Services
expat-services.ch lists 21 hand-checked language schools in Zürich for English speakers, including Academia Languages, Alemania Deutschschule, Bellingua and Berlitz Switzerland.
Besides English, they also work in German, French, 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 Zürich.
This page lists schools in Zurich that teach German and Swiss German to English speakers, from private language schools to course providers co-financed by the city. Below the listings, a table compares twenty schools by course format, published price with its unit, fide preparation and test-centre status, levels and address, as checked on 21 October 2026. City residents can also join co-financed courses at nine providers (City of Zurich, checked ).
For what the CEFR levels mean, which exams count for permits and how to plan a course around a deadline, see the guide to German courses in Zurich. The fide test guide covers the test format, fees and cantonal rules for citizenship. Schools that teach the dialect are also listed under Swiss German courses in Zurich.
21 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.
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Is this your business?German school in Zürich, Bern and Lucerne: group courses once, twice or five times a week from A1 to C2, private lessons on site or online, telc and SDS exams.
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Is this your business?German school in Zürich city centre for adult learners, founded 2002: hybrid group courses (on site or by video), private lessons and a Swiss German course. English website.
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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.
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Is this your business?Non-profit education provider in Zürich: German group courses incl. evening courses and childcare, City of Zurich co-financed courses, fide test centre, fide and telc preparation.
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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.
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Is this your business?English-language German school in Zürich (Leimbach): small groups of up to 6 and private lessons from A1 to C1, in person or online, High German and Swiss German.
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Is this your business?German school at Limmatplatz in Zürich: daily intensive courses with monthly pricing, semi-intensive evening and Saturday courses, online courses, telc and Goethe exam registration.
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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.
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Is this your business?Language school at Stauffacher in Zurich teaching German in small groups of 2-6, intensive and Goethe exam courses and private lessons; other languages and company courses offered.
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Is this your business?German and English school near Zürich main station: intensive and semi-intensive group courses on site or online, fide and telc exam centre, fide preparation courses.
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Is this your business?Language school in Zürich Enge: German standard, semi-intensive, intensive and online group courses in groups of 3-6, private lessons, telc exams, courses with childcare.
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Is this your business?Zug language school with Zurich and online classes, teaching German, Swiss German and other languages to expats in groups of up to five, private lessons and exam prep (telc, fide, Goethe).
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Is this your business?Zurich school offering German, Swiss German (Zurich dialect) and other languages as group classes or private lessons, incl. business German, conversation and telc exam preparation.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Private 1:1 Spanish lessons for adults, 100% online, with Alejandro Rivero, Spanish Language Expert with 25+ years of teaching experience.
German language school in Zurich offering practical, communicative courses for expats, international professionals and newcomers, from beginner to advanced levels.
Zurich language school with one-on-one German lessons built around the Swiss naturalisation language certificate (A2 written, B1 spoken); English website; knowledge-test preparation on request.
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Is this your business?Zurich-based school focused on Swiss German for expats, with one-to-one and small-group lessons, a video course and corporate classes; teaching supported in English.
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Is this your business?Zürich school running a 16-hour naturalisation preparation course on Swiss geography, history, democracy and social system, with interview training in German.
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Is this your business?Language school with sites in Zürich Central and Zürich Enge (and Winterthur): German group courses of 2-5 people, individual lessons, Swiss German individual lessons, online courses.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Zürich language school offering naturalisation preparation that combines German A2–B1 with Swiss civics for the canton's basic knowledge test; on-site telc/fide exam centre.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?The twenty schools in the table run intensive, evening, weekend, online and private German courses in Zurich, and most also teach Swiss German. Published group prices include CHF 14.50 per 60-minute lesson at Alemania, CHF 16 per 40-minute lesson in Bellingua’s intensive course and CHF 17.50 per lesson in ILS’s super-intensive course. Units differ between schools.
