ELS Houston, USA
2990 Richmond Avenue, Suite 600 - 77089 Houston - see on mapPay less than booking at the school
What we like about the school
- ELS students will have access to all the University of St. Thomas facilities.
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Tennis courts.
What we dislike about the school
- Do not offer favorable cancellation terms in the case of a student getting a visa rejected.
Venue: The ELS Language Centre in Houston is affiliated with the University of St. Thomas - Houston and is located nearby. In a safe neighbourhood on the border of Houston’s Museum District, students are well situated for travel to and from the University’s beautiful campus, and the rest of the city. Houston has the highest population of any city in the state of Texas, and has many attractions of interest. Probably the most well known of these is the NASA Space Centre, but it also boasts excellent museums, has a thriving theatre scene, and is very close to the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. It is also home to several important universities such as Rice University and the Texas Medical Centre, four public universities and a large number of important graduate schools.
Programmes: Students at ELS will find that the programme is very successful in helping them feel more at ease communicating with native speakers. They have access to the facilities at the University of St Thomas - Houston, sports installations, the library, etc, where they have many opportunities to talk to national students. ELS puts a lot of emphasis on their pathway programmes and has agreements with the University of St Thomas and other nearby HEIs who accept ELS language certification and can offer conditional admission for students who wish to pursue their studies in the U.S.
Getting around: As is the case for many American cities which tend to be spread out across a large area, Houston is not considered to be a walkable city and is most easily navigated by car. Parking is very rarely a problem, if you do decide to rent a car, alternatively taxis and Ubers are a good option. Houston has a public transport system composed of light rail and buses, and there is a bus line that runs along the street in front of ELS which will take students to the downtown area and to the nearest light rail station.
English Courses
General Language
Semi-Intensive Course 
20 lessons per week | 18 students (max)Starts weekly (every Monday)Offer!from$510$485 / week More
Semi-Intensive Course
20 lessons per week | 18 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
$510$485 / week
More
FREE changes
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price at school ($) Our price ($) | 510 485 | 1,020 969 | 1,530 1,454 | 2,040 1,938 | 3,060 2,907 | 4,080 3,876 | 5,100 4,845 | 7,520 7,144 | 9,400 8,930 | 10,560 10,032 | 15,840 15,048 |
See Availability
- Starting dates
- For all levels except of absolute beginners:Every MondaySee starting dates for absolute beginnersStarting dates for absolute beginners who have not taken an English course before:
26 Jan 2026, 23 Feb 2026, 23 Mar 2026, 20 Apr 2026, 18 May 2026, 15 Jun 2026, 13 Jul 2026, 10 Aug 2026, 07 Sep 2026, 05 Oct 2026, 02 Nov 2026, 30 Nov 2026, 28 Dec 2026
Course specific data
- General course schedule
- 4 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 8:30 - 12:20 - Possible course durations
- 1-99 weeks
- Minimum required student age
- 16 years
- Students per class
- Maximum: 18 / Average: 14
- Lesson duration
- 50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Intensive Course 
In high demand!30 lessons per week | 18 students (max)Starts weekly (every Monday)Offer!from$570$542 / week More
Intensive Course
In high demand!
