Language Courses at LSI Language Studies International
LSI has taught languages since 1965. Today you can take language courses at LSI Language Studies International in 13 centres across England, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France and Switzerland. You can study English at 11 of them, French in Paris and German in Zurich. Every LSI lesson lasts 50 minutes, so a 20-lesson week gives you 1 hour 40 minutes of extra teaching. Over a 12-week term, that is more than a full extra week of class.
1. Tell us your goal
2. We help you find the right program
3. We handle the paperwork
4. Ready to StartTL;DR: Quick summary
LSI, Language Studies International, has taught languages since 1965. Today it has 13 centres in 7 countries. 11 of them teach English, in England, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The other 2 teach French in Paris and German in Zurich, with the same enrolment and the same course structure. Every LSI lesson lasts 50 minutes, so a 20-lesson week gives you 16 hours 40 minutes of class. Courses run from 1 week to 50, across 6 levels from complete beginner to advanced. Every centre is accredited in its own country: the British Council and English UK in England, ACCET in the United States, Languages Canada in Canada, NZQA Category 1 in New Zealand, NEAS in Australia and EAQUALS in Switzerland.
16 programmes: General 20, Intensive 24 and Intensive 30, Afternoon 10, IELTS and TOEFL preparation in two formats, Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, an Academic Term and an Academic Year Abroad, Business English, English for your profession, and intensive French in Paris or German in Zurich.
Every LSI lesson lasts 50 minutes. General 20 gives you 16 hours 40 minutes of class a week, Intensive 24 gives you 20 hours and Intensive 30 gives you 25. On Intensive 30, you choose lessons 5 and 6 of each day yourself. Levels run from complete beginner to advanced. And the Job Club and Grammar Doctor sessions are free, on top of your timetable.
- Every lesson lasts 50 minutes
- Six levels, beginner to advanced
- 13 centres, 7 countries, 3 languages
- Teaching since 1965, accredited in every country
ViveCampus
ViveCampus is a leading study abroad agency with more than 17 years of experience and over 5,000 happy students around the world. We handle your LSI enrolment for you, guide you at every step, and our service costs you nothing.
Why do students choose LSI in 2026?
Teaching since 1965, 13 centres, and clear figures on every course. Here is what makes the difference once you are in the classroom.
Every LSI lesson lasts 50 minutes. So a 20-lesson week gives you 1 hour 40 minutes of extra teaching. On Intensive 30, it is 2 hours 30 minutes more every week. Over a 12-week term, that adds up to 30 hours of teaching. LSI also shows every course in clock hours. So you know exactly how much class you are booking.
This is the big plus of studying with a group. General 20, Intensive 24, Intensive 30, the Cambridge courses and the Academic Year all follow the same structure at every centre. So you choose the city purely for you. Pick London or New York for a big city, and Brighton or Cambridge to walk everywhere. San Diego and Brisbane give you the beach, and Toronto and Vancouver give you Canada’s options after study. Auckland gives you harbours and green space. Choose for climate, budget and accent, and the teaching stays the same.
At LSI, French and German are full courses in their own right. You study French at the Paris centre in the Marais and German at the Zurich centre. Both use the same course structure, the same levels and the same 50-minute lesson as the English centres. That is great news if your plan includes more than one language. You can do a term of English in London and a term of French in Paris, with one school. And we handle both enrolments together.
The Academic Term Abroad and Academic Year Abroad are where LSI’s teaching really goes to work. The term runs 12 to 23 weeks and the year 24 to 48, at 20, 24 or 30 lessons a week. What makes them special is the support around you. You get an individual study plan for your level and your goal, and 2 extra sessions with a teacher every week. Regular progress meetings keep you on track for what you came for. You can also combine general English, exam courses, academic English, a pathway or Business English in the same enrolment.
LSI is accredited separately in each country, by the body that counts there. In England, it is the British Council and English UK. In the United States, it is ACCET, plus state approval in New York and California. Canada has Languages Canada, plus provincial designation in British Columbia. New Zealand has NZQA Category 1, the top of its four bands. Australia has NEAS and Switzerland has EAQUALS. The Paris centre holds the French Qualité FLE label. Each of these is an independent body that inspects the centre and keeps its approval under review.