The table is in alphabetical order and is not a ranking. Each price is the one the school publishes, in its own unit: per lesson, hour, week, month or course. Sources by school: Academia Languages (Academia Languages, checked ) (Academia Languages, checked ); Alemania (Alemania Deutschschule AG, checked ) (Alemania Deutschschule AG, checked ); Bellingua (Bellingua, checked ) (Bellingua, checked ); Berlitz (Berlitz Switzerland, checked ) (Berlitz Switzerland, checked ) (Berlitz Switzerland, checked ); ECAP (ECAP, checked ) (ECAP, checked ) (City of Zurich, checked ) (City of Zurich, checked ); Flying Teachers (Flying Teachers, checked ) (Flying Teachers, checked ) (Flying Teachers, checked ) (Flying Teachers, checked ); GoGerman (GoGerman, checked ) (GoGerman, checked ); Hallo Deutschschule (Hallo Deutschschule GmbH, checked ) (Hallo Deutschschule GmbH, checked ); ILS (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ) (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ) (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ); inlingua (inlingua Zürich, checked ) (inlingua Zürich, checked ); Italk (Italk Sprachschule GmbH, checked ) (Italk Sprachschule GmbH, checked ).
Further sources: LanguageMasters (LanguageMasters GmbH, checked ) (LanguageMasters GmbH, checked ) (LanguageMasters GmbH, checked ) (LanguageMasters GmbH, checked ); Plunge (Plunge Languages, checked ) (Plunge Languages, checked ) (Plunge Languages, checked ) (Plunge Languages, checked ); professional language center (professional language center GmbH, checked ) (professional language center GmbH, checked ) (professional language center GmbH, checked ); speakeasy (speakeasy Zürich, checked ) (speakeasy Zürich, checked ); Sprachschule Schneider (Sprachschule Schneider AG, checked ) (Sprachschule Schneider AG, checked ) (Sprachschule Schneider AG, checked ); Swiss German Academy (Swiss German Academy, checked ) (Swiss German Academy, checked ); Swissing (Swissing, checked ) (Swissing, checked ) (Swissing, checked ); VOX (VOX Sprachschule, checked ); Wordculture (Wordculture GmbH, checked ) (Wordculture GmbH, checked ) (Wordculture GmbH, checked ).
The fide column has two parts. A preparation course is shown where the school publishes one for the fide test. Test-centre status follows the fide office’s list of examination institutions for the canton of Zurich on 21 October 2026; Academia Languages, Alemania and Berlitz hold fide tests at their sites in other cantons, not in Zurich (fide office, on behalf of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ). No provider in the canton of Zurich was on the fide office’s list of courses with the fide quality label on that date (fide office, on behalf of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ).
| School | Formats | Published price (21 Oct 2026) | fide: prep course; Zurich test centre | Levels | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academia Languages | Online and Flextime groups, private lessons, Swiss German conversation | Online A1: CHF 1,920 for 96 lessons of 45 min; Flextime A1.1: CHF 960; books extra | No prep course listed; not a test centre | A1–C2 | Schützengasse 11, 8001 |
| Alemania Deutschschule | Groups 1, 2 or 5 times a week (Mon–Sat), private, online | CHF 14.50 per 60-min group lesson; private from CHF 25 an hour | No prep course listed; not a test centre | A1–C2 | Badenerstrasse 333, 8003 |
| Bellingua | Intensive, half-intensive, evening, private, Swiss German; on site or by video | Intensive CHF 320 a week (20 lessons of 40 min); private CHF 108 per 45 min | No prep course listed; not a test centre | A1–C2 | Nüschelerstrasse 45, 8001 |
| Berlitz Switzerland | Private, small groups, intensive groups, online, Swiss German | Groups of 4–6: CHF 29.90 per unit (60 units); online private CHF 81 per 45 min plus registration fee | Prep course (private or small group); not a test centre | All levels | Gartenstrasse 25, 8002 |
| ECAP Zürich | Evening semi-intensive; City co-financed day courses with childcare | Evening semi-intensive CHF 1,475 incl. materials (120 lessons, 13 weeks); City course CHF 505 (residents) | City-funded prep CHF 40 (residents); test centre | A1–B2 | Neugasse 116, 8005; Baslerstrasse 102/104, 8048 |
| Flying Teachers | Intensive, semi-intensive, weekend, online; hybrid groups; Swiss German online | Intensive Power CHF 494 for 60 lessons of 45 min; books CHF 35–40 each | All courses cover fide, telc and Goethe; test centre (Fridays) | A1–C1 | Löwenstrasse 20, 8001; also 8006 and 8057 |
