Practical information

Fill the on-line enrolment form and mail/fax it to us or send it to your enrolment agency.

• We will confirm the course enrolment, accommodation and flight within seven days of receipt of your enrolment form. This confirmation has all the details of your course, accommodation and journey. A deposit is then to be paid within 10 days.
• Information on low-cost flight prices will also be included, without any obligation, if you have noticed it in the enrolment form.
• We will send you the final invoice 5/6 weeks before your departure.You have to pay the outstanding amount, in Swiss Francs or in Foreign Currency before your departure.

ESL - Language studies abroad also proposes the booking of flights for all destinations, at very competitive prices, to you. Do not hesitate to ask us for an offer without obligation. If you mention it on the enrolment form, we will send you a price offer for a favourable flight, on an informative basis.

It is difficult to articulate a precise amount. This depends on your personal needs, the cost of living of the country, the type of accommodation (without meals/half board/full board) as well as the desired activities and excursions. We recommend between CHF 150.–/EUR 100.–  and CHF 300.–/EUR 200.– of pocket money per week.

We have been working with the majority of our partner schools for several years. The regular contacts we maintain, our numerous on-site visits and the feedback of the students ensure us a constant control of the quality of their services.

ESL offers a wide range of insurance options, including cancellation fee insurance, baggage insurance and flight replacement insurance. You will receive detailed information with the confirmation of your course. For health insurance, you should contact your health insurer and make sure that you are covered abroad.

Teaching does not take place on bank holidays (national holidays etc.). If the classes are not compensated for by our partner schools, the missed hours are not refunded.

For every destination, transfer to your accommodation from the airport or railway station can be organized. This option is particularly suitable after a long flight. Depending on your degree of autonomy abroad and your knowledge of the country you are visiting, you can also get to your accommodation by taxi, train or bus. These solutions are often cheaper than those suggested by schools.

The ESL partner schools are attended by participants from throughout the world, in proportions which vary according to the times of year and which change depending on the destination or school. Present on an international level, we organise placements of students from various countries and i this way, contribute to reinforcing the nationality mix in our partner schools.

All of your travel documents are provided to you approximately 10 days prior to your departure. They include a travel guide, the detailed description of your accommodation, your plane ticket, your flight plan as well as general information on the school and your destination. In addition, we provide you with documentation which is as complete as possible on the chosen country.

If you have made up your mind to travel abroad, do not delay in undertaking all of the steps. By enrolling on time, you benefit from more attractive prices on your flight and have more time to complete the necessary administrative steps (visa request, extension of your health insurance, announcement of your departure etc.). In addition, your wishes concerning accommodation will be more easily satisfied if we can begin searching in advance.

Do you wish to travel abroad in the next few days? If circumstances don't allow for you to enrol a long time in advance, we can organise your stay in the space of a few days!

Prices indicated on this site are valid for 2010. If you are planning your language course for 2011, you can use these prices as an indication. The prices and dates for 2011 will be available from around July 2010. Don’t hesitate to call us for up-to-date information before our 2011 brochure is available (end of September 2010). We receive many enrolments several months in advance that we can confirm in order to guarantee you a place in our most popular courses or accommodation, or to satisfy your specific wishes. By enrolling before July (or even later for some schools*) for the following year, you will usually pay the same price as for the current year.
Contact us for more information.

In theory, general language courses start every Monday. Some schools propose beginners courses at fixed dates. Official exam preparation courses (e.g. Cambridge) are proposed 2 to 3 times per year at fixed dates.

We are proud to say that the majority of our clients come to us because we have been recommended by former students. We do our best to maintain this good reputation by offering our clients a complete free consultancy and placement service.

Depending on the destination and duration of your stay, a student visa is necessary for your trip. We inform you in detail of the process to follow and provide you with the papers necessary for the visa request. The fees involved in the obtaining are at your expense. The formalities with regard to visas are generally the same for Swiss citizens and members of the EU.No steps are necessary for stays taking place in European countries. The majority of other countries, apart from the United States, allow you to study for up to 12 weeks with a tourist visa. For stays of more than 3 months, the student visa is required.

Our prices are the original prices of the schools: this means exactly the prices you would pay by enrolling directly with the school. No surcharge is invoiced and no file processing or consultancy fees are calculated. This means that, by travelling abroad with ESL, you do not pay any more than you would by enrolling directly abroad. In addition, you spare yourself numerous administrative steps and benefit at all times from assistance, before, during and after your stay. ESL guarantees you the lowest prices with refund of the difference. In order to best reflect the prices of services abroad, our rates are published in foreign currencies. Unless otherwise requested on your behalf, the prices will be converted to the daily exchange rates during the enrolment confirmation as well as during the issuing of the invoice (5 to 6 weeks prior to departure). We also offer the possibility to pay in the foreign currency published as far as this has been defined at the time of enrolment in the programme.

Small schools (S)
Studying in a school with 30 to 70 participants has many advantages: a relaxed friendly environment, concerned teachers, and small classes. However, the full range of levels and course types is not always available.

Medium-sized schools (M)
With 70 to 100 students, they combine the advantages of small and large schools: good technical equipment, a wide range of activities, many levels, personal contact and good flexibility.

Large schools (L)
Schools with 100 to 300 students offer courses for almost every level, an excellent technical infrastructure and a wide range of activities.

Very large schools (XL)
Schools with over 300 participants offer the same advantages as large schools, although it will be very difficult for you to meet all the other students!

• AVS   It is strongly recommended that you check with your superannuation company concerning how to avoid gaps in your contributions. You will be obliged to make your own contributions in the case of a prolonged period of absence without a work contract in Switzerland.
  

• Family allowance   A language study abroad program may be considered as an educational component and an allowance may be payable for its duration, as long as there is a direct link with the professional objective. If this is the case, ask us for a certificate of enrolment for your language course abroad to present to your social security office.
  

• Taxes   Most cantons allow language study abroad programs to be counted as tax deductions. If this is the case for the canton in which you reside, take care to keep your bills and payment receipts.