Choose the right school — not just the lowest weekly price.

Compare the same number of weeks, lessons per week and minutes per lesson. A 20-lesson course is not directly comparable when one school uses 45-minute lessons and another uses 55-minute lessons. Check whether materials, registration, exams and certificates are included.

Add tuition, registration, materials, accommodation placement, housing, refundable deposit, airport transfer, seasonal supplements and local transport. Separate refundable deposits from permanent costs. Use the same currency date and mark every price with its source and verification date.

Check room type, meals, bathroom, cleaning, linen, check-in window, minimum stay, commute, deposit and replacement procedure if the first choice is full. A cheaper room can become a poor plan when the daily route is long or meals do not suit the student.

Compare maximum and typical class size, lesson format, accreditation, teacher qualifications, level placement, progress checks, exam preparation and the amount of guided self-study. Accreditation is useful evidence, but it does not replace checking the exact course.

Age mix, nationality mix, city scale, pace after class, accessibility, adult/30+/50+ suitability and social programme all matter. The strongest school on paper may still be the wrong environment for a specific student.

Non-beginners may often start on Mondays, while complete beginners, exam courses and specialist programmes can have fixed dates. Confirm public holidays, closures, cancellation, visa-refusal terms and what becomes binding at each payment stage.

A realistic outcome depends on starting level, course intensity, length of stay, attendance and daily language use. Compare what the student must do outside class, not only what the school promises.