FAQs

As a new student, you are expected to be at the school at 08:45 on your first day. You will receive overall orientation information (about the school, the city, etc.). Every student except for beginners will take an oral and written placement test, in order to be placed in the most suitable class.

If you have booked an accommodation with us, then you will receive instructions for arrival day along with your confirmation (where to go, how to get the keys, etc.). If you take only course with us then you should go directly to the school on Monday (except bank holidays) at 08:45 for the level test.

We accept last minute bookings, although courses booked 2 weeks or less before your arrival date must be paid in full at the time of booking. We recommend you to book as far ahead of your stay as possible, to assure that we can guarantee your first choice of accommodation, etc.

Fill out our online booking form. In order to confirm your booking you will be asked to pay a deposit of 200 €, plus 30 € accommodation placement fee if you have requested accommodation. The balance has to be paid at least 2 weeks prior to arrival.

We accept payments by bank transfer as well as credit card (visa and mastercard).
International Bank Transfer should be made to:
Bank Name: Santander
Bank Address: Calle Princesa, 31 E-28008 Madrid, Spain
Account number: 0049 0356 54 2210609913
IBAN: ES28 0049 0356 54 2210609913
Swift Code: ES BSCHESMM
Account holder: United Languages
If you choose to pay by international bank transfer please send us a copy of bank proof by fax to 91 447 65 13 or scanned by e-mail to payments@escuelalaola.com. All bank charges will be your responsibility. If you are paying from a country outside the European Union, please add EUR 20,00 on top of the total amount.

Full payment for the course, accommodation, etc. must be made at least 2 weeks prior to arrival. For late bookings, it will be necessary to pay by credit or debit card.

Upon receipt of your booking and deposit payment we will send you a welcome letter and a detailed invoice by e-mail confirming your enrolment. Please check that all dates and details of the programme are correct before booking your flight/train/bus ticket.

Please contact us, as soon as possible to make sure that we can guarantee your change. An administration fee of 30 € will apply to every change you make in your programme after your initial booking. For more details please read our terms & conditions.
In the event of cancellation, a cancellation fee governed by our terms & conditions will be applied.

You should book your own flight once your programme is confirmed. We can give you advice about good or cheap airlines to Spain. Please contact us if you have any inquiries.

It depends on the level you have, the proximity of your mother language to Spanish, the number of hours of study and of your ability to learn foreign languages, but if you take full advantage of your in-country stay and immerse yourself as much as possible, you will see significant progress from a course as short as 2 weeks, even as a beginner.

No, not at all. Our prices are extremely competitive in comparison with other intensive language schools. Escuela La Ola offers Spanish courses for comparatively little money. Please bear in mind that our groups are of a maximum of 6 students.

Most courses are available all year round and you can start them on any Monday. See 2012 calendar.

No, during official Spanish holidays the school is closed. This can be national as well as local holidays.

We guarantee you will never study in a group of more than 6 students.

You are free to choose the duration of your course. You can book from 1 week minimum up to 1 year or even longer.

We teach Spanish at all levels, from beginner to advanced.

You can test your written Spanish level online at the “Test Your Spanish Level” section. On arrival at the school we will also test your oral level to ensure we place you in the most suitable group.

Our placement tests tend to be highly accurate but, if you and your teacher feel that the class you were placed in initially is not at the appropriate level, we will of course move you to a suitable class. During your stay with us you will be able to move to a higher level as you make progress with your Spanish.

18 years old is the minimum age. However our Spanish language courses are perfect for adult students of minimum 21 years old who feel motivated to study Spanish for many reasons: university study, work, or purely for personal interest.

Yes, as long as you attend at least 85% of your classes, you will receive a Certificate showing the course attended, dates and level achieved.

The School is situated in Calle Princesa 22. The nearest underground Metro station is Ventura Rodríguez. We will send you detailed information about how to get to our school before you start your course.

Yes, there is a student lounge open from 09:00 to 19:00 with free Internet access computers. Wi-Fi is also available free of charge if you bring your own laptop.

You can request Escuela La Ola to deal with your housing before your arrival, or you can look for it for on your own.

Please check out on “Accommodation”

18 years old.

Yes, of course. You can book as little or as much as you want with Escuela La Ola.

Yes. This is possible, but at busy times of the year, you may have to wait.

Yes, we do offer airport transfer service. You can book it in advance and you will have to give us the date, time of departure and arrival, airline, and flight number, airport of origin and arrival.
You will be given an emergency phone number (available during the airport transfer service times) that you can ring in case of any problems: delays, flight cancellation etc.
Students, upon arrival, will first take their luggage and then pass through customs. After clearing customs, they will find the driver waiting, with his/her name on a sign. The driver will take you to your accommodation or directly to the school.

Mainly to enjoy a good time out of the classrooms, to practise your Spanish, to learn more about the history and culture of Spain and about Madrid as well, to develop your creativity and everything in a Spanish-speaking environment.

Citizens of countries belonging to the European Union do not need Visas to enter Spain.
Citizens of many countries (such as U.S.A., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, etc.) do not need visas for tourist stays up to 90 days (including language courses). If you are going to stay longer you should apply for student visa before coming to Spain.
Students coming from other countries should inform themselves about the requirements for obtaining a VISADO (VISA) at their nearest Spanish Embassy or Consulate.
We will provide you with a visa support letter for your course in Spain.

Foreigners coming to Spain with the only purpose of studying or undertaking research, training or a non-lucrative job in any Spanish educational or scientific, public or private, recognized centre.

In the Spanish embassy or general consulate in your country. Please consult the link Spain Embassies and Consulates. http://www.conpapeles.com/embajadas-y-consulados.php

It is granted for the whole duration of the Spanish course.

Yes, the Spanish student visa is renewable.