Frequently Asked Questions

The course starts during the second week of Term 1.

The course runs for 20 weeks.

There is one two-hour class each week. To make good progress, you will also be expected to complete around two hours of self-study per week. Students are expected to attend at least 70% of the classes.

The courses are free for registered Brunel students. However, you may be charged a withdrawal fee for poor attendance without a legitimate reason. Please see our mitigating circumstances policy.

As demand is high, students are usually permitted to take one language course at a time.

Yes, providing there are places in an alternative class.

You will receive a certificate on successful completion of the course. You will be required to attend regularly (at least 70% of the classes) and pass the assessments.

In order to obtain a certificate, you have the opportunity to complete a series of assessments: a coursework portfolio (30% weighting), consisting of five tasks completed during the course; a speaking test (20% weighting), and a final exam which tests listening, reading, writing and grammar (50% weighting).

All tutors are highly qualified and experienced language teachers. Some are native speakers of the language and others are not. The quality of teaching is very high regardless of the tutor’s native language.

Yes, your tutor will give you details of the course book during the first class.

We admit a maximum of 30 students in each class. However, after the first few weeks, there are usually fewer students in each group, which creates a more effective learning environment.

Brunel students may withdraw from the course free of charge up to the end of the first week of the course. After this time, students must submit documentary evidence to excuse their absence from the course. If satisfactory evidence is not submitted, students may be charged a withdrawal fee of £100. Please see our mitigating circumstances policy.

Fee-paying students may withdraw at any time. However, course fees cannot be refunded after the end of the first week of the course.

The current fee is £300 for the full 20-week course.

Brunel staff members receive a 50% reduction on the full course fee. The current reduced rate is £150.

Brunel alumni receive a 50% reduction on the full course fee. The current reduced rate is £150.

Your course tutor will give you her/his Brunel email address in the first class. You can also find your tutor’s contact details in the staff profiles.

Yes, Term 1 begins in the autumn usually in the first week of October and runs for 10 weeks until the Christmas break. Term 2 begins towards the end of January and runs for 10 weeks until Easter.

At present, we do not have any classes during the summer.

We teach nine languages: Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish.

We teach courses from beginners to intermediate-advanced, levels A1-B2 according to the Common European Framework. You can find information about the levels offered in each language in the Language Levels tabs.

You can apply online during Week 0 at the start of the academic year. This is usually the middle of September. There is a link to the application form on the Modern Languages website from that time.

You will receive an email if you have been offered a place. Please allow around 5-7 days before enquiring about your application.

Applicants on the waiting list are contacted as soon as places become available. No further places are offered after the second week of the course.

The classes take place on the Uxbridge campus in the central teaching rooms.

If you have passed the course and have attended regularly, you will receive an email informing you that your certificate is ready for collection from Brunel Language Centre on the first floor of the Russell building. Certificates are usually ready for collection by the end of April.

The certificate will display the dates of the course and the language and level studied. It will also show your overall mark and the level attained according to the Common European Framework.

Yes, you can receive a certificate of attendance if you attend at least 70% of the classes.