Planning
Questions to ask before paying an English school deposit
A practical script: refunds on visa refusal, exact course dates, housing suburb, airport transfer, and who holds the money — then compare the quote with Cape Town.
The short answer
Do not pay an English-school deposit until you have refund terms for visa refusal, written course dates and hours, the housing suburb, and the name of who holds the money. Ask how fast the visa letter is issued. Ask what happens if the school cancels the course. Then put that quote next to a Cape Town 3, 6 or 12 month invoice on EnglishHubSA. A cheap deposit that you cannot recover is the most expensive line on the spreadsheet.
Jump to a section
Ask what happens if the visa is refused
Get the refund percentage, the deadline, and whether the school keeps a registration fee. Ask whether an agent keeps a commission if you never travel. Visa-refusal cover is a product feature. A school that will not put it in the booking terms is asking you to fund their risk.
Ask for dates that match the visa, not the brochure
Count calendar days from start to end, including breaks. A '12-week' course can cross a 90-day visitor line. Ask the language school to state whether the booking is 89 days or 95. Then open the matching visa guide for that country before you pay.
Ask which suburb you will sleep in
A homestay in 'Cape Town' is not an address. Ask for Sea Point, Green Point, Claremont, Rondebosch, or Constantia if that is the offer. In other cities, ask for the district and night-transport rule. Under-18 bookings need a named guardian and a curfew in the same email.
Ask who invoices you, and in which currency
Pay the school or a named trustee, not a personal account. Get tuition, housing, airport transfer, and registration as separate lines. Convert the total to one currency and compare it with EnglishHubSA's Cape Town school comparison. If Cape Town is cheaper at equal quality checks, require a reason to pay more.
Questions families ask
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay the agent or the school?
Prefer paying the school against an official invoice. If you pay an agent, get the school's written confirmation that it has received the booking.
Is a card payment safer than a transfer?
Card payments can be easier to dispute. Wire transfers to unknown accounts are not. Match the beneficiary name to the school's legal name.
From research to shortlist
Compare Cape Town schools next
See course prices, class sizes, accommodation and visa support using the same criteria across every school.
Avenue English Cape Town
De Waterkant, Cape Town
Quality English accredited school with published weekly rates that drop the longer you stay, and regular Saudi and Gulf groups.
“Dear Vivi, I am writing to express all my gratitude and love that I will feel forever for this school. I wanted you to know that Avenue English easily became my favorite place (even with so many beautiful places here) because the school always was full of the kindest, most caring and loving people I've ever met. Thank you so much for the opportunity to develop so much and broaden my worldview. I'll always remember this months with all my soul. With love (and "saudade")”Bea Valente · Brazil
Confirmed partner school · Prices verified 28 Aug 2026
From $2,990 / 3 months
View school
Good Hope Studies
Newlands & City Centre, Cape Town
EAQUALS and IALC accredited school with two Cape Town campuses and published weekly rates that fall sharply after 12 weeks.
Rates from the school's own published price list. Not yet a partner school.
From $3,861 / 3 months
View school
International House Cape Town
Cape Town
Part of the 160-school International House network, with 15-hour weeks and rates that step down to €230 for long stays.
Rates from the school's own published price list. Not yet a partner school.
From $3,536 / 3 months
View schoolKeep researching
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