English Course Prices: A Guide to Comparing Offers Correctly
English course prices cannot be expressed as a single list price; the fee is determined by the number of lesson hours in the programme, the length of a lesson hour in minutes, the class size and how many levels it covers. Course price pages published in 2026 quote a range of approximately 9,000 TL to 42,000 TL for general English programmes. However, this range alone is not enough to decide on: the same price can mean a single 40-hour level at one institution and three levels totalling 120 hours at another. This guide lets you reduce offers from different institutions to the same measure.
Why do courses not publish fixed prices?
Language course pricing is package-based, and the scope of the package varies by student. The offer an institution makes to a student starting at A1 differs from the one it makes to a student at B1, because the number of lesson hours differs. For this reason, institutions usually carry out a free placement assessment first and quote a price afterwards. This practice is not in itself a negative sign; what is negative is not being given what the price covers in writing.
Eight variables that determine an English course price
- Total lesson hours: The primary determinant of price. A threefold difference between a 40-hour and a 120-hour programme is normal.
- The length of a lesson hour: In the sector a lesson hour may be 40, 45 or 60 minutes. Under the 40-minute definition, "120 hours" is actually 80 hours. This alone creates a hidden difference of up to 30 per cent.
- Class size: There is a marked price difference between standard classes of 15–20 and small groups of 6–8. As class size falls, speaking time and individual feedback per student rise.
- Lesson format: Group lessons are the most economical option and one-to-one private lessons the most expensive. The hourly fee for a one-to-one lesson can be several times that of a group lesson; in return, the same progress is reached in fewer hours.
- Programme type: General English programmes are more affordable than exam preparation and professional English programmes. Exam programmes carry the cost of special materials and mock exams.
- How many levels it covers: Are you buying a single level, or several levels up to your goal? Multi-level packages cost less per level but extend the commitment period.
- Format: Online programmes are generally more affordable than face-to-face ones because they carry no premises cost.
- Term and campaigns: Summer term and start-of-term campaigns affect prices noticeably.
The right measure: effective unit cost per hour
The only reliable way to compare packages from different institutions is to convert them all into the same unit. The formula to use is:
Effective unit cost = Total fee ÷ (Number of lesson hours × Lesson duration ÷ 60)
An example showing what two institutions quoting the same price actually offer:
| Institution | Advertised lesson hours | Lesson hour duration | Real total duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institution A | 120 lesson hours | 40 minutes | 120 × 40 ÷ 60 = 80 hours |
| Institution B | 90 lesson hours | 60 minutes | 90 × 60 ÷ 60 = 90 hours |
While institution A promises more hours on paper, institution B actually delivers 12 per cent more teaching. At the same price, the correct choice is the institution advertising fewer "hours".
After calculating the unit cost, assess it against class size. When a lower-priced class of 18 per hour is compared with a slightly more expensive class of 8, the active speaking time per student is more than double in the latter. If speaking ability is your goal, read the unit cost together with class size rather than on its own.
The real question: what is the total cost of reaching your goal?
The most common mistake when choosing a course is deciding on the basis of the price of a single level. What matters is the total amount you will pay until you reach your target level.
According to the guided learning hours published by Cambridge English, moving up one CEFR step requires approximately 150–200 lesson hours. Accordingly:
- From A2 to B1: One step, roughly 150–200 hours.
- From A2 to B2: Two steps, roughly 300–400 hours.
- From zero to B2: Approximately 500–600 hours.
When you multiply these hours by the unit cost you have calculated, you see the real budget for your goal. The total cost of a programme that looks cheap for a single level can come out higher than one that is more expensive per level but progresses more efficiently. To clarify your level and your goal, you can review the level table in our English course in Istanbul guide.
Ask about the items not included in the price
What the quoted price does not cover is as important as what it does. Clarify these six items in writing before enrolling:
- Book and material fee: Is it included in the course fee or charged separately? If a separate book is bought per level, this item increases the total budget noticeably.
- Registration fee: Some institutions apply a one-off registration charge separate from the course fee.
- VAT: Confirm whether the figure quoted includes or excludes VAT.
- Repeating a level: Does a student who fails the end-of-level assessment pay again when repeating the same level, or is there a free repeat entitlement?
- Exam fee: The fees for international exams such as IELTS and TOEFL are not included in the course; they are paid separately to the examination body. Mock exams offered by the institution, however, may be included in the package.
- Instalment surcharge: Ask about the difference between the cash price and the instalment price. The surcharge can wipe out the advertised discount entirely.
Group, small group, one-to-one and online
- Standard group (12–20 students): The lowest cost per hour. Adequate for grammar- and reading-focused progress, limited for speaking practice.
- Small group (5–8 students): The most suitable option for most learners in terms of the cost-benefit balance. Speaking time increases noticeably.
- One-to-one private lessons: The highest hourly fee. If a specific score is needed by a specific date, or there is a very specific requirement, it can save time overall.
- Online live lessons: More affordable than face-to-face. Effectiveness depends on class size and camera policy.
A mixed model is also possible: securing your basic progress in group lessons and taking a limited number of one-to-one lessons in the final period before an exam is an effective solution in budget terms.
The real cost of a cheap course
The programme with the lowest hourly fee turns out more expensive in two situations. First, if speaking ability does not develop because class size is high; the student completes the level but does not reach the goal and has to buy an additional programme. Second, if the student progresses on an incomplete foundation because the level progression criteria are loose; in this case a blockage typically occurs around B1 and lower levels have to be repeated.
For this reason, add these two questions to your price comparison: what is the written upper limit on class size, and on what criterion is progression from one level to the next made?
Payment, refund and commitment terms
At private education institutions, enrolment is completed with a learner contract prescribed by the Ministry. In the event of withdrawal, the refund amount is calculated on the basis of lesson hours already taken, as required by regulation. This clause is particularly important in long-term, multi-level packages: before entering an 18-month commitment, you should be able to calculate how much you would be refunded if you left in the sixth month. The right to freeze your enrolment, the duration of that right and the absence limit should also appear in the same contract.
Price expectations by programme type
Even within the same institution, the unit cost varies by programme type:
- General English: The base price. The widest choice of groups is found here.
- Exam preparation: IELTS and TOEFL programmes are priced higher than general programmes because they include mock exams and writing assessment. iTEP course programmes have a similar structure.
- Professional programmes: Business English course programmes are usually in the upper segment because they require small groups and sector-specific materials.
- Children's programmes: In English courses for children, lesson durations are short and terms are long; make the comparison on the basis of the term total.
- Exemption programmes: Preparatory exemption course programmes are short and intensive, so the total amount looks low while the hourly unit cost looks high.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions about English course prices and comparing offers.
Clarify your level and your goal before requesting a price quote; a figure given without knowing both is not comparable. You can request a free placement assessment and a plan covering the total lesson hours needed to reach your goal from the advisors at Akademik International Yabancı Dil Kursu. To evaluate institutions on criteria beyond price, review our best English course criteria.