English is one of the official languages of the Philippines. The schools in our catalogue are in three areas: Cebu City, Mactan and Boracay.
Why the Philippines for intensive English?
Philippine schools sell courses with daily one-to-one lessons, often combined with group classes and self-study. The number of lessons differs by school and course. QQ English lists up to 8 one-to-one lessons a day.
Prices in our catalogue are quoted per person for 4 weeks. What a price covers (tuition only, tuition with a room, or tuition with a room and meals) differs by school, so compare like with like.
What is the one-to-one academy model?
In a residential academy you live, study and eat on campus. Several schools in our catalogue sell a package of tuition, dormitory and meals, for example 3D Academy and QQ English (capsule dorm). At CPILS, for example, a day has four one-to-one and five group lessons, plus mandatory evening self-study.
In a one-to-one lesson the teacher works with you alone, so the lesson can follow your level and goals. Group classes and self-study depend on the school and the course, so ask for a sample timetable for your course.
Cebu City, Mactan or Boracay: which is right for you?
Cebu City has five schools in our catalogue: 3D Academy (Lahug area), IU & ICL, QQ English (IT Park campus), iBreeze Academy (central Cebu) and CPILS.
Mactan has First English Global College, Genius English, Philinter and the QQ English Seafront campus. Genius English is on resort-hotel grounds by the sea and has a pool; Philinter is near the airport.
Boracay has Boracay Coco English Academy, ten minutes from White Beach, and Paradise English. Baguio and Clark are not in our catalogue at the moment: we advise only on schools for which we hold current prices.
Spartan vs relaxed: what study style suits you?
- Spartan regime: stricter rules, for example an English-only policy, mandatory supervised evening self-study and curfews. It suits students who want a strict routine.
- Semi-spartan / relaxed regime: fewer restrictions, for example optional self-study and more free time in the evenings and at weekends. It suits students who want more freedom.
Some schools offer several regimes for the same course. Genius English lists Regular, Semi and Sparta: for General English / Power A, Semi costs $100 and Sparta $125 more than Regular for 4 weeks (twin room with meals: $1,750 Regular, $1,850 Semi, $1,875 Sparta). Rules such as curfews and self-study differ by school, so ask for the written rules before you book. Choose the regime that matches your self-discipline and goal.
How much does it really cost?
The price depends on the school, the course, the room type (for example single, twin or triple) and the number of one-to-one lessons a day. Examples from our catalogue of 11 October 2026, per person for 4 weeks: 3D Academy $899 with a six-bed room, tuition and three meals a day; QQ English tuition only (walk-in) $934, or $1,545 with a capsule dorm and meals; Philinter General ESL tuition $870, with rooms priced separately (double room $970).
Registration is charged separately, for example $100 at 3D Academy and $150 at QQ English. Local fees in pesos, such as the SSP study permit and, for longer stays, the ACR I-Card, are listed by each school: First English, for example, lists SSP PHP 7,800 and an ACR I-Card PHP 4,000 from 60 days. Flights, insurance and personal spending are not included. To compare specific packages, see our detailed cost guide.
Do I need a visa or can I just show up?
Entry rules, permits and fees change. Before you travel, confirm what applies to you with the school and with the official Philippine immigration authority.
Schools list their own permits: the SSP (Special Study Permit) and, for longer stays, the ACR I-Card appear among the local fees in school price lists. Ask the school which permits apply to your course length, what they cost and who arranges them. Check official Philippine immigration sources or consult an expert like the one at the end of this page for current specifics.
Which schools offer IELTS or TOEFL preparation?
In our catalogue, IELTS courses are listed by IU & ICL (Cebu City), Philinter and Genius English (Mactan) and Boracay Coco English Academy (Boracay). Genius English also lists TOEIC and TOEFL courses, and IU & ICL lists TOEIC.
Exam preparation does not automatically mean that the official test is held on campus. Ask the school where and when the test takes place, and for the entry level, target and minimum duration of the course.
Who can study in the Philippines?
Junior and family programmes are listed in all three areas, and age rules differ by school. Boracay Coco English Academy takes children from 4 with a parent and Paradise English from 5. Genius English takes children from 6 with a parent, and teenagers from 13 can study alone. Philinter's Junior ESL is for ages 7-11 and 12-17.
Ask each school for its age rules and for separate child and parent prices. For beginners: iBreeze Academy lists courses for beginners; ask the school how it will teach your level in the first week.
Can I really learn English in a month?
Our catalogue quotes prices per 4 weeks, but progress depends on your starting level, the number of lessons and how much you practise. We do not promise a result in a fixed number of weeks. Ask the school how it tests your level at the start and how it reports your progress.
Attending all classes, speaking English and using the weekends to practise will help. If you are curious how widely English is spoken, read our guide to English prevalence in the Philippines.
How to choose the right school?
Start with your budget and study style (spartan vs relaxed), then choose an area (Cebu City, Mactan or Boracay), and finally check exam preparation if you need it. Here are concrete steps:
- Step 1: Decide your weekly lesson count and room type - both change the price.
- Step 2: Choose an area: Cebu City, Mactan or Boracay.
- Step 3: Ask for a sample timetable and teaching materials for your level.
- Step 4: Request a video call with the academic manager to ask about the teachers.
- Step 5: Compare two or three schools on price, refund terms and start dates.
To compare the schools on our working list, see our overview of the schools; it compares quoted prices and is not a ranking.
What about daily life and safety?
Living on campus means dorm rules, for example lights-out times and curfews; they are stricter in spartan schools and more relaxed in others. Classmates may come from different countries, so English is the common language. Off campus, use the same common sense as in any big city: keep valuables out of sight, use licensed taxis or a ride-hailing app, and avoid walking alone late at night.
If your package includes a dormitory and meals, you do not need to cook or commute every day.
How does the Philippines compare with Australia or Canada?
We hold prices only for the Philippine schools in our catalogue, so we do not compare costs with Australia, Canada or other countries. When you compare destinations, ask each school for a written quote that lists the course, lesson hours, room, meals, registration and extra fees, and check the visa rules with the official authority of each country. For the Philippines, see our cost breakdown.
Choosing a school is more than reading brochures. The service behind this guide compares the 10 schools in our catalogue and helps you find the one that fits your learning style and budget.
To get a quote for your dates, get a free, no-mark-up school match - you pay the school's own price directly.