Two free classes run at every centre. Grammar Doctor is just what it sounds like: a teacher, a room and the grammar you want to fix, one question at a time. Job Club helps you write a CV that works in the country you are in, get ready for interviews and know your rights at work. LSI’s own qualified teachers also run the social programme. So the museum trip and the Friday night out are more time with someone who teaches for a living.
LSI, Language Studies International, has taught languages since 1965. It runs 13 centres in England, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France and Switzerland, with its registered office in London. In England, its centres are accredited by the British Council and are members of English UK. In the United States they are accredited by ACCET, in Canada by Languages Canada and in Australia by NEAS. LSI Auckland holds NZQA Category 1, the top band. NZQA is Highly Confident in both its educational performance and its self-assessment. The Zurich centre is accredited by EAQUALS, and the Paris centre holds the Qualité FLE label. Most LSI centres are also recognised for German Bildungsurlaub study leave.
Seven countries, and the choice is yours
Many students reach this page knowing they want to study a language abroad, but not yet where. That is the right order, and LSI lets you choose the city last. The course, the levels, the lesson length and the accreditation are the same at every centre. So you can pick the city that suits you best.
What changes from one to the next is the cost of living, the climate, the accent and your life outside class. England has 4 centres, a short flight from the rest of Europe. The United States takes you from Manhattan to a California beach. Canada gives you great value and good options for what comes after your studies. New Zealand and Australia give you the southern summer and a strong part-time job market. And France and Switzerland are there if the language you want is French or German. We go through the pros and cons with you before you choose.
What courses does LSI offer?
16 programmes, and most of them run at every centre. Every lesson lasts 50 minutes. Levels run from complete beginner to advanced, and courses from 1 week to 50. The minimum age is 16.
The course most students book, and the base for everything else. You get 20 lessons a week. At 50 minutes each, that is 16 hours 40 minutes of class, or a full 20 clock hours at the American centres. Two lessons a day cover grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. The other two cover speaking, listening, reading and writing. You work with a coursebook, plus newspapers, audio and role plays. Your afternoons are free, so it suits you if you want to see the city you flew to.
General 20 plus 4 more lessons a week, for a round 20 hours of class. It is the middle option, and the one we recommend most often. You get enough extra time to move up a level in a set number of weeks, and you still have your afternoons. The extra lessons sit on 2 longer days, with 3 standard days around them. So you keep clear afternoons to work or explore.
30 lessons a week, 25 hours. Take it if you have a set number of weeks and want the most out of them. The first 4 lessons a day are the General 20 core. Lessons 5 and 6 are electives you choose yourself, so you and a classmate can end the day on completely different things. LSI also builds its IELTS and TOEFL preparation on this course. So you can switch your electives to exam work without changing course.
10 lessons a week in the afternoon, 8 hours 20 minutes, built around fluency. The focus is everyday language and talking. You discuss films, theatre and what is on in the city, and learn vocabulary you will use that evening. You also work on pronunciation. It is the course for you if your mornings are already busy, or if you want to keep a language going on a short stay.
IELTS preparation built into Intensive 30. 20 lessons a week keep building your English: grammar and the four skills. The other 10 go to exam technique and study skills. Your score rises with both, so you keep improving your English right up to the exam. Universities and immigration systems ask for IELTS across the English-speaking world outside North America.
The same structure for the other test: 20 lessons a week on language and 10 on the exam, inside Intensive 30. American and Canadian universities ask for TOEFL, so this is your course if you plan a degree in North America. You work through the four papers and the timing. And the language half of the week keeps pushing your level, as well as your technique.
A shorter, lighter option at 20 lessons a week, over 1 to 8 weeks. Each week covers a topic, a language target and a set of exam question types in reading, writing, listening and speaking. You use current coursebooks and real past questions. It is a smart pick if your exam is a few weeks away and you want focused practice. TOEFL 20 runs in New York, Vancouver, Toronto and Auckland. IELTS 20 runs in London, Vancouver, Toronto and Auckland.
