Frequently asked questions
If you need help, we have a list of frequently asked questions and answers. Click a questions category below to view the answers.
How can I make the reservation for a course and accommodation?
For enrolments, fill in the online form. The school confirms enrolment by e-mail, fax or ordinary mail. To make bookings definite, the student has to make a pre-payment of 60 euros for the course and 60 euros for the accommodation and the enrolment fee of 40 euros. For mini-apartment and board with family, half of the total amount has to be forwarded.
When can I start a course?
If you have no Spanish knowledge at all, we recommend you to start on the official starting dates of our calendar.
If you have some knowledge, you can start on any Monday, although it is not an official starting date.
How can I know my Spanish level?
You can fill in an enrolment test online. We send you a link with the confirmation of enrolment.
When do the courses start and finish?
The time schedule is from Monday to Friday from 9:00h to 12:50h and from 13:00h to 17:00h (50 minutes/class). The group division is determined by the school management according to the test results and the available levels.
Courses start on Mondays and finish on Fridays except public holidays.
What do I need to take to class on the first day?
You only need something to write (and a dictionary for personal use). All the other material used in class will be handed out.
What professional and educational background do the teachers have?
We count on a team of experienced teachers in the field of Spanish as a Foreign language and Culture, with University degrees in Disciplines such as Spanish and English Philology, Philosophy, Journalism and Pedagogical Sciences.
When do I have access to the accommodation and when do I have to leave it?
Accomodations are available from the day before the course starts (usually Sundays) until Saturday(noon) after the course finishes.
What are the criteria for occupying the students apartments?
Usually students of similar ages, length of stay and different nationalities use to share the flat.
How many students share one flat?
3 to 5 students share one flat, either in single or double rooms.
When do I receive the address of my accommodation?
You receive the address of your accommodation on the day of your arrival.
Only the addresses of the families are given two weeks before the course starts.
Official postal address of all students is that of C/O
Student's name.
C/O Instituto Picasso.
Plaza de la Merced 20, 1º.
29012 Málaga, Spain
Where are the apartments?
They are within a few minutes' walk from school.In summer the walking distance can be 15 or 20 minutes due to the higher demand of apartments
Are there additional cost for the apartments?
No, extra costs for gas, electricity and water are included.
Do I have to bring towels and bedsheets?
You have to bring towels and a beach towel but you don´t need to bring bedsheets, they are provided by the school.
Can I prepare meals in the apartments?
Yes, The kitchens are equipped for preparing and having meals.
How are the apartments equipped?
They usually have a living-room with a TV-set, an equipped kitchen, a washing machine two bathrooms and up to 3 bedrooms.
Can I extend my stay in the accommodation after the course?
In the summer months, it is not possible to extend the bookings for accommodation because we have to guarantee in a first place the stay of course participants.
Where can I get information about Instituto Picasso?
- We can send you our brochure by mail.
- You can consult our website
- We attend you in our school office (office hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Monday to Friday). Our contacts are e-mail (info@instituto-picasso.com), phone (+34 952 21 39 32), fax (+34 952 21 07 99).
What are the participants' ages?
Our minimum age is 16 accompanied by an adult, the majority are between 18 and 35. There is no maximum age and all ages are represented.
What are the activities offered by the institute?
We offer free activities such as flamenco dance classes, cooking lessons, cultural visits, workshops on different topics related to the Spanish culture, tutorials, you will have a free access to Internet and our library. You can join weekend trips organized by an agency at reasonable rates to places of interest in our region.
How do I get to Málaga and my accommodation?
You can take the airport bus number 19, which is the only bus connection to Málaga downtown, and it leaves every 30 minutes. You can also take the train from the airport to Málaga Terminal, and from there a taxi to Plaza de la Merced.
We can also book a pick-up service from the airport to the centre for you.
How can I pay course and accommodation?
By credit card (Visa, Master...) stating the credit card number and the expiring date, via phone or e-mail.
Or by bank transfer (mode of payment: OUR) to the account of Instituto Picasso
What happens if I have to cancel my stay?
Cancellation has to be communicated at least four weeks before the course starts. In this case the prepayment is refunded (except the enrolment fee of 50 €). If you cancel less than four weeks before you join the course, no refund is possible. If the student abandons the course before it ends or leaves the accommodation s/he has booked and has had access to, s/he is not entitled to any refund.
Are there special rates?
There is a 10 percent discount on standard intensive course up to four weeks for former students of our institute and double enrolment.
For multiple enrolments you are entitled to a discount of 15 percent on the same terms.
There are further discounts for groups of more than 10 or 20 students.
One discount excludes any other.
These discounts are not applicable to accommodation as we depend on the flat market rates.