Quote lines, local fees, visa extensions, school rules, lesson formats, dorms, and refund and change terms are all written differently from school to school. Using the official pages of schools and the Bureau of Immigration (BI), we set out seven points to check before you book, with real examples. For the whole process, see our guide to studying English in the Philippines. Checked on 31 October 2026.
In short
Before you book, check seven points: the lines on your quote, local fees, the visa extension deadline, school rules, lesson format, the dorm, and the refund and change terms. Each is written on the school’s official pages, and the content differs by school. Put the school’s page next to your quote and check them one at a time.
1. Which lines are in your quote
Target has a “course fee (tuition + housing)” table, plus separate tables for “pay locally (required)” and “pay locally (optional)”. HELP’s total is tuition plus the dorm fee, and visa extensions, the SSP, utilities and similar costs are in a separate table paid at the school office.
Even for the same “four-week price”, the lines included differ by school. For how to read line names, see how to read a quote’s line items.
2. How much you pay locally
In HELP’s Clark table, local fees total 20,800 pesos for up to four weeks, 31,040 pesos for eight weeks and 46,550 pesos for twelve weeks. Target lists the SSP application fee at 7,800 pesos and the SSP E-CARD application fee at 4,500 pesos, and says the ACR I-CARD application fee of 4,300 pesos is required from nine weeks.
Schools include different items, so comparing totals does not show which is cheaper. For the total for your number of weeks, see local fees by number of weeks.
3. The visa extension deadline and process
BI’s FAQ says that after the initial 30-day stay you can apply for extensions of one month, two months or six months. It says to apply at least one week before your authorized stay expires.
HELP’s Student Regulations say late renewals incur penalty fines and the student bears the responsibility. They also say that if you leave and re-enter the Philippines, the extension cycle resets to the first extension rate. The maximum stay and which rules apply depend on nationality, so check BI’s pages for your passport. For the steps, see visa extension for students and the SSP article.
4. School rules and how holidays are handled
HELP’s Student Regulations do not allow students to go out on weekdays (Monday to Friday). Students must be back by midnight on Saturday and by 21:00 on Sunday. A student with 10 absences in total cannot sit the QE (level-up qualifying exam). A certificate of completion is issued only to students with at least 90% attendance.
CEGA says there are no make-up lessons for Philippine public holidays. B&D says classes missed on public holidays are non-refundable and will not be rescheduled.
5. Lesson format and one-to-one numbers
Curious World’s Super Intensive course has seven one-to-one lessons and one free special lesson a day, eight in total. CEGA says its group classes have about two to eight students. HELP says attendance is required at morning pronunciation, one-to-one, 1:5 group lessons and more.
At some schools, extra one-to-one lessons are a separate line. Target lists them at 700 pesos an hour, available on weekends and holidays. For choosing a daily number, see how many one-to-one lessons a day.
6. Dorm room, meals and deposit
HELP’s dorm fee is per four weeks: USD 600 for a four-person room and USD 1,030 for a single room. It includes daily buffet meals and drinking water. Curious World includes three meals from Monday to Sunday, and lists an extra night before or after your stay at 2,000 pesos a night.
Deposit amounts and refund conditions differ by school. Target’s is 2,500 pesos, refunded if there is no damage to or loss of facilities and equipment at check-out. HELP says a deposit of 3,000 pesos is paid for the whole stay.
7. Refund, course change and cancellation terms
The wording differs by school, so read the terms before you book. Examples from the official pages of six schools are below.
HELP counts four weeks as one program. It says refunds are handled through the agency you applied through.
| School | Terms on the official page |
|---|---|
| HELP | Cancel at least 2 weeks before the enrollment date: 100% of tuition refunded (minus a USD 100 registration fee). Between 2 weeks and 7 days before: 30%. Less than 7 days before: the first program is not refunded and others get 50%. After enrollment, refund requests are accepted only from students with at least 12 weeks of study |
| B&D | Up to 1 month before arrival: free. 30 to 21 days before: 10% of the total payment; 20 to 14 days: 20%; 13 to 7 days: 30%; 6 to 3 days: 40%; 2 to 1 day: 50%; on the day or no-show: 100% |
| CEGA | A course change carries an administrative fee per change, and the price difference between the old and new plans is settled. The change takes effect on the Monday two weeks after you ask |
| Curious World | A course change after arrival costs a registration fee of 1,000 pesos, paid locally |
| Paradise English | A 20% deposit is due 4 weeks before the start date and is non-refundable. School closures beyond its control, such as weather or holidays, are also non-refundable |
| Target | The 2,500-peso deposit is refunded if there is no damage to or loss of facilities and equipment at check-out |
Next step: set your quote beside the official pages
Check your quote with the study abroad quote check. It lets you read the line names and amounts against a school’s official fee table. For the whole process, see the guide to studying English in the Philippines.
Sources
Government and public bodies
Official information from each company
- Target Global English Academy: Fees (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- HELP English Academy: Tuition and fees (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- HELP English Academy: Cancellation and Refund Policy (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- HELP English Academy: Student Regulations (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- CEGA: Fees (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- Curious World Academy: ESL (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- B&D English School: Study Costs (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- Paradise English: Course Prices 2026 (checked 31 Oct 2026)
