Private tutoring and study academies (academias): costs and when families use them

Terms used

• Academia — An academia is a private tutoring centre that runs small-group classes after school.
• Profesor particular — A profesor particular is a private tutor who gives one-to-one lessons.
• Aulas de enlace — Aulas de enlace are temporary language classrooms in Madrid for newly arrived pupils.
• ATAL — ATAL are temporary language adaptation classes for newcomer pupils in Andalucía.
• EBAU/PAU — The EBAU/PAU is the university-entrance exam taken after Bachillerato.
• Bachillerato — Bachillerato is the two-year upper secondary course for pupils aged 16 to 18.

Key rules

• Free support first: Ask the school about free newcomer language support before paying for tutoring.
• Your child's right: Schooling is a right and obligation from 6 to 16, whatever your administrative status.
• Private tutor: Expect about 10 to 25 euros an hour in primary and ESO.
• Academia: Expect about 40 to 100 euros a month for small-group classes.

Try free school support first

Before you pay for tutoring, ask your child's school what free help it offers. Public schools and concertada schools (publicly funded private schools) give free support to newcomer pupils who do not speak the language of instruction. The programmes differ by region.

Examples you may hear about:

• Madrid: aulas de enlace, temporary language classrooms.
• Andalucía: ATAL, temporary classes for language adaptation.
• Catalonia: aules d'acollida, welcome classrooms.
• Other regions: apoyo lingüístico (language support) or educación compensatoria (extra help for pupils with gaps).

Your child normally stays in their ordinary class for most of the day. The school or an educational guidance team assesses who needs help. Support usually lasts a limited time, such as one school year, and is sometimes extended.

Schooling is a right and an obligation from age 6 to 16, whatever your family's administrative status. Ask at the school office when you enrol, and ask how the support works in your region.

What tutoring costs

Tutoring is widely used in Spain, and prices are fairly predictable. Use these as a budgeting guide for 2025. Prices vary by city, level and subject, and they are higher in Madrid, Barcelona and other big cities.

Private tutor (profesor particular), per hour:

• Primary and ESO (compulsory secondary): 10 to 25 euros.
• Bachillerato, university-entrance exams (EBAU/PAU) or specialist subjects: 15 to 35 euros.
• Big cities and university-level subjects: 30 to 50 euros.

Academia (tutoring centre), per month:

• Small-group classes of one or two hours a week: 40 to 100 euros.
• Intensive courses or exam preparation: more.
• English language academies: 40 to 90 euros, with exams and materials extra.

A child having one hour a week with a tutor at 10 to 25 euros would cost roughly 40 to 100 euros a month, in line with an academia.

When tutoring makes sense

Free support helps with language, but it may not cover every gap. Tutoring is worth considering when:

• Your child is still behind in a subject after the free support has ended.
• A school year of catching up is not enough before exams, such as the Bachillerato or university-entrance exams.
• You want extra practice in the local language or in a specific subject.

An academia suits a child who works well in a group and needs a regular routine. A private tutor suits a child who needs one-to-one attention at their own pace.

How to compare

1. Ask the school what free support exists and how long it lasts.
2. Ask the teacher which subjects your child needs help with.
3. Get prices from two or three tutors or academias in your area, and ask what is extra (materials, exam fees).
4. Start with a short commitment before paying for a long course.

The questions below cover the most common doubts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private tutor cost per hour?

A private tutor usually costs about 10 to 25 euros an hour for primary and ESO (compulsory secondary). Bachillerato, university-entrance exams or specialist subjects cost about 15 to 35 euros. In large cities and for university-level subjects, prices can reach 30 to 50 euros.

What free help can my child get at school before I pay for tutoring?

Public and concertada schools offer free language support to newly arrived pupils who do not speak the language of instruction. The name changes by region: aulas de enlace in Madrid, ATAL in Andalucía, and aules d'acollida in Catalonia.

Does my child qualify for free newcomer support if our paperwork is not settled?

Yes, schooling is a right and an obligation from 6 to 16 whatever the administrative status of your family. The school or an educational guidance team assesses language or curriculum gaps. Ask the school office which programme it offers in your region.