I am thoroughly enjoying the class. The tutor is excellent and the mix of students and older people works very well indeed! Italian student, Autumn 2025

Available courses

The following Italian courses are available for members of the public, although not every course is available every term. Check the course timetable below to see which courses are running in Autumn and Spring 2025-26.

Stage 1.1 (equivalent to CEFR level A1.1): This class is suitable for you if you have never studied Italian before.

Stage 1.2 (equivalent to CEFR level A1.2): Enrol in this class if you have completed Stage 1.1 with us, or if you can:

• use basic structures and basic vocabulary related to greetings, introductions, family, numbers, time, food
• form simple sentences using present tense verbs, basic questions forms, negations and basic adjectives
• follow and engage in simple conversations and understand simple texts

Stage 2.1 (equivalent to CEFR level A2.1): Enrol in this class if you have completed Stage 1.2 with us, or have Grade 4 - 6 in Italian GCSE or equivalent, or if you can:

• use basic structures and basic vocabulary related to everyday topics such as travel, weather, work, health and leisure activities
• use the present and perfect tenses
• engage in longer conversations on familiar topics and express basic opinions
• understand and write short texts

Stage 2.2 (equivalent to CEFR level A2.2): Enrol in this class if you have completed Stage 2.1 with us, have Grade 4 – 6 in Italian GCSE or equivalent or if you can:

• use a wider range of vocabulary covering a range of topics including work, education, hobbies, transport
• use the present, perfect and imperfect tenses
• engage in longer conversations on familiar topics, express basic opinions and make suggestions

Stage 3.1 (equivalent to CEFR level B1.1): Enrol in this class if you have completed Stage 2.2 with us, if you have a Grade 7 – 9 in Italian GCSE or a similar qualification, or if you:

• have a substantial vocabulary covering a wide range of topics including everyday situations, work-related scenarios and social interactions
• can use present, past and future tenses, know how to use the imperative mode, the present conditional and the present subjunctive
• can engage in longer conversations and express opinions on a range of topics
• can understand longer texts – understanding main ideas and extracting specific information
• can write clear, well-structured texts on various subjects

Stage 3.2 (equivalent to CEFR level B1.2): Enrol in this class if you have completed Stage 3.1 with us or, have an AS level in Italian or equivalent, or if you:

• have a substantial vocabulary covering a wide range of topics including everyday situations, work-related scenarios and social interactions
• can use present, past and future tenses, know how to use the imperative mode, the present conditional and the present subjunctive
• can engage in longer conversations and express opinions on a range of topics
• can understand longer texts – understanding main ideas and extracting specific information
• can write clear, well-structured texts on various subjects

PLIDA Exam Preparatory Workshops (A1/A2/B1): A set of 5 preparatory workshops for all students who opt to sit for the PLIDA qualifications. These are held in the Spring term and are offered free of charge to anyone enrolled in another Italian class; they are not available to join as standalone classes.

Placement test

If you have never learned Italian with us before, please take this placement test so that you know which course is suitable for you.

We recommend reading our Terms and Conditions for information about what to do if you enrol at the wrong level and need to transfer to a different course.

2025-26 course timetable

Enrolment on our Autumn courses is now closed.

Spring 2026

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

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

You have the option of entering for PLIDA qualifications A1, A2, or B1 level. 

To help you prepare for the exams, you can join our PLIDA preparation workshops in the spring, which are offered free of charge if you are enrolled in another Italian 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 Italian language skills

Outside the classroom, we share cultural events organised by Italian associations in the UK such as the Istituto italiano di cultura in London and British Italian Society. These events offer additional opportunities for you to develop your knowledge of Italian language and culture.

We also organise our own cultural events, student-led Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) sessions and Language Cafés. If you are enrolled on a language course, you are 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 2026

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