Preparation for the most popular Cambridge exam, at 30 lessons a week, 25 hours. You cover reading, writing, speaking, listening and Use of English. B2 First shows you can work and study independently in English. Employers and universities recognise it worldwide, and it never expires. So the work you put in keeps its value for your whole career. Course dates follow the official exam sessions. The exam fee is charged separately.
The level above B2 First, and the certificate that opens doors. British and Australian universities accept C1 Advanced for direct entry, and employers read it as real working fluency. You take 30 lessons a week on all four skills plus Use of English. The focus is precision and range: saying exactly what you mean, in the right register. It never expires either.
The oldest and most demanding Cambridge exam. It is for you if you already feel at home in English and want the qualification that proves it. You take 30 lessons a week at the top of the level range. C2 Proficiency meets the entry requirements of most British universities, and employers read it as a level above fluent. It is a serious course and a serious certificate, and it lasts for life.
A term of 12 to 23 weeks, at 20, 24 or 30 lessons a week, with real support around it. You get an individual study plan for your level and your goal. You also get 2 extra sessions with a teacher every week, and regular meetings to check your progress. You can combine general English, an exam course, academic English, a university pathway or Business English. And you change the mix as your level grows.
The same plan over 24 to 48 weeks. That is long enough to transform your level. You get the individual study plan, the 2 extra teacher sessions a week and the progress meetings. Over a year, they keep you moving towards your goal. Most students start on general English and move into an exam course once their level is there. Then they finish on academic or Business English, ready for what comes next.
The English of meetings and deadlines, for you if you already work or are about to start. You practise meetings, negotiation, presentations and professional writing, with the vocabulary to match. You take it in the elective half of Intensive 30, or as a focus inside an Academic Term. It is the course for you if your English is already good and you want to sound precise and confident at work. It also pairs well with a Cambridge course if you want the certificate too.
LSI runs courses for people who need English for one particular job. You can choose Medical English, Legal English, English for Aviation, English for Public Speaking or English for Teaching. For any other field, there is tailored English for Specific Purposes. The vocabulary, the situations and the writing all come from the job itself. So a nurse practises a handover and a lawyer practises a contract clause. The courses run at selected centres and some have fixed dates. Tell us your profession and the month, and we will confirm where and when.
The same course structure in French, at the LSI centre on rue du Renard in the Marais. The Pompidou Centre and Notre-Dame are a few minutes away. You get general and intensive timetables, the same 6 levels and the same 50-minute lesson. There is also preparation for the French language certificates if you need one. The centre holds the French Qualité FLE label and is recognised by the Paris Chamber of Commerce. It is the perfect next step if you already speak English and want a second language with the same school.
German at the LSI centre on Kreuzstrasse in Zurich, accredited by EAQUALS, the European accreditation body for language education. The structure is the same again: general and intensive timetables, 6 levels, 50-minute lessons, and exam preparation when you need it. From Switzerland, the Alps and three other language regions are close by. And Zurich is a very easy city to live in as a student.
Most students start with General 20 or Intensive 24. Students with a clear goal book the Academic Term or Year. And Paris and Zurich are where students come back for a second language
Source: ViveCampus
What should you know before enrolling at LSI?
The things worth settling before you book. We took the answers from LSI’s own course pages and accreditation records, and from what students ask us every week.
Costs, Dates, Application Process and other Considerations
Application Process - Send us the contact form and an advisor gets back to you with the steps for your nationality and the country you have in mind. Each of the 7 countries asks for its own documents, funds and timing. You take a level test before you travel, so you walk into the right class on your first morning and start learning straight away. We prepare and submit the application for you, in whichever country you pick, and the translations are included.
Dates of the Program - Most courses start any Monday of the year. That includes General 20, Intensive 24 and Intensive 30, the IELTS and TOEFL preparation built on them, Business English, the Academic Term and Year, and the French and German courses in Paris and Zurich. The Cambridge courses follow the official exam dates, and several profession courses have fixed dates too. If you are a complete beginner, most LSI centres ask for at least 8 weeks. Tell us the month you have in mind and we will confirm what is open where.
