Studying abroad is not an easy task for everyone, especially in the UK, and even more so if your first language is not English. This is why most universities in the UK have their own language centre or school that mainly aims to help international students make a seamless transition into their new environment and help them with their language skills. 

The best language schools or centres in the UK can be found at the country’s top universities and learning institutions. As a student in UK, you will surely benefit from the courses offered at the various available language centres, whose quality of education maintains the reputation of the university they belong to. 

If you are studying in any major city in the UK, here are some of the best language schools or centres in each major UK university. 

Best Language Schools or Centres

Whether you are a student at the University of Oxford, Cambridge, Leeds, Machester, or any other UK university, here is everything you, a student in UK, need to know about the best language schools or centres there.

1. University of Oxford

The language centre at the University of Oxford provides students with high-quality English language courses. As one of the best language schools in the UK, this centre offers academic English courses, pre-sessional courses, and other language courses. Here are some of the academic English courses: 

• Term-time Written Communication Courses

• Term-time Spoken Communication Courses

• Intensive Courses

• English for Partners

• Pre-sessional Course in Academic English

• Tailored Courses

• Individual Learning and Support 

Other language courses include the following languages: 

• Arabic

• French

• Greek

• Japanese

• Portuguese

• Spanish

• Dutch

• German

• Russian

• Italian

• Mandarin

There is also a language library that you can benefit from as a student in UK enrolled at this university. The Oxford University Language Centre Library holds materials in 200 languages. It has lending books, sound recordings, videos, newspapers, and online resources. It includes all the languages taught at the Language Centre, other languages, indigenous and heritage languages, less commonly taught languages, pidgins, and creoles, as well as material in some endangered languages.

2. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge Language Centre supports the teaching and learning of languages throughout the university. This is done in a flexible manner in accordance with the needs of students. The Centre at the University of Cambridge uses IT to underpin its operations, and its activities are informed by relevant research in second language acquisition and educational technology. This language centre offers two types of language programmes: Academic Development and Training for International Students (ADTIS) and Cambridge University Language Programmes (CULP). 

Languages other than English that are being taught there include the following:

• Spanish

• Russia

• Swahili

• Korean

• Japanese

• Greek

• German

• Italian

• French

• Chinese 

• Arabic

3. University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham has its own Modern Languages programme that is the perfect fusion of language and culture. This is one of the best language schools in the UK, where you can study more than one language in an advanced language bachelor's programme. This programme and language centre is ranked among the top 100 for modern languages in the QS World Rankings by subject and the top 25 for French in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2022). 

The following languages can be studied at the University of Birmingham Language Centre: 

• English

• French

• German

• Spanish

• Italian

• Russian

• Portuguese

• Chinese 

• Japanese

• Catalan

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4. University of Bedfordshire

The Centre for English as a Foreign Language (CEFL) at the University of Bedfordshire offers language courses and support to all its students, specifically international students. As one of the best language schools and centres in the UK, this centre offers the following courses and services that you can benefit from as a student in UK:

• Bedfordshire Home EU Foundation Year

• International Foundation Year

• Academic Skills Training

• Part-time English courses

• Summer School

• ELAS English Test for Admission

• CEFL Journal

5. University of Arts London

The University of Arts London Language Centre allows students access to language development support, build intercultural communication skills, take part in a language exchange, or improve their English before they start their main degree course. The University of Arts London offers the following programmes at its language centre: 

• English language development support

• Pre-sessional English for offer holders

• UAL language exchange scheme

• Intercultural and communication training

6. University of Leeds

The University of Leeds Language Centre is among the best language schools in the UK. As a student in UK, you will definitely benefit from their services and language courses. At the University of Leeds’ Centre for Languages, you can get help to improve your English language skills, whether you’re preparing for an academic degree or want to get better at English for everyday situations. 

The following programmes and courses are offered at this language centre: 

• Postgraduate pre-sessional English

• Undergraduate pre-sessional English

• Online pre-sessional courses

• General English course

• Specially designed courses

• MA Teaching English for Academic Purposes

7. University of Manchester

The University of Manchester Language Centre provides a wide range of language courses to the whole of the University of Manchester and members of the public, with 13 different languages on offer for personal, professional, and academic purposes. This is one of the best language schools in the UK, as it offers the Language Experience for All Programme (LEAP), which provides students, staff, and members of the public with the opportunity to learn a language.

8. University of Sheffield

The Modern Languages Teaching Centre at the University of Sheffield provides a wide range of language programmes for all of its students. There is also a programme titled Language for All, which is a university-wide scheme for all University of Sheffield students and members of the public wishing to develop foreign language skills. This could be learning a new language from scratch or continuing to build on a language started at school or college.

There are undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered at the University of Sheffield’s various language programmes that help prepare students for better, more career-oriented futures. 

9. University of Liverpool

The English Language Centre at the University of Liverpool helps students improve their academic English skills and be better prepared for a brighter future. This language centre at the University of Liverpool is accredited by BALEAP (the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes). This is great for you as a student in UK, as it offers a variety of English language courses and opportunities. 

Their offered courses include the following: 

• Pre-sessional English

• In-sessional English 

• IELTS

10. University of Nottingham

The Language Centre at the University of Nottingham offers a broad range of high-quality language classes and a programme of evening classes that is becoming bigger and more popular each year. As one of the best language schools in the UK, this one at the University of Nottingham is a dynamic teaching unit offering high-quality language learning to more than 1200 students from all departments across the university. 

The following languages are being taught at this language centre: 

• Arabic

• French

• German

• Italian 

• Japanese

• Korean

• Mandarin Chinese

• Russian 

• Spanish

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11. University of Coventry

The Languages Centre at the University of Coventry is a state-of-the-art language learning facility that brings together learners, teachers, and technical staff in a specially designed suite. As another one of the best language schools in the UK, this one at the University of Coventry has a truly international focus; the Languages Centre is designed to support the multiple needs of learners from any language course that the university may provide. These range from short intensive courses aimed at providing basic knowledge to full-time degree programmes that may contain one or more languages as a major, joint, or minor subject.

12. Cardiff University

The Langauge Centre at Cardiff University offers a wide range of part-time modern language courses to its students. Cardiff University’s unique language programme in modern languages gives you the opportunity to study a language from scratch or improve your existing skills to a very high standard. The courses are taught by tutors based in the School of Modern Languages, most of whom are native speakers. 

Some of the languages taught at this language centre that you, as a student UK, would benefit from include the following: 

• Arabic

• Chinese

• French

• German

• Greek 

• Italian

• Japanese

• Portuguese 

• Russia

• Spanish

• Polish 

• Ukrainian

As a student in UK, especially an international student, you can definitely benefit from being enrolled in a university with a good language centre that helps teach and support students who do not have English as their first language. Using this list of the best language schools or centres in the UK and its various top-ranked universities and institutions, you can make sure you choose the right school for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best language schools in the UK?

Some of the best language schools and centres in the UK include those at the following universities:

• University of Oxford

• University of Cambridge

• University of Arts London

• University of Leeds

• Cardiff University

• Coventry University 

What languages can you learn in language schools in the UK?

Aside from the English language, the following languages are also taught in several language centres across different UK universities: 

• Arabic

• Chinese

• French

• German

• Greek 

• Italian

• Japanese

• Portuguese 

• Russia

• Spanish

• Polish 

• Ukrainian

Where to study language in UK?

You can study languages in the UK at many different universities, the best ones are as follows: 

• University of Birmingham

• University of Sheffield

• University of Nottingham

• University of Manchester

• University of Liverpool