Learning a language at the University of Bath is a rewarding experience. Whether you want to make the most of a holiday abroad, study for career progression, meet new people in a friendly and welcoming environment, or keep your brain active by doing something new, our language courses are the perfect choice.
When you study with us, you will join a vibrant learning community made up of members of the public and University staff and students. All of the courses that we offer to members of the public are also available to our students and staff, so your class will have an interesting and diverse mix of enrolled participants.
Our courses are designed to increase your cultural awareness and communication skills, and build your confidence to travel, work or live abroad, opening doors worldwide.
I thought as a retired member of the public I might feel out of place working alongside undergrads but happily this was not the case. The opportunity to interact with others in German worked well for me and the active participation of all is the best feature. Member of the public, Spring 2024-25
We offer courses in seven languages, all starting from beginner level. Where applicable, the course levels are based on the Common European Framework.
How our courses work
Most of our courses are delivered in-person on campus, but some run remotely online. Lessons are generally 1 hour 50 minutes long, but some may be 50 minutes long. The timetable on each language page will give you more detail on the location and duration of each course that’s available.
Each stage of a course is split into two parts, and each part lasts for ten weeks. For example, Stage 1 is made up of Stage 1.1 and Stage 1.2. However, you don't necessarily need to have completed Stage 1.1 to enrol on Stage 1.2. If you have studied the language previously, our placement tests will help you to select the right stage, and you can talk to the teachers if you need further guidance.
We keep our class sizes small with a maximum of 25 participants per class, so that we can give as much individual support as possible. All classes are inclusive, accessible, and will develop your language learning in a supportive and structured way.
Each class involves taking part in interactive learning activities tailored to the level of the class. Activities may include role plays, quizzes, presentations, and informal group discussions.
Available languages
We deliver courses ranging from complete beginner (Stage 1.1) up to Advanced (Stage 4), although not every course runs every term. You can learn the following languages with us:
- Arabic
- French (updated information coming in August 2025)
- German
- Italian
- Japanese (updated information coming in August 2025)
- Mandarin Chinese
- Spanish
How to enrol
The course timetables for 2025-26 will be published in August 2025. If you would like to be notified when enrolments are open, please complete this form.
Finding your way around campus
Please note that it can be tricky to park on the campus during the day. Before traveling to the University, we recommend reading our guidance on where to park if you are driving, and other ways of getting to the campus.
This campus map will help you find the right room for each session.
Qualifications
Our language courses offer you the opportunity to enter for a globally recognised qualification, giving you the chance to officially accredit your language proficiency. If you choose to enter for a language qualification, our teachers will provide exam preparatory workshops, included in the course tuition fees. The qualifications available to study for are:
- Arabic – Arabic Language Proficiency Test (ALPT)
- French – Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF)
- German – Goethe-Zertifikat (GZ)
- Italian – Projetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri (PLIDA)
- Japanese - Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
- Mandarin Chinese – Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK)
- Spanish – Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE)
More information about the opportunities for accreditation can be found on each language page.
Homework
To achieve the intended learning outcomes, you will need to complete autonomous learning in addition to attending the lessons. Your teacher will tell you what is required.
Course fees
Course fees for 2025-26 are:
| Course duration | Class length | Cost per person per course |
|---|---|---|
| 10 weeks | 1 hour 50 minutes | £210 |
| 5 weeks | 1 hour 50 minutes | £105 |
| 10 weeks | 50 minutes | £105 |
Fees include all tuition and course materials and must be paid in full at the time of enrolment, through our online booking system.
Available discounts
We offer a 10% discount to Discovery Card holders. To qualify for the discount, you should:
- Enrol on your chosen course and pay the full course fee.
- Complete this form to request your Discovery Card discount.
- We will verify the details you have provided and issue you a refund of 10% of the course fee within 5 working days of receiving your refund request.
The Discovery Card discount is only available on full course fees, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts, including the subsidised prices offered to University students and staff.
Qualification fees
If you choose to enter external qualifications, you will be able to join exam preparation workshops in the Spring term. These workshops are offered alongside the core language course at no additional charge. You must be enrolled on a language course to be able to join the exam preparation workshops; they are not available to enrol onto as standalone courses.
Examination entry fees will be payable to the respective awarding organisation; further details will be provided by your teacher.
Terms and Conditions
The Terms and Conditions for 2025-26 are currently being updated, and will be published here in August 2025.
Other ways to learn a language
As well as our language courses, we also offer cultural events and Language Cafés. If you are enrolled on a language course, you are welcome to take part in all these activities; please ask your teacher for more details after you have enrolled.