Language Centre FAQ

The Language Centre offers courses each term (Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer). Exact course dates are published on our website 6 to 8 weeks before the start of each term, once we have published the timetables on term enrolment. You are strongly recommended to apply as early as possible as places are first come first served. 

The Language Centre offers around 25 languages each term. The language courses on offer are typically published 6 to 8 weeks before the start of each term.

To see the full list of languages we offer, see Language Centre short courses. For our current timetables, see term enrolment. 

Course fees vary depending on course level and delivery. SOAS staff, students and alumni, and University of London students and staff are eligible for a discount. Check our course fees page for further details.

Yes, provided you contact us in writing at least 14 working days before the course start date. Transfers must be made within the same academic year. Transfer requests made after this 14 working day grace period will not be accepted. 

It is not possible to purchase all three terms in advance. We enrol termly. Starting 6 to 8 weeks before the course begins, you can book your place via term enrolment. 

This is not possible. We ask all applicants to make informed decisions before applying for a course. In fairness to everyone, the terms and conditions apply to all.  

No. Our courses are open to everyone. Members of the public as well as SOAS students are welcome to join. 

No. Language Centre courses are not credit-bearing and cannot be taken as part of your degree programme. They are extracurricular and open to all.

Language Centre courses are non-credit-bearing short courses designed for personal and professional development.

No. Please visit the English Language Programmes for English language skills courses. 

We offer both live online and on campus courses, depending on the language and term. The mode of delivery for each course will be clearly stated on the timetable when enrolment opens.

Yes. Many languages are offered from beginner to advanced levels, depending on demand. If you are looking to enrol as a non-beginner, please see how to apply. 

The dialect or regional variety taught may vary depending on the language. For full details, please refer to the course description of the specific language, where the dialect focus (if applicable) will be clearly stated.

Most of our teachers are native speakers or have near-native fluency, along with experience teaching the language professionally.

Our Japanese and Chinese courses may help support your preparation for JLPT/HSK exams. However, they are not purely designed for these exams. 

The Language Centre does not facilitate JLPT exams. Please see the JLPT department for more information. 

While CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is a helpful general guide, it was designed primarily for European languages. Our courses focus on non-European languages, which may follow different learning trajectories. You can refer to our Language Proficiency Levels page for a rough equivalence, but we recommend only using it as an approximate reference point.

Although online classes are recorded and materials are available on Moodle, regular attendance is strongly encouraged. Our courses are interactive and build progressively each week. Missing several classes (especially 4–5 out of a 10-week course) may significantly affect your learning and ability to keep up. If you know in advance that you'll miss a large portion of the course, we recommend waiting until a future term when you can fully commit. 

Usually between 10 and 14, the maximum is 20.

Generally, our 10-week short courses take place once a week on a weekday evening, between 6pm and 9pm, or on Saturday, between 10am and 1:30pm. Our Summer intensive courses can take place during the daytime or evening across the week. 

During the enrolment period, you can view sepcific course days and times on term enrolment. 

Although Language Centre courses are not accredited, a certificate of attendance can be requested upon completion of the course. A minimum of 70% attendance is required for this to be presented. 

If you are already studying with us and looking to join a continuing language level, no formal placement test or assessment is required. Your teacher may offer informal guidance based on your progress, but ultimately, you will usually know yourself if you are ready to move up to the next level. 

Online classes are typically recorded and shared on Moodle. You will have access to Moodle and class recordings until the next academic year starts (31st October). If you continue with us past October, your access to Moodle will automatically extend for another year. Recordings from older courses may not be available after the academic year changes.

Courses are open to all adults aged 18 and over, SOAS students and non-SOAS students. Learners 16+ are also welcome, subject to parental consent. 

The online placement tests are typically an informal online meeting with the language teacher. They are intended to help place you at the right level. No preparation is needed.

Live attendance is recommended due to the interactive nature of the classes, but recordings can help you catch up if you miss a session.

If you have prior language experience, you may need to complete a placement test before enrolling. Please see how to apply for further details. 

This depends on the course. Please check the course page for the materials list. Once the course is confirmed, you will be notified in the confirmation email whether a textbook is required. 

Yes. Language Centre students receive a SOAS Language Centre ID card, which grants access to the SOAS Library and areas of the campus. Please note this is not a full SOAS student ID and does not include borrowing rights from the library. 

We do not offer separate language certificate programmes. All our courses are short, non-accredited courses. The only certificate we provide is a certificate of attendance, issued to students who attend at least 70% of the course.

We do not arrange contact with teachers unless you need a placement test. However, if you have a specific question about the course content or level, we are happy to pass this on to the teacher on your behalf. You will be given the teacher’s email once you have enrolled and the course is confirmed. 

All vacancies are posted on our website when available. Please refer to our vacancies page for updates.

We offer one-to-one or small group tailored tuition in many of our languages. Visit our tailored tuition page for more information.