Official language schools (Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas) for learning Spanish

Terms used

• Escuela Oficial de Idiomas — The Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (EOI) is a public language school run by a Spanish region, with low fees and official certificates.
• DELE — The DELE is an official Spanish-language diploma issued by the Instituto Cervantes, accepted for nationality and residence procedures.
• CCSE — The CCSE is the Spanish constitutional and sociocultural knowledge exam required for nationality.
• Preinscripción — The preinscripción is the pre-enrolment period when you apply for a place at a public school.

Key rules

• Availability: Spanish for foreigners is offered only in some regions and some schools, so confirm with the school first.
• Certificate: An EOI certificate is not a DELE diploma, and nationality or residence procedures ask for DELE or the CCSE exam.
• Minimum age: The general minimum age is 16 in the year you enrol.
• Fees: Fees are low and set by each region, with reductions for some groups.

Availability, fees, hours and age exceptions vary by region and school year, so confirm them with your regional education department or the school.

Is an EOI right for you?

An Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (EOI) is a public language school. Fees are low compared with private academies, and you can earn an official certificate. It suits you if you can commit to a set timetable and a school year. It is a poor fit if you need fast progress, or if you need a certificate for nationality or residence.

Spanish is not taught everywhere

Spanish for foreigners (español para extranjeros) is offered only in some regions, and only in some schools within them. It is mainly taught where Spanish is the only official language, or where the regional authorities have chosen to offer it. Madrid, Andalucía, Murcia, Aragón, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, La Rioja and Canarias are examples.

In regions with a second official language (Cataluña, Galicia, País Vasco, Navarra, and parts of Valencia and Baleares), the EOIs focus on the regional language. Spanish classes there are often run through adult education or other centres. Not every EOI in a region teaches Spanish, so ask the school before you plan around it.

Levels and certificates

Courses follow the European levels: A1, A2, B1, B2 and, in some schools, C1. C2 is rare. If you pass the end-of-level exam, you get an official EOI certificate for that level.

An EOI certificate is valid in Spain, but it is not a DELE diploma. Nationality and residence procedures ask for DELE or the CCSE exam instead. If that is your goal, book that exam separately. An EOI course can still be good preparation.

What it costs

Each region sets its own fees. Expect a tuition fee per course plus a small administrative or file-opening fee. Exam fees are sometimes included. Reductions or exemptions usually exist for large families and people with disabilities. In some regions they also cover unemployed people, victims of gender violence or terrorism, and low-income applicants. Ask the regional education department or the school for the current amounts.

Who can enrol

The usual minimum age is 16 in the year you enrol. Some regions admit 14 and 15-year-olds in particular cases, but for Spanish as a foreign language this is usually decided case by case. You do not normally need earlier qualifications for Spanish courses. You apply during the pre-enrolment period (preinscripción), show an identity document and pay the fee. If you do not start at A1, you may be asked to sit a placement test.

Hours, attendance and limits

Courses run about 4 to 5 hours a week, usually in two sessions of around two hours, from October to May or June. In the official in-person format attendance is usually not compulsory, but you will learn little if you skip classes. Assessment is mostly an end-of-year exam covering reading, listening, writing and speaking, sometimes with continuous assessment as well.

Places are in demand and waiting lists are common. The pace suits people with some study habits. If you need to learn quickly, these hours may feel too few, so consider adding a private or intensive course.

The documents list, checklist and questions below cover the practical steps.

Documents you need

• Identity document, such as your passport or foreigner identity card, to send with your application in the application period.

• Proof that you paid the course fee, which the school or region asks for when you apply or enrol.

• Documents proving a fee reduction, if you claim one, for example for a large family, a disability or unemployment, where your region allows it.

Checklist

• Check that an EOI in your region teaches Spanish for foreigners, because not every school or region offers it.

• Confirm which levels the school offers, from A1 up to B2 and in some schools C1.

• Find out whether you qualify for a fee reduction, for example as a large family or with a disability.

• Confirm you meet the age requirement and ask about any placement test if you are not starting at A1.

• Plan for nationality or residence by booking the DELE or CCSE exam separately, since an EOI certificate will not be accepted.

Frequently asked questions

Will an EOI certificate count for my nationality application?

No, an EOI certificate does not replace the exam that nationality needs. For nationality you sit the DELE exam (level A2) or the CCSE exam instead. The EOI certificate is still valid for work and study in Spain.

How many hours a week does an EOI Spanish course take?

An EOI course usually takes 4 to 5 hours a week, in two sessions of about two hours. It runs from October to May or June. If you need fast progress, the hours may feel limited.

Is attendance compulsory at an EOI?

No, attendance is usually not compulsory in the official in-person classes, but regular attendance helps a lot. You are normally assessed by an end-of-year exam covering reading, listening, writing and speaking. Popular classes can have waiting lists.

Do I need a placement test to join an EOI course?

You may be asked to take a placement test if you do not start at level A1. You normally do not need a previous academic qualification for Spanish courses.