| GoGerman | Groups of 2 or up to 6, private; in person or online; High German and Swiss German | Group package from CHF 34 an hour per person; private from CHF 99 an hour | Courses aimed at Goethe, telc, fide and SDS; not a test centre | A1–C1 | Maneggstrasse 33, 8041 |
| Hallo Deutschschule | Intensive (daily), super-intensive, evening semi-intensive, Saturday, online, private | Intensive from CHF 520 a month (6-month plan), books extra; evening CHF 650 for 10 weeks | No prep course listed; not a test centre | A1–C2 | Fabrikstrasse 10, 8005 |
| ILS International Language School | Super-intensive, intensive, afternoon, evening, Saturday, private, Swiss German private | Super-intensive CHF 1,050 for 60 lessons (CHF 17.50 a lesson); private CHF 65–75 a lesson | fide crash course CHF 149; test centre (Tue and Thu) | A1–C1 | Hagenholzstrasse 81a, 8050 |
| inlingua Zürich | Standard groups (2–6), intensive, private, online Virtual Classroom | Standard CHF 1,396 for 40 lessons (10 weeks); intensive CHF 996 for 30 lessons (3 weeks) | No prep course listed; not a test centre | A1–C2 | Badenerstrasse 15, 8004 |
| Italk Sprachschule | Intensive, evening semi-intensive; in person or online, with lesson recordings | Intensive from CHF 550 (4 weeks, Mon–Fri); evening from CHF 800 (8 weeks) | fide crash course CHF 120 a module, 1:1 prep; test centre (Mon–Sat) | A1–C1 | Löwenstrasse 61, 8001 |
| LanguageMasters | Standard, semi-intensive, intensive, Power; groups of 3–6; online, private, Swiss German | Standard CHF 960 per half level (24 h); Power CHF 2,400 per level (60 h); private CHF 120 per 60 min | No prep course listed; not a test centre | A1–C2 | Bleicherweg 27, 8002 |
| Plunge Languages | Online groups (max. 5), private online or in Zug, Swiss German online workshops | Private online CHF 75 per 60 min; Speak Swiss CHF 250 (16 × 30 min) | Exam preparation incl. fide; not a test centre | A1–C1 | Online; office Poststrasse 10, 6300 Zug |
| professional language center | Evening, early-morning and lunchtime groups (3–6), online, private, Swiss German online | Evening A1.1 CHF 1,400 for 12 weeks (2 × 90 min a week), book CHF 30; private online CHF 75 per 45 min | No fide prep listed (telc prep); not a test centre | A1–C2 | Am Schanzengraben 15, 8002 |
| speakeasy Zürich | Intensive, super-intensive, evening, conversation, online, private | Intensive CHF 579 a month on site; evening CHF 299 a month | No prep course listed; not a test centre | A1–C1 | Limmatstrasse 264, 8005 |
| Sprachschule Schneider | Online intensive groups, hybrid groups, private, immersion, Swiss German online | Zurich or hybrid group CHF 35 per 60 min; online intensive from CHF 634 | Naturalisation course can target fide; not a test centre | A1–C2 | Badenerstrasse 571, 8048; classes at Selnau |
| Swiss German Academy | Swiss German only: private lessons, online groups | Online group (min. 4) CHF 360 for 5 × 90 min; private CHF 55–125 per 45 min | Not applicable; not a test centre | Beginner to advanced | Rindermarkt 5, 8001 |
| Swissing | Evening groups, private, intensive weeks; German and Swiss German | Evening group CHF 690 for 20 lessons (10 weeks), materials incl.; private CHF 128 per 60 min | Private exam prep incl. fide; not a test centre | A1–C1 | General Wille-Strasse 21, 8002 |
| VOX Sprachschule | Super-intensive, intensive, standard groups (2–5), private, Swiss German private | Standard CHF 2,205 for 24 × 90 min (3 months); private CHF 120 per 60 min | No prep course listed; not a test centre | A1–C2 | Zähringerstrasse 51, 8001; Dreikönigstrasse 51, 8002 |
| Wordculture | Groups (max. 6) on site, hybrid or online; Swiss German; childcare | Flexi A1/A2 CHF 440 incl. book for 82 lessons of 50 min (co-financed); other courses on request | Prep courses; test centre | A1–C2 | Selnaustrasse 2, 8001 |
Prices as published on each school’s website on 21 October 2026; fide test centres per fide-service.ch.
The City of Zurich co-finances selected courses at nine providers: Alemania, AOZ, ECAP, Esperanza, FEMIA, Language Masters, Maxim Theater, SAH and Wordculture. The prices apply only to people who live in the city. At ECAP, a twice-weekly course at A1 to B2 costs CHF 505 including materials, and AOZ runs free walk-in taster classes.
