Comparing each TEFL course Barcelona has to offer

When looking for a TEFL course, the most important things to look out for include the accreditor (once complete, your TEFL qualification should be internationally recognised), the graduate reviews and experiences of the course, and whether accommodation is provided. When looking for the best TEFL course Barcelona has to offer, I found these five establishments (in no particular order):

Name	Price	Hours*	Certification	Accreditor	Accommodation for course duration	Google review – October 2025
International TEFL Academy	€1,450	n/a	Level 5 Certificate in TEFL	Training Qualifications UK (tquk)	€500 – €600	4.3
TEFL Barcelona	€1,650	160	Trinity CertTESOL	Trinity College	€500 – €700	5
TEFL Iberia	€1,650	160	Trinity CertTESOL	Trinity College	€930 (for 5 weeks)	4.9
Universitat de Barcelona	€1,730	120	Cambridge CELTA	Cambridge English Language Assessment	n/a	4.5
Oxford TEFL Teacher training	€1,650	120	Cambridge CELTA	Cambridge English Language Assessment	€700	4.9

* The hours listed can indicate either the minimum contact hours, or the total amount of hours (including non-contact hours).

Apart from minor price variations, there doesn’t seem to be huge differences in the offerings, so I can’t say in all honesty that one is better than the other. While Oxford, TEFL Barcelona, TEFL Iberia and International TEFL academy offer job placement assistance and accommodation options, the University of Barcelona may offer the more ‘traditional student’ experience. All options are internationally recognised and have high reviews from past graduates on Google Maps.

This bodes well for you. If you choose one of these five TEFL course Barcelona options, you’re unlikely to be disappointed with your experience. Additionally, if you’re reading this blog it means you’re more likely to go directly to the source to book your course, thereby avoiding third party fees. Congratulations!

However, choosing to do a TEFL course in Barcelona isn’t only about getting qualified reliably. It’s about deciding whether you want to continue living in the city afterwards, and whether you should be teaching at all.

TEFL Course Barcelona Academies are Businesses

After reading the reviews and assuring yourself that you will have a great experience regardless of whichever TEFL course you choose, you may be itching to hit the ‘Enroll’ button. However, I urge you to pause and consider just a little longer.

Although these organisations provide a very valuable service (reflected in the high reviews), they are also thinking about their bottom line at the end of the day. They have a financial interest in getting you to Barcelona to study their TEFL course. 

Although this may seem obvious, you might not have it front of mind while mulling over this huge life decision. Keep in mind that the academy representatives may not be completely honest about how easy it’ll be to start working in Barcelona (and how soon you can), the working conditions for TEFL teachers at the average academy, and the salary you’ll likely earn as a new TEFL teacher. 

For me personally, I was disillusioned by the average Barcelona TEFL salary when I started job hunting after my qualification (it was lower than it had been implied during my enrollment process). Read up on honest accounts from real ESL teachers working in Barcelona or ask online. Consider also the following:

Important things to know in advance before moving to Barcelona to start work as a TEFL teacher:

• To start working as a TEFL teacher, you will need a NIE or a TIE. Getting an appointment for this is a nightmare, so try to see if you can book it in advance. 
• The visa rules are very complicated and ever-evolving for non-EU citizens, so the more visa information and working rights assistance your school can offer, the better.
• Ongoing support: even for EU citizens, Spanish bureaucracy is complicated. Not only is it complicated, but the many rules and regulations seem to be loosely applied, or at least haphazardly. Having someone on your side to tell you what you need to rent a flat, open a bank account, get health insurance (all of which you will need to do) etc is very useful. 
• Set aside a dedicated amount of savings for your first few months in Barcelona. It should be equivalent to at least four months’ worth of living expenses: one month for the course duration, and another three to find your feet. You will need money to pay for an apartment deposit and other accommodation-related costs, possibly rental agency fees (equivalent to one month’s rent), and general living expenses. I would suggest at least €3600-4000 euros minimum.

Is teaching English in Barcelona really what you want to do?

Some people simply weren’t meant to be teachers. To be a good teacher, you need to be patient, willing to put in the work for the good of your students, and constantly learning. 

If teaching English is purely a means to an end for you (living in Spain), with the job itself holding no appeal, I urge you to consider other options. Workaway and World Backpackers offer many options for low-cost travel in Spain, including volunteering for work and board. There are options to get work visas in Spain in other areas aside from teaching, and Spanish study visas cover tertiary education, internships, traineeships, volunteering and Au Pair programs. 

The takeaway: It’s about the why

Each TEFL course Barcelona offers in 2025 seems to be a good experience for their graduates, at least based on the reviews. The questions you should ask yourself instead of ‘Which academy?’ is ‘Why Barcelona?’ and ‘Why teaching English?’. If you’re comfortable with those answers, then go ahead! I wish you all the best for your great TEFL adventure in this incredible, life-changing city.