Language schools in Brighton, The United Kingdom

Brighton, on the south coast of England, is a seaside city with a direct train service from London, and London Gatwick is the nearest major airport. Its language schools are mostly central, close to the seafront and the station, and teach English to adults and, in summer, to younger students.

What the schools offer

Our directory lists six language schools in Brighton. The two with current course details on their own websites are:

• LSI Brighton, at 55-61 Portland Road, is part of Language Studies International, which has trained language students since 1965 and now has 14 schools worldwide. The General 20 course has 20 lessons of 50 minutes a week, lasts 1 to 50 weeks (at least 8 weeks for beginners) and is open from age 16; there is also an Intensive 30 course and an Academic Year Abroad of 24 to 48 weeks. The school has 14 classrooms, an average class of 11 (at most 16) and en-suite student rooms on the same campus.
• Castle School of English, near the seafront and ten minutes on foot from the station, teaches General English (20 lessons, 15 hours a week), Semi-Intensive English (21 or 24 hours) and Intensive English (30 hours), plus IELTS and Cambridge exam preparation. Classes have at most 12 students and about 8 on average, the minimum age is 16, and courses start any Monday.

Our directory also lists the Intensive School of English & Business Communication (ISE), Languages Plus, Vivastudy Home Tuition and Living Language; we could not confirm current Brighton courses for them on their own websites.

Costs and accommodation

Schools charge by the week, so ask for a quote that covers registration, books and housing. At Castle School, online bookings carry a registration fee of £70, the first course book is free and extra books cost about £20 to £30. The school estimates that about 12 weeks of intensive study (30 hours a week, including independent study) raise your English by one level, which helps when planning a budget.

Students usually stay with a host family on half board (breakfast and evening meal) or in a student residence. Castle School says its homestays are on average 15 to 30 minutes from school and at most 45 minutes. According to the school, a single bus journey anywhere in Brighton costs £3, a day ticket £6.30 and a weekly ticket £27.00, though it notes that prices may have changed.

Visas

For an English course of up to six months, most students come as visitors: you can visit the UK for up to 6 months to study at an accredited institution, including English language courses. Visitors from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada and certain other countries usually need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which costs £20, instead of a visa. For an English course of more than 6 and up to 11 months, you need a Short-term study visa (£228, plus a healthcare surcharge that usually costs £776), according to GOV.UK.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours a week are English courses in Brighton?

Most general courses have 20 lessons a week: about 15 hours at Castle School and 16 hours 40 minutes at LSI Brighton. Intensive courses run to 30 lessons (LSI) or 30 hours (Castle School) a week.

Do I need a visa for an English course in Brighton?

For a course of up to six months most students come as visitors, with an ETA or a visitor visa depending on nationality. For a course of more than six and up to 11 months you need a Short-term study visa.

How do I get to Brighton?

The nearest major airport is London Gatwick, from where you can continue by train or bus; there is also a direct train service from London.

What is the minimum age?

Adult courses at LSI Brighton and Castle School are open from age 16. Both schools also run summer programmes for younger students.