Services
expat-services.ch lists 4 hand-checked language schools in Bern for English speakers: Academia Languages, Berlitz Switzerland, Flying Teachers and ILS International Language School.
Besides English, they also work in French, German, Italian and Spanish. Every profile shows the services, languages and contact details, checked by hand before going live. See also Schools and childcare providers in Bern.
4 providers
Language school network; its Basel school at Heuwaage runs German level and exam courses (telc, fide), accepts Basel-City course vouchers and offers childcare during lessons.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Language school with centres across Switzerland offering German, Swiss German, French, Italian and English lessons for expats, private or in groups, on site or online.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Zurich-headquartered provider teaching German, Swiss German, French, Italian and more at its schools, at clients' premises or online, incl. integration and certificate courses.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Basel language school with sister schools in Bern, Zurich and more; German and 40+ languages in small groups, intensive, evening and Saturday classes, plus telc and fide prep.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Local facts
The city's DeutschBon scheme issues 600 vouchers of CHF 400, usable at thirteen language schools in Bern; applications reopened on 1 September 2026, and the Fachstelle für Migrations- und Rassismusfragen informs interested people by newsletter (bern.ch, checked ). The KulturLegi Kanton Bern gives people with a low income reductions on German courses, and the canton's course search at be.ch/sprachkurse-migration also lists low-threshold German courses in the Bern region (bern.ch, checked ).
German is the official language of the City of Bern, so a language proof for a settlement permit must be in German; French or Italian certificates are not accepted (City of Bern, checked ). The levels are A2 spoken and A1 written for a C permit, and B1 spoken and A1 written for an early grant after five years with a B permit (City of Bern, checked ).
The fide office lists ten examination institutions with a Bern address; the whole test costs CHF 250, the oral part CHF 170 and the written part CHF 120 (fide office, checked ).
Foreign nationals register at the Einwohnerdienste, Migration und Fremdenpolizei (EMF) at Predigergasse 5, whose counter is open Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 16.00 and until 18.00 on Thursdays (City of Bern, checked ). Registration is due within 14 days of arrival, by web form for EU/EFTA citizens and by posted paper form for other nationals (bern.ch, checked ). The cantonal tariff lists CHF 25 for entering the registration (Canton of Bern, checked ). See registering at your commune.
Read more The fide test in Switzerland: levels, format, fees and test centres
Checked by the expat-services.ch editorial team