Intensive English courses abroad in 2027: real prices and price per hour

Updated 27 October 2026 · Prices from each school's official 2027 price list

We have the 2027 prices of 48 intensive English courses (at least 22.5 hours of class a week) at 42 schools in 17 destinations. The cheapest 4 weeks cost ≈ €660 at Cape Town School of English (Cape Town); the lowest price per hour is €6.57, at Cape Town School of English (Cape Town); the most expensive course costs ≈ €2,630 for 4 weeks. The most intensive course has 36 hours a week. Below: the cheapest option in each destination, every course with its real hours, and how much the extra hours cost compared with the standard course of the same school.

What counts as an intensive course

Each school uses the word «intensive» in its own way, and a «lesson» lasts 45 minutes at some schools and 60 at others: «30 lessons» can be 22.5 hours or 30 hours. So we count real hours (lessons × minutes) and include every general English group course with at least 22.5 hours a week, whatever its name. A standard full-time course has 15 to 20 hours.

Not included: courses that mix group and private lessons, exam courses (see our guide to IELTS preparation courses), business English, teacher training, junior and online courses. Prices are each school's official 2027 list prices.

The cheapest intensive course in each destination

Price of 4 weeks of course in euros (converted at the rate of 19 October 2026 when the school charges in another currency), sorted from cheapest. The price per hour is the lowest of the destination, which is not always the cheapest course.

List price of the course; registration fee, materials and accommodation are extra (see each school's page). Not included: flights, airport transfer, insurance, public transport and personal spending.

All the intensive courses, with real hours

The 48 courses sorted by the price of 4 weeks in euros. «Your price» is what you pay booking with us.

Twin English Centre Dublin has a −40% offer, Converse International School (San Diego) a −15% offer and RCIIS (Toronto) a −25% offer on these courses: the list price and the price per hour are without the offer, «your price» includes it. Your price is what you pay when you book on LanguageBookings: the school's price minus our discount (and the school's own offer, where there is one).

Intensive or standard? What the extra hours cost

Each intensive course compared with the standard course of the same school (4 weeks). In 43 of the 48 comparisons, each extra hour costs less than an hour of the standard course: if you can handle the pace, the intensive course gives more class time for less money per hour.

Full guides by destination

With all the courses (not only intensive), accommodation and full budgets:

• Malta
• Dublin
• London
• the UK city by city
• Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle
• Canada
• the United States
• Cape Town
• where English is cheapest in Europe
• IELTS preparation courses (including intensive ones)

How to pay less

• Compare price per hour, not price per week: among intensive courses it ranges from €6.57 to €25.24.
• The extra hours are often cheap: at RCIIS - Royal Canadian Institute of International Studies, each extra hour of the intensive course costs €1.78, against €14.87 per hour of the standard course.
• Stay longer: at inlingua Malta, the weekly price of the intensive course falls from €260 (4 weeks) to €180 (12 weeks).
• If 30 hours a week is too much, many schools have a middle option (24-25 lessons): see each school's page.
• Book through LanguageBookings: you get our discount on the course, you pay nothing upfront (your card is only authorised for the deposit, which is charged when the school confirms; the rest you pay to the school), and if you find the same course cheaper under the same conditions, we match the price.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an intensive English course abroad cost in 2027?

4 weeks cost from ≈ €660 to ≈ €2,630 (list price of the course). The cheapest by country: Ireland €1,000 (ISE Ireland), Malta €760 (Gateway School of English (GSE)), United Kingdom ≈ €1,520 (Cavendish School of English) and North America ≈ €1,010 (CLLC Toronto, Toronto).

How many hours a week is an intensive course?

In this guide, from 22.5 to 36 real hours a week. Look at the length of the lesson (45 to 60 minutes depending on the school), not only the number of lessons.

Is an intensive course worth the extra money?

In money terms, usually yes: for 43 of the 48 courses the extra hours cost less per hour than the standard course. The other question is whether you want more class time or more free time for practising outside class: that depends on you.

Is there a minimum age?

Most of these courses accept students from 16 or 17. 5 schools accept only adults (18+) on their intensive course: AM Language, AClass Academy, Mentor Westwood, ACE English Malta, Easy School of Languages.

Compare all destinations in our 2027 English course price index, or ask us for a quote for your dates: we reply within 24–48 hours.