English Courses in Manchester, England UK

Excel College, Manchester English and IELTS Academy:
Excel College Manchester is an English language school in Manchester city centre. Established in 2003, Excel College is a UKBA Highly Trusted Sponsor, accredited by the British Council and a member of English UK. We deliver an excellent level of education for serious students at low cost prices.

Courses in General English, IELTS preparation, Writing Clinic, Communication Class, FCE, CAE, CPE

Courses from 6-30 hours a week

Enrol any day Monday to Friday. All students get a free placement test on arrival and 'walk-ins' can even try two classes completely free! Simply email or come in and see us for details.

Free placement test
No registration fees
Free trial class
Weekly assessments
Tutorials with your teacher every 6 weeks (full-time courses only)
Start any day Monday to Friday

Our students come from all over the world to study English, and their reasons for studying are as different and diverse as they are. This is why we offer flexible courses that you can adapt and change to suit your goals.

General English courses, FCE, CAE, CPE 6,9, and 15 hours a week.  Morning, afternoon and evening classes, Elementary to Proficiency levels.

IELTS Preparation Courses, Foundation and Advanced levels, 6,9 and 15 hours a week. Morning, afternoon and evening classes

International Foundation Year 

Business English BEC up to 15 hours a week

Communication Class 6 hours a week
Writing Clinic 6 hours a week
One-to-one lessons minimum 1.5 hours a week

Intensive English

You can study an Intensive English course for 21, 24 and 30 hours a week. There are many different course options for students studying an intensive course from the options above. If you book an intensive course, we will discuss with you the courses that will best fit your study plan and help you to design your time table.

Intensive English example timetables
(Please check with us what options are available as these can change every term)

Mix and match courses to design your own English course.
Take extra skill lessons or modules on top of a full -time course.
Add extra hours whenever you want.

Excel College can organise accommodation for you with one of our Homestay families or in our flat share.

Homestay accommodation

Live with a British family
Practice your English with native speakers
All bills and breakfast and evening meal included

Living with one of our Homestay families is a great way to improve your English and get a taste of British culture. Our Homestay families are carefully chosen and checked to ensure that you are happy, safe and comfortable throughout your stay. All our Homestay families speak English as their native language but it is important to remember that Britain is a multi-cultural country and our hosts have a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

If you choose Homestay accommodation, you will experience life as part of a British family. Our families live in different parts of Manchester. They usually live in residential areas, a bus ride away from the College. Some of our families have young children, some are retired couples and some are single, working people. All of them enjoy hosting students and learning about different cultures.

All students have their own room and are treated as an additional member of the family. This means you may be expected to help with some household chores like washing dishes after a meal and keeping your room tidy. It also means that you get invaluable practice speaking English with native speakers and an experience of real family life in the UK.

All our hosts are inspected every year to ensure that all Homestay accommodation meets British Council requirements.
Once you have paid your fees, we will find you a family and send you booking confirmation with some information on the family and their hobbies.

Flatshare
Live in the city centre
Share a flat with other international students
Stay in your own room with en-suite bathroom

If you’re looking for self-catering accommodation in the city centre, the Excel College flat share is an excellent option. Only five minutes walk from Excel College and fifteen minutes from the city centre, Liberty Point student accommodation is very well placed for getting to class and exploring Manchester in your spare time. The flat has six single bedrooms (all with en-suite bathrooms) and a shared kitchen and living area. There is a weekly cleaning service for communal areas but students are expected to wash dishes, clean their own bathroom and keep their bedroom tidy.

The flat is 10 minutes' walk from the College. It's in a big building of student flats. You will share a flat with five other students (not necessarily from Excel College). You will have your own single room and ensuite bathroom and will share a kitchen and living area. The price includes all bills, internet connection, a bedding pack (including duvet and sheets) and a kitchen pack (including crockery and cutlery for one). There is also a cleaner who comes in once a week to vacuum and clean the communal areas.

At Excel College, we understand how important it is to have the chance to use your English outside of the classroom.  We organise regular trips and activities in and around Manchester, from walking tours to quiz nights, as well as telling you about all the wonderful things that happen in Manchester every week. There is also a chance for you to volunteer for a local charity.

The main activities are advertised on the notice board in the college and on Facebook and Twitter. All activities are also advertised on Meetup

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to practise your English, improve your CV and discover more about Manchester and the people who live here.

Excel College is in contact with a variety of volunteer organisations including a community group, a youth centre, some environment conservation organisations and a homeless charity. All of these organisations have a range of ever-changing volunteer opportunities on offer, some lasting for a few months to a year, some just for a day.

If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know when you make your application. We will ask you to complete a form stating why you want to volunteer and what you hope to achieve. Whilst we cannot guarantee a volunteer role will be available for your course dates, we will do our best to find a suitable opportunity that matches your interests and fits around your studies. 

Requirements
Usually an upper intermediate level of English.
Studying a course of at least eight weeks.
Students on any visa need to check to make sure they are allowed to volunteer

Manchester is known as 'the ultimate student city'. Of the 500,000 people in Manchester, 50,000 of those are students. There are over 400 pubs, clubs and cafes in the city centre and Manchester is well known for the many bands that began their musical career in this city.

Today, Manchester is fast becoming known as England’s capital of the North. The city is famous for its architecture, culture, music scene, media links, as well as for the famous Manchester United and Manchester City football clubs.

Football is not the only sport in Manchester, there is also the Lancashire county Cricket Club, the National Cycling Centre and Manchester Aquatics Centre. It is also home to the largest martial arts club in the country and the British Mountaineering Council.

The city has many cinemas and theatres with shows straight off the London stage. The world famous Halle Orchestra rehearses 10 minutes from Excel College in the Bridgewater Hall, and Salford Quays is home to the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) where you have the chance to watch TV programs being filmed.
 
Manchester has something for everyone from a busting Chinatown, to the famous Curry Mile in Rusholme. If that’s not enough, you will find many museums and art galleries, many of them free to visit as well as plenty of shops and boutiques all around the city centre.

Make sure you visit the John Rylands Library and Manchester City Hall- two of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

"When I am here, I feel like I am with my family, everybody cares about you"

"I met a lot of people from different countries. It was a really good experience for me. Thank you!"

"Helpful administration staff, marvellous teachers and a great atmosphere."

"I learnt so many things at Excel College and now I must learn to use them!!

"Learning for 3 months at Excel College did not only result in an incredible IELTS score (7.5) but opened the door to my new job."