The city names the nine providers on its German-learning page (City of Zurich, checked ) and states that the prices on its list of co-financed courses apply only to city residents (City of Zurich, checked ). Examples as published:
With a KulturLegi, a discount card for people on a tight budget issued by Caritas Zürich (Caritas Zürich, checked ), city residents get the full cost of a co-financed course back after attending at least 70% of lessons (City of Zurich, checked ). Wordculture’s co-financed Flexi course, CHF 440 including the book, is free on that basis (Wordculture GmbH, checked ).
The city’s German course database covers courses across Zurich and has a filter for co-financed courses; it is free and needs no login (City of Zurich, checked ). On 21 October 2026 it returned 444 courses (City of Zurich, Fachstelle Diversität, Integration, Antirassismus, checked ). The Welcome Desk in the Stadthaus gives newcomers free information without an appointment, Monday to Thursday from 13:00 to 17:00 (City of Zurich, checked ).
Eight institutions in the City of Zurich were on the fide office’s list of test centres on 21 October 2026, including ECAP, Flying Teachers, ILS, Italk, Klubschule Migros Oerlikon and Wordculture. The full test costs CHF 250, the spoken part CHF 170 and the written part CHF 120. A C permit needs A2 spoken and A1 written.
You register directly with a centre on the fide office’s list, at least 15 days before the date. The spoken part takes 40 minutes and the written part 60, and the language passport arrives by post about four weeks later (fide office, on behalf of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ). ILS (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ), Italk (Italk Sprachschule GmbH, checked ) and Wordculture (Wordculture GmbH, checked ) publish the same fees as the fide office. Each centre sets its own cancellation terms: CHF 30 up to 20 days before the test at ILS (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ), CHF 30 up to 16 days before at Wordculture (Wordculture GmbH, checked ).
The level depends on the step. A spouse who joined a B or C permit holder needs A1 spoken German to have the B permit extended (VZAE Art. 73a); a C permit needs A2 spoken and A1 written (Art. 60), and an early C permit after five years B1 spoken and A1 written (Art. 62) (Fedlex, SR 142.201, checked ). Naturalisation needs B1 spoken and A2 written (BüV Art. 6) (Fedlex, SR 141.01, checked ). The fide test assesses A1 to B1 and needs no preparation course (fide office, on behalf of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked ). In Zurich, German, Austrian and Liechtenstein nationals need no certificate for a C permit (Canton of Zurich, Migration Office, checked ). The fide test guide covers cantonal rules for citizenship.
| Institution, as listed | Town | Test dates, as listed |
|---|---|---|
| AOZ Asyl-Organisation Zürich | Zürich | 28 Nov 2026 |
| DIMA – Verein für Sprache und Integration | Zürich | Deaf candidates only: 2 Dec 2026; 24 Feb, 26 May, 25 Aug, 24 Nov 2027 |
| ECAP Winterthur | Winterthur | 14–18 Dec 2026 |
| ECAP Zürich | Zürich | 14 and 24 Nov; 1, 8 and 15 Dec 2026 |
| Flying Teachers | Zürich | Fridays, 6 Nov to 18 Dec 2026 |
| ILS-Zürich | Zürich | Tuesdays and Thursdays |
| Italk Sprachschule | Zürich | Monday to Saturday |
| Klubschule Migros Oerlikon | Zürich-Oerlikon | 4–5 Dec 2026; 29 Jan, 5–6 Mar, 30 Apr, 2–3 Jul 2027 |
| Klubschule Migros Winterthur | Winterthur | 12 and 14 Dec 2026 |
| Wordculture | Zürich | 30 Nov 2026; 2027 dates on its own page |
As listed on fide-service.ch on 21 October 2026. Fee at every centre: CHF 250 for the full test, CHF 170 spoken only, CHF 120 written only.
Intensive courses run on weekdays: about ten hours a week at Alemania, Hallo Deutschschule and in LanguageMasters’ Power course, and 20 lessons a week at Bellingua and ILS. Evening courses usually meet twice a week for 90 minutes to two hours. Online formats range from one 90-minute session a week to two hours a day.
The table shows schedules as each school publishes them. Sources: Alemania (Alemania Deutschschule AG, checked ); Bellingua (Bellingua, checked ) (Bellingua, checked ); ECAP (ECAP, checked ); Hallo Deutschschule (Hallo Deutschschule GmbH, checked ) (Hallo Deutschschule GmbH, checked ) (Hallo Deutschschule GmbH, checked ); ILS (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ) (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ); inlingua (inlingua Zürich, checked ); Italk (Italk Sprachschule GmbH, checked ); LanguageMasters (LanguageMasters GmbH, checked ) (LanguageMasters GmbH, checked ); speakeasy (speakeasy Zürich, checked ) (speakeasy Zürich, checked ); VOX (VOX Sprachschule, checked ).
