Language courses in Galway: free GRETB English, University of Galway diplomas and ETB night classes

Quick answer: In Galway, GRETB’s Adult Basic Education Service teaches English free of charge at Seville House and around the city. The University of Galway’s part-time diplomas in French, German and Italian cost €1,085 a year for EU students, Galway Community College’s hobby courses are €120 unless stated otherwise, and Galway library members get Transparent Language free.

Free English classes in Galway

Galway City Council’s integration team lists the free options. Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) runs in-person English classes at its office and at locations around the city; you can register in person on weekdays at Seville House on New Dock Street or online through the Fetch course finder under “English Language Skills”. GRETB’s Galway Adult Basic Education Service, which runs the English classes, describes its classes as free of charge and confidential.

The council also points to Galway City Partnership’s weekday English classes, conversation groups for 18 to 24-year-olds run by Youth Work Galway at Bohermore Community Centre, and Fáilte Isteach, where older volunteers run informal conversation classes for migrants.

ETB night classes

Galway Community College, part of GRETB, says tuition for its hobbies and interest part-time courses costs €120 unless otherwise stated, with materials extra for some courses. GRETB publishes its evening courses in a brochure each year, so confirm which languages are running before you plan around them.

University of Galway part-time diplomas

The University of Galway’s Adult Learning and Professional Development unit runs two-year, part-time language diplomas rather than short evening classes:

Diploma	Delivery	2026/27 fee (EU)
Diploma in French	Online, two years part-time; not for complete beginners	€1,085 a year (€1,050 plus €35 levy)
Diploma in German	Online, two years part-time	€1,085 a year
Diploma in Italian	On campus, two years part-time; next intake to be confirmed	€1,085 a year

The non-EU fee is €1,585 a year. A fee scholarship of up to 30% may be available to students upskilling for re-employment. The university also runs an Irish-language diploma, An Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge (A2), for adult learners. For how these levels map to CEFR, see our guide to CEFR levels A1 to C2.

Language schools in the city

Galway has a cluster of private language schools, many at the Bridge Mills on Bridge Street, where the Spanish Institute and the French Institute teach Spanish and French and Bridge Mills Galway Language Centre teaches English. Most private schools publish fees on request or at booking; we did not find a published source for typical private prices in Galway, so see our Ireland language course costs guide for national ranges.

Irish-language classes

Beyond the university diploma, we did not find a published price for in-person adult Irish classes in Galway city. Online, Conradh na Gaeilge charges €150 for 10 weeks and Gaelchultúr €220 for 20 hours, and Oideas Gael runs weekend courses in the Donegal Gaeltacht for €120. For certificates, see how the TEG Irish-language certificate works.

Free language help at the library

Galway library members get free Transparent Language Online, with courses in over 100 languages and beginner English lessons for speakers of more than 25 languages. You create an account with your library card number, and can use it on a computer or through the app.

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How to choose a language course in Galway

Language classes are not licensed like a trade, so compare providers on what they publish and what they will put in writing:

Level and hours. Ask which level the course starts and finishes at and how many teaching hours it includes. Most providers use the CEFR scale in our guide to CEFR levels A1 to C2.
Price per hour, not per course. The courses on this page run from 15 to 48 hours, so divide the fee by the teaching hours before you compare.
What is extra. Textbooks, membership, exam entry and payment charges are often added on top of tuition.
Accreditation. Ask whether the course leads to a QQI award, university credits, a certificate of attendance or nothing formal. For English schools recruiting students from abroad, ask whether the school holds the ACELS/QQI quality mark it claims and check it with QQI.
Minimum numbers and refunds. Several providers here only run a class if enough people enrol, and some fees are non-refundable once the course starts. Ask for the policy in writing.
Short course or diploma. The university’s diplomas are a two-year commitment with assessments. If you only want conversation for travel, a 10-week class will cost far less.

Language course providers in Galway

These providers appear in public business and education listings for Galway. We have not checked their teaching, prices or accreditation, and they have not paid to appear.