Terms and Conditions

These Terms & Conditions apply to enrolment in courses and related services offered by Cervantes Escuela Internacional. By submitting an enrolment and making the required payment, the student confirms that they have read and accepted these conditions.

1. Enrollment and Confirmation

Once we receive your enrolment form, we will send you confirmation, the invoice for the selected programme and a payment link for the applicable reservation fee:

  • €155 for general courses.
  • €420 for the Spanish + Internship programme.

Reservation fees are non-refundable, except where otherwise required by applicable law or expressly provided in these Terms & Conditions.

General course enrolment normally closes one week before the start date and special-course enrolment two weeks before the start date, subject to availability and school confirmation.

One week before arrival, provided that full payment has been received, students will receive the practical information required for their stay, including accommodation details, transfer arrangements, emergency contact numbers and course schedules.

Course books are mandatory and are not included in the course fee unless expressly stated otherwise.

2. Fees and Payment

All payments must be made in euros and received no later than 5 days before the course starts, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Payment methods:

  • Bank transfer. Bank charges are paid by the student.
  • Visa or Mastercard.
  • PayPal.
  • Cash, subject to applicable Spanish legal limits.

The student’s place and any additional services are subject to timely payment of the amounts due.

3. Cancellations and Refunds

Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by email.

For general courses, cancellations received at least 10 days before the course start date will be refunded, less the applicable non-refundable reservation fee of €155.

For Spanish + Internship programmes, the €420 reservation fee is non-refundable.

No refund will normally be made for:

  • no-show;
  • abandonment of the course after it has started;
  • classes or services not used by the student;
  • late arrival or early departure.

Where a cancellation is made less than 10 days before the start date due to force majeure or another serious and documented circumstance, the school may issue a voucher for the amount paid, valid for one year from the original course start date.

These conditions are subject to any mandatory consumer rights applicable to the student.

3.1. Long-Term Programmes — 20 Weeks or More

For programmes of 20 weeks or more:

Before the Letter of Admission is issued

If cancellation is requested at least 15 calendar days before the course start date, the tuition paid will be refunded less a 10% administrative and cancellation fee.

Cancellations received less than 15 calendar days before the start date are non-refundable, except where mandatory law provides otherwise.

After a Letter of Admission has been issued for visa purposes

In case of visa refusal, tuition paid will be refunded less a €300 administrative fee, provided that the student submits official documentary evidence of the refusal.

If the student is unable to submit a visa application because of circumstances outside their reasonable control, the school may refund the tuition paid less a 10% administrative fee, provided that appropriate official documentation is submitted.

No refund will be made where the required supporting documentation is not provided.

If the visa is granted but the student does not start the programme on the agreed date, no refund will normally be made.

Where the school is legally required to notify an authority of the student’s non-attendance or change of circumstances, it will do so in accordance with applicable legislation.

Refunds, where applicable, will normally be made using the original payment method. Bank charges and exchange-rate differences are borne by the student.

4. Course Organisation and Class Size

Class sizes are normally:

  • General courses: maximum 10 students; up to 12 in July and August.
  • Teacher Training: maximum 15 students.
  • Junior Programme: maximum 15 students.
  • Closed groups: according to the specific agreement.

If insufficient students are enrolled at a particular level, the school may adapt the teaching arrangement:

  • 2 students: a 20-lesson group course may be reduced to 15 semi-private lessons.
  • 1 student: the course may be reduced to 10 private lessons.

For the Junior Programme, groups with fewer than 3 students at the same level may be integrated into the corresponding general course. Specific junior activities will be maintained when at least 3 students are enrolled.

The school may modify class times for academic or organisational reasons. Students will be informed of significant changes as soon as reasonably possible.

5. Class Schedule

Classes may take place in the morning or afternoon according to academic criteria, availability and programme type.

For the Intensive Course:

  • Morning: 09:00–12:35
  • Afternoon: 14:35–18:05

The student cannot choose the morning or afternoon shift.

One lesson equals 50 minutes.

6. Placement and Levels

Students with previous knowledge of Spanish must complete the school’s written and oral placement assessment before starting the course.

Placement is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the Instituto Cervantes Curriculum Plan.

The school may adjust a student’s group if the initial placement does not accurately reflect their level.

7. Attendance and Certificates

Students are expected to attend all classes.

A minimum attendance of 80% is required to receive the corresponding attendance certificate.

Classes missed by the student are not normally made up or refunded.

At the end of the course, students will receive the applicable attendance certificate and/or course report.

8. Minimum Age and Minors

Minimum ages are:

  • General Course: 14.
  • Junior Programme: 13.
  • Spanish + Internship: 17.
  • Family Course: all ages, subject to the programme conditions.

Students under 18 travelling without a parent or legal guardian must provide the required written parental/guardian authorisation and any other documentation requested by the school.

Minors requiring accommodation must stay in accommodation specifically approved for their age and programme, including a host family where required.

Additional rules and supervision arrangements applicable to minors will be communicated before arrival and must be respected throughout the stay.

9. Punctuality and Absences

Students should notify the school as soon as possible if they expect to be late or absent.

Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the start of a lesson may be asked to wait until the next appropriate break before entering the classroom.

Missed classes are not refunded or made up.

10. Public Holidays and Vacations

The school is closed on official public holidays.

If there are two public holidays in the same week, one will be made up.

