No SPAM. Just helpful advice for new teachers.
There’s something you may not realise about the CELTA course cost… the price varies significantly from country to country.
In this article, you’ll find a true comparison of CELTA courses across the world.
I researched the CELTA cost across all seven continents. If you shop around and you’re willing to travel, passing your CELTA qualification doesn’t need to break the bank.
I hope that this guide will help you in your search for a suitable CELTA course within your budget.
This article reveals the cost of studying the CELTA course in 2019 at more than 70 centres around the world.
70 centres! Yes it was a ton of work, but I’m very proud that this is the very best guide on CELTA costs anywhere.
My team and I collected the latest CELTA prices from 10 centres in each of the 7 continents, to give you a full comparison of the lowest, highest, and average costs.
Please note: the prices listed below are correct at the time of writing, but are liable to change. Some of the courses apply an ‘early-bird’ discount if you book several weeks or months in advance, so to ensure the best price please check out the terms and conditions.
The cost of studying a CELTA course varies considerably depending on country and location. The table below shows the combined results of our research for the whole world.
Later in this article, I’ll reveal the results for each continent and region individually.
If the CELTA course is too expensive where you live and you’re thinking of training abroad, the good news is that the CELTA is an internationally recognised qualification and the assessment criteria are the same worldwide.
On the downside, the quality of tuition may vary between institutions, so you’ll need to carry out further research. Check out online reviews of the course centre, read testimonials, get in touch with the institution directly or try to contact people that have successfully studied there.
The table below shows the results from the CELTA centres researched in Europe.
The countries included, in no particular order, are UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
The table below shows the results from the CELTA centres researched in Asia.
The countries included, in no particular order, are Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
The table below shows the results from the CELTA centres researched in the Middle East.
The countries included, in no particular order, are Oman, Qatar, Israel, Libya, UAE, Turkey, Bahrain and Armenia.
The table below shows the results from the CELTA centres researched in Africa.
The countries included, in no particular order, are South Africa, Mauritius, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia and Egypt.
The table below shows the results from the CELTA centres researched in North America.
The countries included, in no particular order, are the USA, Mexico and Canada.
The table below shows the results from the CELTA centres researched in South America.
The countries included, in no particular order, are Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador.
The table below shows the results from the CELTA centres researched in Oceania.
The countries included, in no particular order, are Australia and New Zealand.
The average cost of the CELTA course depends on where you intend to study.
The research shows that Africa is the least expensive place to study for a CELTA qualification, by a sizeable margin. North America and Oceania are the most expensive regions.
Remember that these continents feature many countries, each with different economies. For instance, the average price in Eastern Europe is considerably cheaper than those in Western Europe.
The following table lets you compare average prices by continent, from most to least expensive:
Continent | Average CELTA Price |
1. Oceania | €1,891 |
2. North America | €1,850 |
3. Middle East | €1,804 |
4. Asia | €1,719 |
5. South America | €1,484 |
6. Europe | €1,452 |
7. Africa | €1,187 |
The Cambridge fee is a registration and assessment fee charged by Cambridge University that is currently set at £145 or €164 at the time of writing.
Check the small-print on the relevant course pages as some centres will charge a small administration fee to process applications and registration.
Some countries require you to purchase a student VISA for study. Check out the relevant government websites to find out more. Many countries such as the UK and USA permit short-term VISA’s for short courses of study such as the CELTA, which are cheaper than full-time VISAs.
VAT is a sales tax that is added to the cost of goods and services in most countries around the world. The amount of VAT varies considerably by country and is best researched on government websites for accurate figures.
For example, UK VAT is currently set at 20%, so if a course is listed as £1,000 excluding VAT, the actual price of the course would be £1,200 (plus any other additional fees).
With over 300 CELTA centres in 54 countries around the world, the choice can be bewildering. Price isn’t the only consideration when choosing a CELTA centre. Other factors include student VISAs for some countries, travel, accommodation, living expenses, type of courses, etc.
Some centres are now offering part-time courses with an online element, which means you can study for part of the course at home, cutting down on travel time and reducing expenses. It also means that you may not be required to spend a full 4-weeks in a foreign country to study the course, meaning the practical part could be taken as part of a vacation.
As for course quality, I can’t comment on individual centres, as I don’t have first-hand experience of them. The best way to find out is to look for honest reviews from students or graduates of the centres you’re interested in.
To help you choose your CELTA centre, I’ve created a comprehensive directory of CELTA centres around the world. Just click the button below!