Learning the Local Language While Studying in Europe: Free and Low-Cost Courses

Start with your university language center

Most European universities run a language center for enrolled students, separate from Erasmus+ programs. These centers teach the local language at beginner through advanced levels, often as a for-credit course you add to your study plan. Many universities include this in your tuition or semester fee, so check your student portal or international office before paying for a private school.

Ask your international office two things: whether a placement test is required, and whether the course counts toward your degree credits. Some universities cap class size and fill up fast, so register in the first week of the semester.

Erasmus+ students get free courses through the EU Academy

If you study abroad on an Erasmus+ exchange, you get free access to language courses through the EU Academy platform at academy.europa.eu , the successor to the original OLS (Online Linguistic Support) tool. You complete a language assessment before and after your mobility period, and the course itself runs online at your own pace using an EU Login account.

The platform covers 29 languages , all 24 official EU languages plus Icelandic, Macedonian, Norwegian, Serbian and Turkish. Beginner content (A1-A2) exists for all 29, while advanced content (B1-B2) is available in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian. This access is free and tied to your Erasmus+ mobility, so confirm eligibility with your home university's Erasmus coordinator before you travel.

National language institutes: Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française and similar

If your Erasmus+ course does not cover your target language, or you study outside an exchange program, national cultural institutes run structured courses in host countries and at home. Prices depend heavily on the city and course intensity.

Goethe-Institut intensive German courses in Germany cost roughly 275-375 euros a month, with a small premium in summer. Alliance Française pricing varies more by location. A two-week intensive French course in Paris runs around 770 euros , while smaller regional branches often charge less per week for longer commitments. Check the branch closest to your campus directly, since a single national price rarely applies across the whole country.

Other national institutes work the same way: the Instituto Cervantes for Spanish, the Dante Alighieri Society for Italian, and the Camões Institute for Portuguese. Look for a student or young adult rate, many branches offer one.

Public adult education centers

Public adult education systems offer a cheaper route than private language schools. Germany's Volkshochschule (VHS) network runs evening and weekend group courses in most cities, open to anyone regardless of visa status, at a fraction of private-school prices. Similar public options exist elsewhere: France runs GRETA adult education centers, and many Nordic municipalities offer subsidized language classes through the local kommun or komvux system. These courses move slower than intensive private programs but work well alongside a full course load.

Free and low-cost self-study options

Fill gaps between structured courses with free tools. University libraries often provide free access to language-learning software such as Rosetta Stone or Duolingo subscriptions. Language exchange (tandem) programs, where you trade conversation time in your native language for practice in the local one, run through most student unions and cost nothing. Ask your international office for a tandem partner list at the start of the semester, spots fill quickly once classes begin. Podcasts and radio in the local language, played during commutes or chores, build listening comprehension without taking dedicated study time. Pair this passive exposure with active practice, a weekly conversation exchange or class, rather than relying on it alone.

Certify your level if your program requires it

Some non-English-taught programs ask for a recognized language certificate before or during your first year, not just conversational ability. Germany accepts TestDaF or the Goethe-Zertifikat, France accepts DELF/DALF, Spain accepts DELE, and Italy accepts CILS or CELI. Check your program's language requirement early, since certificate exam dates book up months in advance and a missed deadline can push back your enrollment by a full semester.

Plan around your course timetable

Language courses compete for time with your actual degree modules, especially in your first semester when both feel urgent. University language centers usually schedule sessions around common lecture-free afternoons, so check the timetable before you commit to a private school's fixed schedule. If you can only manage one evening a week, an intensive block course during a semester break, over Christmas or in summer, packs more progress into less calendar time than a slow weekly class.

Comparing your options