Classes lost due to public holidays will not be made up (except private classes).

For 1- or 2-week courses that include a public holiday, the enrollment fee will be reduced by 50%.

If the holiday falls on Sunday, it will be moved to Monday.

Christmas holidays and official public holidays are listed here.

11. Exceptional Circumstances and Course Cancellation by the School

The school may modify programme information, schedules, teachers or facilities when reasonably necessary for academic, organisational or operational reasons.

If the school cancels a course before it starts and cannot offer a suitable alternative, the student will receive a full refund of the amount paid for the cancelled course.

If circumstances beyond the school’s reasonable control prevent on-site teaching, the school may provide classes online, reschedule the programme or offer another reasonable alternative, taking into account the nature of the programme and applicable law.

Temporary suspension or holidays requested by the student must normally be requested at least two weeks in advance and are subject to the conditions of the programme.

12. Airport Transfer

To book an airport transfer, students must provide accurate arrival details, including flight number, no later than Tuesday before arrival.

If the required information is not received on time, the school may be unable to provide the transfer and the service may not be refundable.

Students must immediately notify the school of any change or delay affecting their arrival.

The school cannot guarantee a transfer when incorrect or incomplete information has been provided.

If the driver cannot find the student and doesn’t answer their calls, the service will be lost.

13. Accommodation

Accommodation is always subject to availability and the specific conditions of the accommodation booked.

Double rooms (host family / apartment) are only available for students travelling together. Bookings requesting a double room without a confirmed roommate will be changed to a single room and invoiced accordingly.

13.1 Apartments

Students must:

  • keep their rooms and common areas reasonably clean and tidy;
  • wash dishes and utensils after use;
  • dispose of rubbish as instructed;
  • cooperate with the weekly cleaning service;
  • use electricity, water, heating and other facilities responsibly;
  • lock doors and switch off appliances when leaving.

Students may not:

  • change rooms or sleep in another room without authorisation;
  • move furniture or decorations without permission;
  • host visitors or overnight guests without prior authorisation;
  • smoke or use illegal drugs in the accommodation;
  • become intoxicated in the accommodation;
  • organise parties or activities that disturb other residents;
  • make excessive noise, particularly after 23:00.

Damage caused intentionally or through negligence may be charged to the responsible student.

The school is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to personal belongings unless legally responsible for it.

Lost keys will be charged at the applicable replacement cost (currently €40 per copy).

Serious or repeated breaches may result in relocation or termination of the accommodation service without refund, subject to applicable law.

13.2 Host Families

Host-family accommodation is intended to provide a safe environment and an opportunity for linguistic and cultural immersion.

Students must:

  • respect the family’s rules, schedules and privacy;
  • maintain a respectful and cooperative attitude;
  • keep their room and shared areas reasonably tidy;
  • respect meal times;
  • notify the family in advance if they will not attend a meal;
  • use water, electricity, heating and other household resources responsibly.

Smoking, illegal drug use, excessive alcohol consumption and unauthorised visitors are prohibited.

The host family will provide the meals included in the student’s booking and will take into account allergies or dietary requirements communicated to the school in advance.

Accommodation includes:

  • Bedding, provided and changed regularly by the family.
  • One reasonable laundry service per week.

Students must bring their own towels.

Keys are provided according to the conditions of the host family and the student’s age. Students are responsible for the reasonable replacement cost of lost keys.

For minors, additional rules concerning curfews, outings, visitors, communication and supervision may apply and will be communicated before arrival. The school will send an authorization that the parents or legal guardians of the minor student must fill and sent back signed before arrival.

The school may mediate accommodation-related problems and, where reasonably necessary and subject to availability, arrange a change of accommodation.

14. Student Conduct

Students must comply with Spanish law, school rules and the rules of their accommodation.

The school may take disciplinary action, including removal from classes or accommodation, in cases of serious or repeated misconduct, violence, harassment, discrimination, theft, drug use, serious damage to property, or behaviour that threatens the safety or wellbeing of others.

In serious cases, services may be terminated without refund, subject to applicable law.

15. Complaints and Mediation

Students should report problems as soon as possible to the school so that they can be addressed during the stay.

For accommodation issues, the school may mediate between the student and the host family or accommodation provider.

In host families, the family is responsible of the accommodation.

The student remains responsible for complying with the accommodation rules while the matter is being reviewed.

16. Insurance and Special Needs

Students are responsible for obtaining appropriate travel, medical, accident and personal-property insurance unless such coverage is expressly included in their programme.

Students must inform the school before arrival of any medical condition, disability, allergy, dietary restriction or other special need that may affect their participation in the course or accommodation.

The school will handle such information appropriately and will make reasonable arrangements where possible.

17. Personal Data

Personal data will be processed in accordance with the applicable data-protection legislation, including the GDPR and Spanish data-protection legislation.

The school’s Privacy Policy provides detailed information about the processing of personal data.

18. Legal Information

Cervantes Escuela Internacional
A brand of CERVANTES & CERVANTES DEBLA, S.L.

CIF: B-29693090

Av. Juan Sebastián Elcano, 89
29017 Málaga, Spain

Registered in the Málaga Commercial Registry, Volume 520, Book 86, Sheet MA-18768.

These Terms & Conditions are governed by Spanish law. Nothing in these conditions limits any mandatory rights that consumers may have under applicable consumer-protection legislation.