Booking a language course through LanguageBookings or directly with the school: what changes

Updated 4 November 2026 · Based on how LanguageBookings works today

The school’s list price is the same whether you book directly or through us. What changes is who you deal with, how the payment is split, and what extras you get. On LanguageBookings you pay a deposit (our commission) to reserve and the rest to the school; you get the LanguageBookings discount where the school allows it, one reservation for course and accommodation, and help in your language. The school’s own conditions (cancellation, rules, refund) do not change. Here is the full picture, including when booking directly may suit you better.

The price: what is the same

The prices on LanguageBookings are the school’s own price lists, loaded from the documents the schools send us. We do not add a mark-up on top of the school’s price. The school pays us a commission, which is why you are not charged for our service on top of the course. Prices do change when a school updates its list, so a new list or an offer on the school’s website for your dates may differ from what we show: send us the link and we will check it.

How a reservation works, step by step

• You choose course, dates, weeks and (if you want) accommodation, and send the booking.
• With a card, your card is only authorised, not charged. (PayPal works differently: the payment is taken when you pay; the payment page explains it.)
• We send the booking to the school, which accepts or declines it. We reply to you as soon as the school answers.
• If the school accepts, the deposit is charged: it is our commission, and it is part of the course price, not an extra. If the school declines, the authorisation on your card is released.
• You pay the rest directly to the school, in the way and on the dates the school states.
• We do not collect the whole course fee: only the deposit.

Important: once the school accepts the booking, the deposit is not refundable. Before that, if you change your mind, tell us. The school’s own cancellation and refund terms apply to what you pay the school.

What you gain by booking through us

• Comparison: schools by city and course type, with 2027 prices side by side (see our 2027 price index).
• The LanguageBookings discount on the schools that allow it. It is shown on the course page, so you see the price before you book. A few schools do not allow discounts; for those, a booking includes a free eSIM with data for your destination instead of a discount (conditions on Why book with LanguageBookings).
• One reservation for course and accommodation, instead of arranging each separately.
• Help in your language before and after you book.
• A second pair of eyes on dates, level and visa questions: we ask the school for what is unclear.

Price guarantee

If, within 48 hours of your booking and before the school confirms it, you find the same course (same school, dates, weeks, class hours and accommodation) cheaper on the school’s own website or from another agency, send us the link or a screenshot and we will match the price. It does not cover group offers, returning students or special agreements with the school.

What does not change

You study at the same school, with the same teachers, class size, rules and timetable. The school’s conditions stay the same: its cancellation and refund policy, its payment dates, its accommodation rules and what it needs for a visa. We are an intermediary, not the school: we pass your booking on, we do not teach the course or run the accommodation. To judge any school, use our checklist for choosing a language school.

When booking directly may suit you better

• You already know the school and have a contact there you trust.
• You are a returning student or a group with an agreement the school only offers directly.
• The school sells something we do not list for your dates, such as a special programme.
• You prefer to pay the whole amount to the school in one go and deal with one party only.

If none of these applies, compare the school’s price for your dates with ours; if ours is lower or equal, you lose nothing by booking through us.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay more by booking through LanguageBookings?

No. The course price is the school’s list price, and the deposit we charge is part of that price, not an extra.

What if the school declines my booking?

With a card you are not charged: the authorisation is released, and we can suggest other schools or dates.

Who do I contact if I have a problem during the course?

Start with the school, which runs the course and the accommodation. If you cannot solve it, write to us and we will help you talk to the school.

Compare schools and book with our discount, or ask us for a quote: we reply within 24–48 hours.