Length of the Program - Anything from 1 week to 50. The country and the visa decide what you can book. A short course is simple almost everywhere. For a long stay in the United States, Canada, New Zealand or Australia, you need a study visa, with its own minimum and maximum. The Academic Term runs 12 to 23 weeks and the Academic Year 24 to 48. Afternoon 10 runs 1 to 11 weeks. Send us your dates and we will tell you which lengths work for them.
Costs - The city shapes your total more than the course does, and that is good to know early. Brighton, Toronto and Auckland are where your budget goes furthest, with the same Intensive 24 and the same 50-minute lesson. LSI has a price list for each centre, covering tuition, registration, materials, accommodation and airport transfers, and the rates are set each year. Use the form at the bottom of this page and you get the full quote in writing, itemised and with any promotion running, before you commit to anything. If you want a figure first, our cost of studying abroad calculator gives you a per-city estimate to start from.
Health Insurance - It depends on the country. In the United States, you must hold medical cover, and it pays to choose a good policy. Canada, New Zealand and Australia all require cover for international students. In Australia, it is the Overseas Student Health Cover, which you buy with your visa. In England, a course of more than 6 months means paying the Immigration Health Surcharge with your visa, and then you use the NHS. For a shorter course, you need private travel and medical insurance. France and Switzerland have their own rules. LSI can arrange your cover, and we confirm what your city and course need before you pay for anything.
Minimum Age - 16 for the year-round adult courses at every centre. So at 16, you study alongside adults. LSI also runs junior summer and winter camps for ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 17, with supervision and a full activity programme. There is also a summer centre at UCL in central London. If your son or daughter is under 18, tell us. We will put the supervision, the accommodation and the airport transfer in writing before anything is booked.
Minimum English Level - You need no level for General 20, Intensive 24 and Intensive 30. They run across 6 levels, from complete beginner to advanced. As a beginner, plan on at least 8 weeks at most LSI centres, because that is what it takes to make real progress. The exam and specialist courses start higher. IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge B2 First start at intermediate. C1 Advanced asks for upper intermediate to advanced, and C2 Proficiency for advanced. Business English and the profession courses start at intermediate. You take a level test before you travel and a placement check when you arrive, and you move up when you are ready.
Visa Regulations - This question often decides the country, so settle it early. For a short course, usually up to about 3 months, most nationalities need no student visa in most of these countries. The United States asks for the right entry status even for a short course, and some passports need a visa just to enter. For anything longer, you need a study visa. That is an F-1 or M-1 in the United States, a Student visa in the United Kingdom, a study permit in Canada, a student visa in New Zealand or Australia, and a residence permit in France or Switzerland. LSI issues the enrolment documents for each one. We prepare the application with you, translations included, at no extra cost.
Working While You Study: - It depends on the country, so it helps to think about this before you pick a city. In New Zealand, a full-time English course of 14 weeks or more at a Category 1 school, like LSI Auckland, lets you work up to 25 hours a week. In Australia, a student visa normally allows paid work. In Canada, language students on a study permit generally cannot work. In the United States, an F-1 student can work only on campus, within set hours. In the United Kingdom, a short English course carries no right to work. France and Switzerland each have their own rules for student permits. If working is part of your plan, tell us first and we will narrow the list for you.
Accommodation - LSI arranges accommodation in every city, with much the same options everywhere, so comparing cities is easy. For a first stay, we recommend a host family, usually with breakfast and dinner. It is perfect if you want your speaking to take off, because you get several extra hours of the language every day. In London, LSI manages its own homestays across a range of zones, and works with registered, accredited providers at peak times. A residence or shared apartment gives you your own key, a kitchen and a building full of people in the same adventure. That is where most friendships start. The city shapes the price more than the type of room, so it pays to price your whole shortlist. Write to us and we will cost each option in every city you are considering.
Extra Curricular Activities - Every centre runs a weekly social programme, led by LSI’s own qualified teachers. So a walking tour is still time with someone who teaches for a living. You get museums, sports, film nights and weekend trips, and each city has its own flavour. Cambridge and Boston lean academic, San Diego and Brisbane lean outdoors, and London and New York lean towards theatre and music. Grammar Doctor and Job Club run every week at every centre, and they are free.