Online formats vary as much. Academia Languages’ Flextime course has one 90-minute lesson a week, offered at two times (Academia Languages, checked ); professional language center’s online beginners’ course meets once a week for 90 minutes (professional language center GmbH, checked ); Sprachschule Schneider’s online intensive course runs two hours a day, with three to four participants on average (Sprachschule Schneider AG, checked ).
How long a level takes depends on the hours: Bellingua puts one level at about ten weeks of its intensive course (Bellingua, checked ), ILS schedules a full level A1, A2 or B1 in six weeks of super-intensive lessons (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ), and LanguageMasters’ Power course covers a level in six weeks (LanguageMasters GmbH, checked ).
| School | Intensive, as published | Evening or part-time, as published |
|---|---|---|
| Alemania Deutschschule | 5 days, 10 h a week (2 × 60 min a day) | 2 days, 5 h a week; or 1 day, 3.5 h (Mon–Sat) |
| Bellingua | 20 lessons of 40 min a week, Mon–Fri 08:30–11:40 | 6 lessons of 40 min on 2 evenings, 18:00–20:10 |
| ECAP Zürich | – | 3 evenings a week, 18:00–20:30, for 13 weeks (120 lessons) |
| Hallo Deutschschule | 2 h a day, Mon–Fri | 2 evenings, 18:30–20:30; Saturday 09:30–12:00 |
| ILS International Language School | Super-intensive: 20 lessons a week, Mon–Fri 09:00–12:15 | 2 evenings, 19:15–20:45 |
| inlingua Zürich | 5 × 90 min a week for 3 weeks | 2 × 90 min a week for 10 weeks, daytime or evening |
| Italk Sprachschule | Mon–Fri, 09:00–11:30 or 11:45–14:15, for 4 weeks | 2 evenings, 19:00–21:00, for 8 weeks |
| LanguageMasters | Power: 5 × 2 h a week; Intensive: 3 × 2 h | 1 or 2 sessions of 1.5–2 h a week |
| speakeasy Zürich | Mon–Thu, 2 h 45 min a day (15 units a week) | 2 evenings, 18:00–19:30 |
| VOX Sprachschule | Super-intensive: 4–5 × 135 min a week; Intensive: 3 × 120 min | Standard: 2 × 90 min a week |
As published on each school’s website on 21 October 2026. Lesson and unit lengths differ between schools.
Fourteen of the twenty schools in the table offer Swiss German, as weekly classes, online courses or private lessons, and Swiss German Academy teaches nothing else. Some ask for Standard German first: B1 at Academia Languages and Flying Teachers, B2 at professional language center. The city’s course database says these courses mainly train listening to the dialect.
The city’s database describes Swiss German courses as training mainly listening comprehension of the dialect, with very good Standard German as a prerequisite (City of Zurich, Fachstelle Diversität, Integration, Antirassismus, checked ); its course search has a Swiss German category (City of Zurich, Fachstelle Diversität, Integration, Antirassismus, checked ). Sources: Academia Languages (Academia Languages, checked ); Bellingua (Bellingua, checked ); Berlitz (Berlitz Switzerland, checked ); Flying Teachers (Flying Teachers, checked ); GoGerman (GoGerman, checked ); ILS (ILS International Language School Zürich, checked ); LanguageMasters (LanguageMasters GmbH, checked ); Plunge (Plunge Languages, checked ); professional language center (professional language center GmbH, checked ); Sprachschule Schneider (Sprachschule Schneider AG, checked ); Swiss German Academy (Swiss German Academy, checked ) (Swiss German Academy, checked ); Swissing (Swissing, checked ); VOX (VOX Sprachschule, checked ); Wordculture (Wordculture GmbH, checked ).
