How Much Does One Week of English Classes in the Philippines Cost?

One week of General English on Boracay, with a shared room in our student dorm, the registration fee and the Special Study Permit, costs $833 in 2026. That is a real school week with a one-to-one lesson every day, on an island that most people only visit for the beach. This guide shows every part of the bill, what one week can and can't do for your English, and how to make the most of it.

All prices in this article are our current rates in US dollars. They update automatically when our price list changes.

Who books just one week?

One week is our shortest stay, and it suits some people very well:

• Holiday learners who are coming to Boracay anyway and want their mornings or afternoons to count.
• Busy professionals who can only take a few days off and want a focused refresh before a meeting, a trip or a new job.
• Students testing the idea of a longer stay in the Philippines, who want to see the school, the teachers and the island first.
• German employees on educational leave. Our Bildungsurlaub course is a 1- or 2-week intensive program for German nationals, with seven group classes a day. One week costs €295 in euros. Read more in our German guide to Bildungsurlaub in the Philippines.

1. Tuition for one week

Every course mixes small group classes with one-to-one lessons. The difference is how many classes you take each day:

• Budget English: 2 group classes and 1 one-to-one class a day, 15 lessons a week: $266.
• General English: 4 group classes and 1 one-to-one class a day, 25 lessons a week: $355.
• Intensive English: 5 group classes and 2 one-to-one classes a day, 35 lessons a week: $455.
• True Beginner English: 2 group classes and 3 one-to-one classes a day: $441.
• IELTS, TOEIC & Business: 2 group classes and 2 one-to-one classes a day: $356.

For a single week, Budget English suits holiday learners: you study in the morning or the afternoon and keep the rest of the day for the beach. If your main goal is your English, General or Intensive English gives you more practice in the same five days.

2. A room for the week

Here is what one week costs per person:

• Student dorm, shared standard room: $148. Air-conditioned, with a private toilet and hot/cold shower, a 3-minute walk to school.
• Student dorm, single standard room: $196.
• Student dorm, deluxe room (maximum 2 people, with its own fridge): $210.
• Home stay: shared room $285, single room $330. Breakfast every day, lunch at school and dinner on weekdays are included.
• Paradise English Annex Hotel (3-star standard, pool, 1-minute walk to school): from $295.
• 4-star resort: from $590.

For a short stay, the dorm is hard to beat: it is a 3-minute walk from class, so you lose no time travelling, and you live with classmates who also want to practise English after school. See photos of every option on our accommodation page.

3. Fees: they count more in a short stay

• Registration fee: $130, paid once.
• Special Study Permit (SSP): about $200. Every student in the Philippines needs one, even for one week. Our office prepares the documents. Read our guide to the SSP and visa.
• Textbooks: $16 per book.

Be honest with yourself here: the registration fee and the SSP are the same whether you stay one week or twelve. In a one-week budget they are a big share of the total. That is the main reason the price per week falls so much when you stay longer.

The one-week budget, side by side

Want another combination? The price calculator on every course page shows your total for any course, number of weeks and room. Or compare everything on our price list.

4. Optional extras

• Lunch at school: $50 for 5 weekdays.
• Caticlan airport pickup and drop-off: $48. Worth it on a short trip, when you don't want to lose time on arrival day. Or follow our guide on how to get to Boracay.
• Extra classes: you can add group or one-to-one classes during your stay. Prices are on our price list.

5. What is not included

• Flights: your international flight to Manila or Cebu and the short domestic flight to Caticlan or Kalibo. Prices depend on the season and how early you book.
• Meals outside school: Boracay has food for every budget, from street stalls to beach restaurants.
• Weekend trips and activities: island hopping, diving or a day trip off the island.
• Local transport, a local SIM card and personal shopping.
• Travel insurance: strongly recommended for any stay abroad.

Visa: one week fits easily

Many nationalities get a free tourist visa on arrival, valid for 29 days, so a one-week course needs no visa extension. Some nationalities must apply for a visa before they travel, and rules can change, so check the current rules for your passport before you book your flight.

What can you achieve in one week?

One week won't make you fluent, and we won't pretend it will. What it can do is real and useful:

• Break the ice. Five days of speaking English all day, in class and outside, makes you much more relaxed about speaking.
• Find your weak points. Your one-to-one teacher quickly sees what holds you back, so you go home knowing exactly what to practise.
• Refresh what you already know. If you learned English at school, a week brings a lot of it back.
• Decide about a longer stay with real experience of the school and the island.

How to get the most out of one week

• Take the free level test before you come and tell us your goals when you book, so your first class is already at the right level.
• Use your one-to-one lessons for your own topics: a job interview, a presentation, travel situations.
• Stay in the dorm and eat lunch at school, where you meet students from other countries.
• Arrive before your first class, so you start the week rested.
• Avoid peak weeks if your dates are flexible. Additional rates may apply at Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Holy Week. Our post on the best time to study on Boracay helps you choose.

If you can stretch your trip, compare this budget with our guides to two weeks and one month. The second week costs much less than the first.

FAQ

Can I study English in the Philippines for just one week?

Yes. All our courses have a 1-week price. One week of General English with a shared dorm room, registration and the Special Study Permit costs $833 in 2026.

Do I need a Special Study Permit for one week?

Yes. Every student in the Philippines needs one, whatever the course length. It costs about $200, and our office prepares the documents.

Which course is best for one week?

Budget English if you want half of each day for the island; General or Intensive English if you want as much practice as possible. Not sure? Ask us when you book.

Is one week worth it?

It is worth it if you go in with the right goals: more confidence, a clear idea of what to work on, and a taste of studying in the Philippines. For bigger progress, plan two weeks or more.

Want an exact price for your dates? Send us a message and we'll reply within one working day with a free personal quote.