Airport Pickup - LSI arranges airport transfers in every city as part of your booking. For students under 18, they are always included. On a first arrival at Heathrow or JFK with all your luggage, a driver waiting for you makes everything simple. Ask us, and we will tell you which cities on your shortlist are easy to reach alone and which are smoother with a driver. Then we book it with your course.
First day of classes - You will have taken your level test before you travel. So your first morning is a welcome session, a placement check, a tour of the building and the practical side: wifi, timetables and your student account. Classes start the same day. On Intensive 30, you will see how the electives work, since that is the part of the week you shape yourself. You also find out when Grammar Doctor and Job Club run. If you need documents signed for your visa or your embassy, that appointment is booked in your first week.
Keep in mind that the biggest cost is usually not the course itself, but living costs. So before you choose the cheapest school, look at the whole picture
Source: ViveCampus
LSI centres
A ViveCampus advisor helps you pick your city, even if you have never been to any of them. Together we weigh up the things that shape your year: the cost of living, how cold the winter gets, how many people around you speak your first language, and how big a city you want to wake up in.
- LSI London
LSI has two schools in London, and both are open all year. London Central is on Ridgmount Street in Bloomsbury, a few minutes from the British Museum, Oxford Street and Soho. It is surrounded by university buildings, with the cafés and student discounts that come with them. London Hampstead is the quieter option, in one of the greenest parts of the city. Together they offer the widest course list in the group, including Medical English and Legal English. London Central is also LSI’s registered home. Accredited by the British Council and a member of English UK.
Location: 19-21 Ridgmount Street, London WC1E 7AH, England
- LSI Brighton
An hour from London by train, with a character all its own. Brighton is a seaside city of about 300,000 people, famous for its beach, its pier and the independent shops in the Lanes. It also has one of the liveliest music and festival calendars in the country. With two universities, it is a true student town. Your budget goes further here, and London is close enough for a day trip. Accredited by the British Council and a member of English UK.
Location: 55-61 Portland Road, Brighton BN3 5DQ, England
- LSI Cambridge
One of the oldest university cities in the world, and small enough to cross by bike, which is how most people get around. The school is on Tenison Road, a few minutes’ walk from the station, the colleges, the river and the punts. Cambridge suits you if you want to study somewhere academic and calm. And London is under an hour away when you want the buzz. Accredited by the British Council and a member of English UK.
Location: 41 Tenison Road, Cambridge CB1 2DG, England
- LSI Boston
Boston is a true university city. Harvard and MIT are just across the river, with dozens of colleges in between. So the whole city has a big student population, with the prices and events to match. The school is on Beach Street in the middle of downtown, walking distance from Chinatown, the Common and the Freedom Trail. Boston is compact, walkable and has four real seasons. It is the natural pick if a US university is your plan. Accredited by ACCET.
Location: 105 Beach Street, Boston MA 02111, USA
- LSI New York
Lower Manhattan, on Rector Street, a few blocks from Wall Street, the waterfront and the Staten Island ferry, with the whole subway system at your door. In New York, the city does half the teaching. You hear accents from everywhere at once, and there is more to do in a week than you can fit into a term. It is a city to budget for, and the students who choose it love it. Accredited by ACCET and licensed by New York State.
Location: 40 Rector Street, 10th Floor, Suite 1000, New York NY 10006, USA
- LSI San Diego
Southern California, with the weather to match: warm and dry nearly all year, and 70 miles of coastline. The downtown is compact and easy to find your way around in your first week. The San Diego school is on 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter, surrounded by restaurants and music. Pacific Beach and La Jolla are a short ride away, and Mexico is close enough for a weekend. Accredited by ACCET and approved by California’s BPPE.
Location: 1706 5th Avenue, San Diego CA 92101, USA
- LSI Berkeley
The San Francisco centre is in Berkeley, on Center Street, right beside the University of California campus. San Francisco itself is a short BART ride across the bay. You get the best of both: a real college town with bookshops, cafés and a famous food scene, and one of the world’s great cities 20 minutes away. Northern California is mild all year, and Yosemite, Napa and the Pacific coast road are all weekend trips. Accredited by ACCET and approved by California’s BPPE.