Which language counts for a permit or naturalisation is covered in the German courses guide.
| School | Swiss German offer, as published | Price, as published |
|---|---|---|
| Academia Languages | Conversation course in Zurich, evenings from 13 Jan 2027; German B1 required | Not shown |
| Bellingua | Swiss German in everyday life: one 60-min lesson a week | CHF 40 a week |
| Berlitz Switzerland | In-person Swiss German classes | On request |
| Flying Teachers | You talk Schweizerdeutsch: online, 30 lessons of 45 min; German B1 required | CHF 650 |
| GoGerman | Swiss German alongside High German, in person or online | Not shown separately |
| ILS International Language School | Private lessons in packages of 10 to 60 | CHF 750 for 10 to CHF 3,900 for 60 lessons |
| LanguageMasters | Swiss German course | Not shown |
| Plunge Languages | Speak Swiss: 16 online workshops of 30 min | CHF 250 |
| professional language center | Online, 10 weeks, mainly Zurich dialect; German B2 required | CHF 290 |
| Sprachschule Schneider | Online groups of 3–4 on average, and private lessons | Elementary 1 online: CHF 599 (Wednesdays, Sep–Nov 2026) |
| Swiss German Academy | Swiss German only: private lessons and online groups | Group CHF 360 for 5 × 90 min; private CHF 55–125 per 45 min |
| Swissing | Evening groups by Standard German level (B2 to C2) | CHF 690 for 10 weeks |
| VOX Sprachschule | Individual lessons in Zurich, Winterthur or online | CHF 120 per 60 min |
| Wordculture | Standard and intensive courses A1–C2; preparation for the fide and naturalisation interviews in dialect | On request |
As published on each school’s website on 21 October 2026.
Points to compare include lesson length, group size, hours a week, what the price includes and the cancellation terms. Lessons last 40 to 60 minutes depending on the school. VOX caps groups at five, Flying Teachers at 14. Several schools publish weekly start dates, a free placement test or a free trial lesson.
It depends on the school and the format, and schools price by the lesson, hour, week, month or course. Examples published on 21 October 2026: CHF 14.50 per 60-minute group lesson at Alemania, CHF 320 a week for 20 lessons at Bellingua, CHF 1,050 for 60 lessons in ILS’s super-intensive course and CHF 120 per 60-minute private lesson at VOX. The city’s co-financed ECAP course costs residents CHF 505.
Yes, for people who live in the city. The City of Zurich co-finances courses at nine providers, such as a twice-weekly ECAP course at A1 to B2 for CHF 505 including materials and a fide preparation module for CHF 40. AOZ runs free weekly taster classes for beginners without registration, and KulturLegi holders get the full cost of a co-financed course back after attending at least 70% of lessons.
On 21 October 2026 the fide office listed eight test centres in the City of Zurich: AOZ, DIMA (for deaf candidates only), ECAP Zürich, Flying Teachers, ILS, Italk, Klubschule Migros Oerlikon and Wordculture. ECAP and Klubschule Migros also hold tests in Winterthur. The full test costs CHF 250, and registration closes 15 days before the test date at the latest.
A2 spoken and A1 written for the ordinary C permit, and B1 spoken and A1 written for an early C permit after five years. Naturalisation needs B1 spoken and A2 written. In the canton of Zurich, German, Austrian and Liechtenstein nationals need no language certificate for the C permit.
Yes. Fourteen of the twenty schools on this page offer Swiss German as group courses, online courses or private lessons, and Swiss German Academy teaches only Swiss German. Several expect Standard German first, for example B1 at Academia Languages and Flying Teachers or B2 at professional language center. Bellingua, for example, charges CHF 40 a week for one 60-minute lesson.
It varies by school. Alemania, Hallo Deutschschule and LanguageMasters’ Power course teach about ten hours a week, two hours a day from Monday to Friday. ILS’s super-intensive course has 20 lessons a week from 09:00 to 12:15, and Bellingua’s intensive course 20 lessons of 40 minutes from 08:30 to 11:40. speakeasy teaches 2 hours 45 minutes a day, Monday to Thursday.
No. The fide office says no preparation course is required and warns that not every offer online is reliable. Several Zurich schools publish one anyway, for example a four-lesson crash course at ILS for CHF 149, two-hour modules at Italk for CHF 120 each and a city-funded eight-lesson module at ECAP for CHF 40, open to city residents.
Yes, most schools in the table run them, usually on two evenings a week. Examples as published: ILS from 19:15 to 20:45 for CHF 990 over 12 weeks, Hallo Deutschschule from 18:30 to 20:30 for CHF 650 over 10 weeks, and speakeasy from 18:00 to 19:30 for CHF 299 a month. Swissing’s evening groups meet once a week for two hours.
Last checked by the expat-services.ch editorial team