Where to learn Spanish in Spain: your options compared

Terms used

• CEPA — The CEPA is a public adult education centre run by a region, often offering free Spanish classes for foreigners.
• EOI — The EOI, or Escuela Oficial de Idiomas, is a public language school that teaches Spanish to foreigners only in some regions.
• DELE — The DELE is an official Spanish diploma, issued by the Instituto Cervantes, that proves your Spanish level and never expires.
• CCSE — The CCSE is the Instituto Cervantes test on Spanish culture and institutions, required for nationality.
• SIELE — The SIELE is an exam-based Spanish certificate from A1 to C1, valid for five years.
• Arraigo social — Arraigo social is a residency route for people with roots in Spain, which may accept a town hall integration report.

Key rules

• Goal first: Choose by what you need: daily life, work, or an official certificate for residency or nationality.
• Academy diplomas: Private academy diplomas have no official value, so use them only for learning or employers.
• Free classes: Adult education centre classes are generally free, but you must register and places are limited.
• EOI availability: Spanish at an official language school exists only in some regions, so ask your regional education department.

Start with your goal, not the advert

The best option depends on what you need Spanish for. If you want to get by in daily life, a free or cheap local class is usually enough. If you need proof of level for nationality, you need an official exam, and the course you take only prepares you for it. The table and the decision tool below put the options side by side.

Free and low-cost public options

Adult education centres (CEPA). These are run by regional education departments. Many offer Spanish classes for foreigners, usually from beginner to intermediate level, and some add literacy courses. They are generally free, though you must register and places are limited. Some centres ask for a small material or insurance fee. Ask about enrolment dates early, because windows are fixed and waiting lists are common.

Official language schools (EOI). These mainly teach regional languages and foreign languages. Only some regions offer Spanish for foreigners, and only in some schools. Levels follow the European scale, typically A1 up to C1 or C2. Many regions have none and send foreigners to a CEPA instead. This is not a national right, so ask your regional education department.

NGOs and charities. Groups such as Cruz Roja, Cáritas, CEAR, Accem and Fundación Cepaim, plus local volunteer associations, often give free classes to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Some give priority to people in vulnerable situations. Contact the local branch or your town's social services. Local branches set their own eligibility and may have waiting lists.

Paid options

University language centres. Universities such as Salamanca, Barcelona, Complutense, Granada, Valencia and Santiago run Spanish courses. Expect roughly €150 to €300 for a monthly or short intensive course, and €500 to €1,500 for a semester. Fees are set by each university, so check the current price. Some courses target exchange students but are open to residents. They are a good choice if you want structure and teaching quality.

Private academies. These offer group, intensive and exam-preparation courses, and some are accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. They have the most flexible timetables. Their diplomas record attendance or level and may help with employers, but they have no official value.

Private tutors. One-to-one lessons are paid by the hour. Online tutors typically charge about €12 to €30, and in-person tutors in Spain about €15 to €35. Prices are higher in Madrid and Barcelona and for certified exam teachers, and lower in smaller towns. Tutors suit you if you need a fast, personal plan or exam coaching. Compare current listings and book a trial lesson first.

Online classes. These are usually cheaper and more flexible, with a wider choice of teachers. Quality varies widely, you get less contact with local people, and you need self-discipline. Free public and NGO courses are mainly in person. Many learners combine online study with an in-person class.

Which certificate counts

Diplomas from private academies have no official value, so for nationality you need a DELE diploma at A2 or higher plus the CCSE test. Some nationals of Spanish-speaking countries are exempt from the language part. For some residency routes, such as arraigo social, a town hall integration report may be accepted instead of a language certificate. Check the exact requirement with the authority handling your procedure.

The DELE never expires and is also accepted for jobs and study. The SIELE is valid for five years. The documents list below gives details on each.

Quick checks before you pay

• Ask whether the course leads to an official certificate or only an academy diploma.
• Check hours per week and whether classes are daytime or evening.
• Ask for a placement test or trial lesson to confirm your level and the teacher's quality.

Choosing between options

Which way of learning Spanish fits you best?

• Public school or adult education centre: You want low-cost, structured classes in person and a place is available. Spanish at an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas exists only in some regions.

• University language centre: You want an intensive course and can pay roughly €150 to €300 for a month or €500 to €1,500 for a term.

• NGO or free local class: Your budget is tight and you are a migrant, asylum seeker or refugee. Classes are mainly in person and places can be limited.

• Private academy or tutor: You need flexible hours, one-to-one attention or exam preparation and can pay for it.

• Online classes: You need flexibility of schedule and location, or a wider choice of teachers, and you can keep yourself disciplined.

Start from your goal: for nationality choose a route that prepares you for the DELE and CCSE, for daily life choose in-person classes you can afford, and for flexibility choose online or a tutor.

Spanish study options side by side by cost, level and certificate

Public classes are the cheapest route, private tutors are the most flexible, and only an exam gives you an official certificate.

Which certificate counts

Only an exam gives you a certificate that counts officially. Courses and academy diplomas do not.

• DELE: an official diploma covering A1 to C2. It never expires and is accepted for work, study and nationality.
• SIELE: an exam-based certificate covering A1 to C1. It is valid for five years.
• CCSE: a test on Spanish culture and institutions. It is not a language certificate.

How many hours you need

Class time varies with your first language, how intensive the course is and how much Spanish you use outside class. These cumulative totals are rough estimates, not official figures:

Before you pay

Public fees are set by each region or university, so ask the regional education department or the university for the current figure. Group academy prices change from school to school, so compare the price lists of a few local academies and accredited centres. Group courses cost less per hour than a tutor.

Documents you need

• DELE diploma at A2 or higher, an official Spanish diploma issued by the Instituto Cervantes. It never expires. Needed for nationality if you must prove language.

• CCSE test result, the test on Spanish culture and institutions run by the Instituto Cervantes. Needed for nationality.

• SIELE certificate, an exam-based certificate from A1 to C1 valid for five years. Useful as proof of level for jobs or study.

• Private academy diploma. It records attendance or level and may help with employers, but it has no official value for nationality or other official procedures.

• Town hall integration report. Some residency routes, such as arraigo social, may accept it instead of a language certificate.

Checklist

• Decide your goal first: daily life, work, or an exam such as DELE or CCSE for residency or nationality.

• Ask your regional education department whether a nearby Escuela Oficial de Idiomas teaches Spanish for foreigners and at which levels.

• Ask your local adult education centre (CEPA) for its enrolment dates and whether there is a waiting list.

• Compare current tutor listings in your city before you pay for lessons.

Frequently asked questions

Can I learn Spanish at an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas anywhere in Spain?

No, only some regions offer Spanish for foreigners in their Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas (EOI), the public language schools. Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia and Andalusia have offered it in some schools. Where there is none, you are usually sent to an adult education centre, so ask your regional education department.

How much does a university Spanish course cost?

A monthly or short intensive university course costs roughly €150 to €300. A semester or term course costs roughly €500 to €1,500, depending on hours and city.

How much does a private Spanish tutor charge per hour?

A private tutor typically charges about 12 to 30 euros per hour online and about 15 to 35 euros per hour in person. Madrid, Barcelona and certified exam teachers cost more, while smaller towns and informal tutors cost less. Trial lessons help you judge quality before you pay.

Which NGOs give free Spanish classes to newcomers?

Cruz Roja, CEAR, Accem, Cáritas, Fundación Cepaim and Movimiento por la Paz all run free classes in many places. Contact the local branch or your town's social services. Places can be limited, with priority for people in vulnerable situations.