Location: 2015 Center Street, Berkeley CA 94704, USA
- LSI Toronto
Toronto is Canada’s biggest city and one of the most international anywhere. Around half its residents were born outside Canada. You see it in the food and the neighbourhoods, and you feel at home from day one. The school is on Yonge Street, on the subway line, close to the museum and the university. Canada gives you great value and good options for what comes after your studies. Member of Languages Canada.
Location: 1055 Yonge Street, Suite 210, Toronto ON M4W 2L2, Canada
- LSI Vancouver
Mountains on one side, ocean on the other, and a downtown in between. You can ski in the morning and be on a beach by the afternoon. The school is on Hornby Street in the centre, minutes from the seawall and Stanley Park. Vancouver has mild winters and one of the biggest international student communities in Canada. The centre is designated by British Columbia’s Private Training Institutions Branch. It is also a Languages Canada member and EQA certified.
Location: 3rd Floor, 530 Hornby Street, Vancouver V6C 2E7, Canada
- LSI Auckland
Green and relaxed, and built across two harbours, with islands, beaches and volcanic cones inside the city. The school is on Scotia Place in the centre, walking distance from Queen Street and the waterfront. A full-time course of 14 weeks or more here lets you work up to 25 hours a week. LSI Auckland holds NZQA Category 1, the top of the four bands. NZQA is Highly Confident in both its teaching and its self-assessment. Member of English New Zealand and a Cambridge exam preparation centre.
Location: 10-12 Scotia Place, Auckland City 1010, New Zealand
- LSI Brisbane
Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is warm and subtropical almost all year. It is built along a river, with an inner-city beach at South Bank. The Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast are an easy trip away. The school is in Spring Hill, just above the centre. Australia’s student visa normally allows paid work, so a long stay here can help pay for itself. Brisbane is also an affordable big city to live in. Sydney and Melbourne are a short flight south for a weekend somewhere bigger. Accredited by NEAS.
Location: 6/133 Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia
- LSI Paris
French, with the same LSI behind it. The centre is on rue du Renard in the 4th arrondissement, between the Pompidou Centre and Notre-Dame, right in the heart of Paris. You get the same 6 levels, the same 50-minute lesson and the same general and intensive timetables as the English centres. There is also preparation for the French certificates. The centre holds the Qualité FLE label, the French state quality mark for language schools, and is recognised by the Paris Chamber of Commerce.
Location: 23 rue du Renard, 75004 Paris, France
- LSI Zurich
German in Switzerland’s biggest city, at the centre on Kreuzstrasse near the lake. It is accredited by EAQUALS, the European body for language education. You get the same course structure and levels as everywhere else in the group. Zurich is a comfortable, very well organised place to be a student. The Alps are under an hour away by train, and three other language regions are inside the same small country. It is one of the easiest cities to live in.
Location: Kreuzstrasse 36, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Around two thirds of the students we send to LSI choose London, New York, Toronto or Auckland.
What do students say about studying at LSI?
Two LSI students, in their own words. Patricio studied in New York and Aline in Auckland. Together they cover what people ask us about most: the teachers, the friends, and finally speaking without having to think first.
Hey! I’m from Chile, and I’ve had a really great experience at LSI New York. The best part is that I can finally speak English with confidence! I studied English in high school and university back home, but I never felt comfortable speaking it like I do now. I’ve also made some amazing friends from all over the world, which made the experience even better. I’m really glad I chose LSI, and I want to thank my agency, ViveCampus, for recommending the school and helping me through the whole process. It was definitely the right choice.
I had such a great time studying English here in LSI Auckland. The teachers and staff have been amazing and always there to help me. They even helped me with the things I needed to start looking for a part-time job, which was really nice. The school is super cozy, and I always felt comfortable, almost like I was at home. And the classes are actually fun! They’re nothing like the boring English classes I was used to. I will recommend LSI to all my friends.
Student testimonials from LSI share students’ experiences at the language school.
