certificate of attendance is not the same as an official language diploma. The main official certificates are awarded by external bodies:

• Spanish: the DELE diplomas are official qualifications awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education. They cover all CEFR levels and are valid indefinitely. SIELE is a fully digital exam promoted by the Instituto Cervantes and the universities of Mexico (UNAM), Salamanca and Buenos Aires; it has four tests and gives results within three weeks at most.
• French: the DELF is an official diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education. There are four diplomas, DELF A1, A2, B1 and B2, and they are valid for life.
• English: IELTS has two test types, Academic and General Training, and Cambridge English qualifications are aligned with the CEFR levels.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 772 active schools that offer language courses. Spain has the most (198), followed by the United States (101), the United Kingdom (98), France (50), Italy (48), Germany (39), Canada (31) and Ireland (22). In Latin America, Argentina (17), Mexico (16) and Ecuador (12) have the largest numbers; China also has 12.

The schools are of three broad kinds: private language schools, university language centres and study abroad organisations that place students with partner schools. Examples from the directory are CastiLa in Granada, which has taught Spanish since 1988; Alcalingua, the language centre of the Universidad de Alcalá; the Spanish courses for foreign students of the Universidad de Málaga; CAVILAM – Alliance Française in Vichy; Istituto Venezia in Venice and Trieste; the English Language Academy of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and VanWest College in Vancouver.

Quality labels help to compare schools; check on the accrediting body's own list whether a school holds one:

• In Spain and abroad, the Instituto Cervantes accredits centres that teach Spanish as a foreign language through its SACIC system. FEDELE, the Spanish federation of schools of Spanish, has about a hundred member schools and states that all of them are accredited by the Instituto Cervantes.
• In Canada, all Languages Canada member schools must be accredited under one scheme that examines six areas, including teaching staff, curriculum and student services.

Many schools also arrange accommodation. Alcalingua, for example, lists university residences, shared flats and homestay with a host family; Istituto Venezia offers single rooms with local hosts.

What a language course is used for

A language course does not lead to a profession by itself. Students use it to reach the level that a university asks for before admission, to add a certificate to a CV, to prepare for work in another country or to meet a language requirement for residence or nationality. Ask the university or employer which certificate and which level it accepts before choosing an exam course.

Visa rules depend on the country and the length of the course. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the Short-term study visa is for English language courses that last longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months; it costs £228, plus a healthcare surcharge that usually costs £776 (gov.uk, checked October 2026). For a course of 6 months or shorter a Visitor visa applies, and for more than 11 months a Student visa. Always check the official immigration page of the country before booking.

Frequently asked questions

How are language levels measured?

Most schools use the CEFR, a six-point scale from A1 for beginners to C2 for those who have mastered the language. Schools normally test new students and place them in a group at their level.

How many hours per week is an intensive language course?

It varies by school. As examples, CastiLa in Granada lists courses of 20 and 30 hours per week, and group courses at Istituto Venezia last three hours a day.

Do language certificates expire?

It depends on the certificate. The Spanish DELE diplomas are valid indefinitely and the French DELF is valid for life. Institutions may still ask for a recent result, so check their requirements.