Language Courses Schools and Programs in Spain

Language Courses Studies in Spain

Spain is one of the main destinations for learning Spanish, and it also has a large public network for learning other languages. Most of the schools listed on this page teach Spanish to foreigners, either as private language schools or as language centres run by universities. Others teach English and other languages to people living in Spain, or train teachers of English as a foreign language (TEFL).

Types of language courses

• Private Spanish schools offer intensive group courses booked by the week, private lessons, exam preparation and accommodation. Colegio Delibes in Salamanca, for example, has a maximum of 12 students per class, DELE preparation, and host family, student residence or shared flat accommodation. At Mester, also in Salamanca and founded in 1991, a one-week course of 20 lessons with full-board accommodation and a programme of activities is listed at €370.
• University language centres run Spanish courses for foreigners alongside the university calendar. The Centro de Lenguas Modernas of the Universidad de Granada is an exam centre for the DELE, SIELE and CCSE (the Spanish nationality test) and also trains teachers of Spanish. Alcalingua, at the Universidad de Alcalá, adds courses in German, Korean, Turkish, Chinese, French, English, Italian and Japanese, help with visa procedures and housing in residences, shared flats or host families. The Universidad de Cádiz states that all its Spanish programmes follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• Official language schools (escuelas oficiales de idiomas, EOI) are public centres run by the regional governments. According to the Ministry of Education, they offer 23 languages from basic (A1-A2) to proficient (C1-C2) level in a network of 471 centres. The EOI Barcelona Drassanes, for example, teaches Spanish in four-month intensive courses from A1 to B2.2, with groups of 25 to 30 students, and passing certain levels gives an official certificate valid throughout Spain. It does not handle visas.
• Teacher training: centres such as TtMadrid train native and fluent English speakers to teach English; TtMadrid's course has 180 hours, combining online theory before arrival with intensive classes in Madrid.

Levels and official Spanish exams

Courses are organised by the CEFR levels, from A1 to C2. The DELE diplomas are official qualifications that the Instituto Cervantes awards on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports. They cover all six CEFR levels, can be taken without a prior course, and have official validity with no expiry date. The SIELE is an electronic test that certifies Spanish proficiency, promoted by the Instituto Cervantes, UNAM (Mexico), the Universidad de Salamanca and the Universidad de Buenos Aires; results arrive within three weeks at most. Many schools prepare students for both.

Quality and accreditation

The Instituto Cervantes runs SACIC, an accreditation scheme for centres that teach Spanish as a foreign language. Accredited centres pass a full evaluation that is repeated every three years, and the Instituto Cervantes publishes the list of accredited centres in Spain. Schools in our directory that appear on that list include the Centro de Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Granada, the Centro Internacional de Español of the Universidad de Málaga, Malaca Instituto in Málaga, Colegio Delibes and Mester in Salamanca, Instituto Hemingway in Bilbao, Costa de Valencia, and Academia Iria Flavia in Santiago de Compostela.

Where to study

In our directory, Madrid has the most language schools (35), followed by Barcelona (23), Málaga (18), Granada (15), Salamanca (9), and Valencia and Seville (8 each). Large cities offer the widest choice of timetables and specialised courses; university cities such as Salamanca and Granada have several centres for foreign students, and coastal towns such as Cádiz, Alicante and Conil de la Frontera combine courses with a beach setting.

Visas

A course of up to 90 days does not require a study visa, although some nationalities need a short-stay Schengen visa. For longer courses, Spain's consulates list language studies among the activities that qualify for a study visa: Spanish or a co-official language, taught in person at an official language school or a centre accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. The language must not be the applicant's mother tongue or an official language of their country. Applicants must show acceptance at an authorised centre for a full-time programme, and anyone staying more than 180 days must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) within one month of arrival.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for a Spanish course in Spain?

Not for a course of up to 90 days, although some nationalities need a short-stay Schengen visa. Longer courses need a study visa, and they must be in-person courses at an official language school or an Instituto Cervantes accredited centre.

What does "accredited by the Instituto Cervantes" mean?

The school has passed the Instituto Cervantes evaluation for centres that teach Spanish as a foreign language (SACIC). The evaluation is repeated every three years.

Should I take the DELE or the SIELE?

The DELE is an official diploma for one CEFR level with no expiry date. The SIELE is a computer-based test with results within three weeks. Many schools prepare for both, so check which one your university or employer asks for.

Can I learn languages other than Spanish in Spain?

Yes. The official language schools teach 23 languages, and some university centres, such as Alcalingua at the Universidad de Alcalá, also teach languages such as English, German, Chinese and Japanese.