Source: ViveCampus
LSI in images
How ViveCampus can help you
A ViveCampus advisor helps you find the right programme for you, based on your goals, needs and budget.
Our advice is completely free, and the process is 100% transparent. You make all your payments directly to LSI.
When you apply through ViveCampus, you get support from both the school and our team. We help you through the application, the visa, the accommodation and your arrival.
You also get an international student card with thousands of discounts, plus other benefits your advisor will explain.
Steps you should follow
1. Tell us your goal A short chat about your needs, level, budget, dates and what you are looking for.
2. We clarify your doubts We answer all your questions about costs and requirements.
3. We handle the paperwork Application, letter of acceptance and the documents your visa or permit needs.
4. Ready to Start Accommodation confirmed, payments processed, and someone to call whenever you need a hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What people ask our advisors before booking a course with LSI: which city, what the 50-minute lesson adds up to, which visa, whether you can work, and how costs change from one city to another.
Which LSI centre should I choose?
Start from the one thing you most want out of your time abroad, and the list gets short fast. If you want to work while you study, look at Auckland and Brisbane first, because students there can usually work alongside their course. If budget decides it, start with Brighton, Toronto, Auckland and Brisbane, where your money goes furthest on the same course. For a smaller place where you hear the language all day, take Brighton, Cambridge or Berkeley. For a big city with a major airport and a job market, go for London, New York, Toronto or Brisbane. If a US or British university is your goal, look at Boston and Cambridge. And if you want French or German, it is Paris or Zurich. Send us your top priority and we will come back with 2 or 3 centres that fit it.
What does a 50-minute lesson give you?
More teaching in every week you book. Every LSI lesson lasts 50 minutes. On General 20, that gives you 1 hour 40 minutes of extra teaching a week. On Intensive 30, it is 2 hours 30 minutes a week. Over a 12-week Academic Term, that adds up to 30 hours of class. LSI also shows the clock hours next to the lesson count on every course page. So you can see exactly how much teaching you get.
Can I study in more than one LSI city?
Yes, and many students do, especially on longer bookings. The course structure, the 6 levels and the lesson length are the same at every centre. So your level carries across and you pick up right where you left off. What you plan around is visas and dates. Moving to another country usually means a new entry status, so we plan it ahead. Moving between two English centres in the same country is simple. The combination we hear about most is a term of English in London or Brighton, then a term of French in Paris. We set up both enrolments together, so it is all one conversation.
Can I work while I study at LSI?
It depends on the country, so think about it before you pick the city. In New Zealand, a full-time English course of 14 weeks or more at a Category 1 school, like LSI Auckland, lets you work up to 25 hours a week. In Australia, a student visa normally allows paid work. So when a job is part of your plan, Auckland and Brisbane are the two centres to look at first. In Canada, language students on a study permit generally cannot work. In the United States, an F-1 student can work only on campus, within set hours. In the United Kingdom, a short English course carries no right to work. France and Switzerland have their own rules for student permits. Rules change, so we confirm what applies to your nationality and your dates. If working is part of your plan, tell us first and we will narrow the list for you.
What is the difference between General 20, Intensive 24 and Intensive 30?
The core is the same, and the difference is how much of your day you give it. General 20 is 20 lessons, 16 hours 40 minutes, and leaves your afternoons free. Intensive 24 adds 4 lessons, for a round 20 hours. It is the one we recommend most often, because it moves your level in a set number of weeks and still leaves you time in the day. Intensive 30 adds 10 more, for 25 hours: lessons 5 and 6 of each day, which you choose yourself. That is how LSI builds its IELTS and TOEFL preparation and its Business English. If you have plenty of weeks, General 20 and the city will do the work. If you have a few weeks and a target, take Intensive 30.
Do I need a certain level to start?
Not for the general and intensive courses, which run across 6 levels from complete beginner to advanced. If you are starting from zero, plan on at least 8 weeks. That is the minimum at most LSI centres, and it is also about what it takes to reach a useful level. The specialist courses have entry levels. IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge B2 First start at intermediate. C1 Advanced asks for upper intermediate to advanced, and C2 Proficiency for advanced. Business English and the profession courses start at intermediate. You take a level test before you travel and a placement check when you arrive. So you start in the right class on your first morning.
