“The teaching has been excellent. Khalil is a brilliant and accommodating teacher. I would definitely recommend these courses to others looking to start learning Arabic.” Arabic student, semester 1 2024-25

Available courses

We deliver the following Arabic courses to members of the public, although not every course runs every term. Check the timetable below to see which courses are running in Autumn and Spring 2025-26.

Stage 1.1 (equivalent to CEFR level A1.1): This level is suitable for you if you have never studied Arabic before or if you know some basic phrases. We recommend you take 'Introduction to Arabic script' alongside this course at no additional cost.

Stage 1.2 (equivalent to CEFR level A1.2): This class is appropriate if you have completed Stage 1.1 with us, or if you have mastered the Arabic alphabet and sound system, and can:

• distinguish and pronounce all Arabic sounds and write accurately from dictation
• use basic structures and basic vocabulary related to greetings, introductions, family, jobs and professions
• follow simple conversations and understand simple texts on familiar topics
• engage in simple conversations and write short texts on familiar topics

We recommend you take 'Introduction to Arabic script' alongside this course at no additional cost.

Stage 2.1 (equivalent to CEFR level A2.1): Enrol in this class if you have completed Stage 1.2 with us, or if you:

• have knowledge of vocabulary covering topics including: around the house, my city, countries and nationalities and at the market
• can use grammatical structures such as: there is/there are and prepositional phrases
• have some knowledge of the past tense and plural forms
• can engage in simple conversations and express basic opinions on a range of familiar topics
• can understand texts about the mentioned topics
• can write short clear, well-structured texts on various subjects

Stage 2.2 (equivalent to CEFR level A2.2): Enrol on this course if you have completed Stage 2.1 with us, or if you:

• have knowledge of vocabulary covering a range of topics including: the numbers 0-100, days of the week, saying the time, giving directions, ordering food and drink, clothing and colours
• have some knowledge of the past tense and plural forms
• can engage in longer conversations and express opinions on a range of topics
• can understand longer texts
• can write clear, well-structured texts on various subjects

Introduction to Arabic Script: This one-hour weekly course is designed to supplement the Stage 1.1 and Stage 1.2 courses. We strongly encourage all beginners enrolled in the core courses to register for this additional course, as it offers valuable practice with the Arabic alphabet - an essential part of the Arabic Beginners' curriculum. The course is offered free of charge and is exclusively available to students enrolled in Stage 1.1 and Stage 1.2 Arabic courses. Please speak to your teacher if you would like to attend.

ALPT Exam Preparatory Workshops:  A set of 5 preparatory workshops is available to all students who opt to sit the Arabic Language Proficiency Test (ALPT). These run in the Spring term in addition to the core courses. You can join these workshops free of charge if you have enrolled in a core course; they are not available to enrol on as standalone classes.

2025-26 course timetable

Enrolment on our Autumn courses for members of the public is now closed.

Enrolment on our Spring 2026 courses will close on 23 January 2026 at midday.

Spring 2026

Teaching starts week commencing 9 February 2026 and runs until week commencing 27 April 2026. There will be no teaching in weeks commencing 30 March 2026 and 6 April 2026 due to the Easter break. All courses take place in person at our Claverton Down campus.

You can come along to meet the teacher and ask any questions about your course before teaching starts the following week. There are also opportunities to meet the Languages Team. For all Meet the teacher sessions, just drop in at the time that suits you best.

Please make sure you have read and understood our Terms and Conditions before enrolling on a course.

Enrolment for Spring 2026 courses will close on 23 January 2026 at midday.

Course fees

Course fees for 2025-26 are:

Fees include all tuition and course materials and must be paid in full at the time of enrolment, through our online booking system.

Available discounts

We offer a 10% discount to Discovery Card holders. To qualify for the discount, you should:

1. Enrol on your chosen course and pay the full course fee.
2. Complete this form to request your Discovery Card discount.
3. We will verify the details you have provided and issue you a refund of 10% of the course fee within 5 working days of receiving your refund request.

The Discovery Card discount is only available on full course fees, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts, including the subsidised prices offered to University students and staff.

Qualification fees

You may wish to take up the opportunity of entering for a globally recognised language qualification, to accredit your language proficiency. Exam preparation workshops are offered in the Spring alongside the core language course at no additional charge. You must be enrolled on a language course to be able to join the exam preparation workshops; they are not available to enrol onto as standalone courses.

If you choose to enter for an examination, additional costs will be payable for examination entry to the respective awarding organisations. These costs vary by language, level and provider and are subject to change, but typically range from £70 to £250 per exam. Full details of costs can be found on the awarding bodies' websites and will be provided by your teacher. Please note that if you choose not to take an exam, the costs are limited to the course fees.

Terms and Conditions

Please make sure you have read and understood our Terms and Conditions before enrolling on a course. By purchasing a course, you will be deemed to have accepted the Terms and Conditions, so it's important you have read them before you complete your purchase.

Qualifications

There is the option of sitting the Arabic Language Proficiency Test. The ALPT is endorsed by the Islamic Chamber of Industry and Commerce and is the proficiency test selected by the United Nations.

To help you prepare for the exams, you can join our exam preparation workshops in the spring, which are offered free of charge if you are enrolled in another Arabic class; they are not available to join as standalone classes. If you would like to join the workshops, please speak to your teacher after you have enrolled in your core class.

More ways to develop your Arabic language skills

Outside the classroom, we share cultural events organised by Arabic language associations in the UK such as the British Council's Arabic Language and Culture Programme and Qatar Foundation International. These events offer additional opportunities for you to develop your knowledge of Arabic language and culture.

We also organise our own cultural events and Language Cafés. If you are enrolled on a language course, you're welcome to take part in all these activities; please ask your teacher for more details after you have enrolled.

Meet the teacher

You can come along to meet the teacher and ask any questions about your course before teaching starts the following week. There are also opportunities to meet the Languages Team. For all the sessions, just drop in at the time that suits you best.

Spring term 2026

To locate a room, read more information on finding your way around campus.