Which exam should I prepare for, IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge?
Start from what you will be asked for. For a university in the United States or Canada, that is usually TOEFL. Almost everywhere else in the English-speaking world, including the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, it is IELTS. IELTS is also the test immigration systems ask for. Cambridge is different: B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency are qualifications, not test scores. They never expire, and employers read them as a statement about you. So if your deadline is a university place, take the test they name. If you are building a career, a Cambridge certificate keeps its value for life. LSI runs all three.
What are Grammar Doctor and Job Club?
Two free weekly classes at every centre, on top of your timetable, and two of the most useful things on this page. Grammar Doctor is a teacher, a room and the grammar you want to fix, one question at a time. It is often the fastest way to sort out a point for good. Job Club is about working in the country you are in. You write a CV that works there, get ready for interviews and learn your rights at work. Both are free, and both are worth building into your week from your first Monday.
What is an Academic Term or Academic Year Abroad?
A long booking with real support around it. The term runs 12 to 23 weeks and the year 24 to 48, at 20, 24 or 30 lessons a week. You get an individual study plan for your level and your goal. You also get 2 extra sessions with a teacher every week, and regular progress meetings against your plan. You can combine general English, an exam course, academic English, a university pathway and Business English in one enrolment. And you change the mix as your level grows. It is the right choice if your goal is a level or a qualification.
Is LSI an accredited school?
Yes, separately in each country. The centres in England are accredited by the British Council and are members of English UK. The American centres are accredited by ACCET, with New York State licensing in New York and BPPE approval in California. The Canadian centres are members of Languages Canada. Vancouver is also designated by British Columbia’s Private Training Institutions Branch and is EQA certified. Brisbane is accredited by NEAS. Auckland holds NZQA Category 1, the top of the four bands. Zurich is accredited by EAQUALS, and Paris holds the Qualité FLE label. Most LSI centres are also recognised for German Bildungsurlaub study leave.
Can I really study French or German with the same school?
Yes, and they are a full part of the group. The Paris centre teaches French on rue du Renard in the Marais, and the Zurich centre teaches German on Kreuzstrasse. Both are open all year. Both use the same 6 levels, the same 50-minute lesson and the same general and intensive timetables as the English centres. Both prepare you for the official certificates. Paris holds the French state Qualité FLE label and Zurich is EAQUALS accredited. If your plan includes two languages, this is the big plus of a group: one school, one set of records, and a level everyone understands when you move.
How long should I book for?
A month will boost your confidence. 8 to 12 weeks will usually move your level. And a term or a year will change what you can do in the language. As a guide, one CEFR level takes most people about 10 to 12 weeks of intensive study. So if you want to arrive at intermediate and leave at upper intermediate, plan a term rather than a month. If you are a complete beginner, 8 weeks is the minimum at most LSI centres, and it is a sensible starting point. Tell us the level you want to reach and we will plan backwards from it with you.
What does it cost, and what makes the difference?
Mostly the city. Brighton, Toronto, Auckland and Brisbane are where your budget goes furthest, with the same Intensive 24, the same 6 levels and the same 50-minute lesson. Living costs follow the same pattern. LSI has a price list for each centre, covering tuition, registration, materials, accommodation and transfers, and the rates are set once a year. Our advice: pick 2 or 3 cities you would love to live in and let us quote them all. The differences can be big, and a city with lower living costs can buy you extra weeks. Send us the contact form and you get the quotes in writing, itemised, with any promotion running for your dates. Our help is free.
What is included and what is extra?
The quote we send you covers tuition for the weeks you book, the registration fee and course materials. It also covers accommodation if you want us to arrange it, and the airport transfer if you take one. Some things are paid separately, and it helps to know them early. The exam boards charge the Cambridge, IELTS and TOEFL fees. Visa fees and any health surcharge go to the government. Insurance depends on the country, and your living costs are your own. We itemise all of it before you commit, so the figure you see is the figure you pay. We will also tell you which extras your city and course need.
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