30 lessons per week | 18 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
$570$542 / week
More
FREE changes
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price at school ($) Our price ($) | 570 542 | 1,140 1,083 | 1,710 1,625 | 2,280 2,166 | 3,420 3,249 | 4,560 4,332 | 5,700 5,415 | 8,480 8,056 | 10,600 10,070 | 12,000 11,400 | 18,000 17,100 |
See Availability
- Starting dates
- For all levels except of absolute beginners:Every MondaySee starting dates for absolute beginnersStarting dates for absolute beginners who have not taken an English course before:
26 Jan 2026, 23 Feb 2026, 23 Mar 2026, 20 Apr 2026, 18 May 2026, 15 Jun 2026, 13 Jul 2026, 10 Aug 2026, 07 Sep 2026, 05 Oct 2026, 02 Nov 2026, 30 Nov 2026, 28 Dec 2026
Course specific data
- General course schedule
- 6 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 8:30 - 12:20
Afternoon: 13:30 - 15:45 - Possible course durations
- 1-99 weeks
- Minimum required student age
- 16 years
- Students per class
- Maximum: 18 / Average: 14
- Lesson duration
- 50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
American Explorer 15 lessons per week | 18 students (max)Starts weekly (every Monday)Offer!from$450$428 / week More
American Explorer
15 lessons per week | 18 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
$450$428 / week
More
FREE changes
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price at school ($) Our price ($) | 450 428 | 900 855 | 1,350 1,283 | 1,800 1,710 | 2,250 2,138 | 2,700 2,565 | 3,150 2,993 | 3,600 3,420 | 4,050 3,848 | 4,500 4,275 | 5,040 4,788 |
See Availability
- Starting dates
- For all levels except of absolute beginners:Every MondaySee starting dates for absolute beginnersStarting dates for absolute beginners who have not taken an English course before:
26 Jan 2026, 23 Feb 2026, 23 Mar 2026, 20 Apr 2026, 18 May 2026, 15 Jun 2026, 13 Jul 2026, 10 Aug 2026, 07 Sep 2026, 05 Oct 2026, 02 Nov 2026, 30 Nov 2026, 28 Dec 2026
Course specific data
- General course schedule
- 3 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 8:30 - 11:20 - Possible course durations
- 1-99 weeks
- Minimum required student age
- 16 years
- Students per class
- Maximum: 18 / Average: 14
- Lesson duration
- 50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Business
English for Executives Course35 lessons per week | 18 students (max)Offer!from$1,710$1,625 / week More
English for Executives Course
35 lessons per week | 18 students (max)
Offer!from
$1,710$1,625 / week
More
FREE changes
| Weeks | 2 | 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price at school ($) Our price ($) | 3,420 3,249 | 6,840 6,498 |
See Availability
- Starting dates
- 2026: 26 Jan 2026, 23 Feb 2026, 23 Mar 2026, 20 Apr 2026, 18 May 2026, 15 Jun 2026, 13 Jul 2026, 10 Aug 2026, 07 Sep 2026, 05 Oct 2026, 02 Nov 2026, 30 Nov 2026, 28 Dec 2026
This course is 20 group lessons with other students from the school in the morning and 15 private lessons.
Course specific data
- General course schedule
- 7 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 8:30 - 12:20
Afternoon: 13:30 - 16:20 - Possible course durations
- 2, 4 weeks
- Minimum required student age
- 16 years
- Students per class
- Maximum: 18 / Average: 14
- Lesson duration
- 50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Super Intensive One-to-One 1515 lessons per week | 1 student (max)Starts weekly (every Monday)Offer!from$1,500$1,425 / week More
Super Intensive One-to-One 15
15 lessons per week | 1 student (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
$1,500$1,425 / week
More
FREE changes
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price at school ($) Our price ($) | 1,500 1,425 | 3,000 2,850 | 4,500 4,275 | 6,000 5,700 |
See Availability
- Starting dates
- Every Monday
This course includes round-trip airport transfers, medical insurance, private tuition and materials.
Course specific data
- General course schedule
- 3 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 8:30 - 11:20 - Possible course durations
- 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks
- Minimum required student age
- 18 years
- Students per class
- Maximum: 1 / Average: 1
- Lesson duration
- 50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Super Intensive One-to-One 2020 lessons per week | 1 student (max)Starts weekly (every Monday)Offer!from$2,000$1,900 / week More
Super Intensive One-to-One 20
20 lessons per week | 1 student (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
$2,000$1,900 / week
More
FREE changes
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price at school ($) Our price ($) | 2,000 1,900 | 4,000 3,800 | 6,000 5,700 | 8,000 7,600 |
See Availability
- Starting dates
- Every Monday
This course includes round-trip airport transfers, medical insurance, private tuition and materials.
Course specific data
- General course schedule
- 4 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 8:30 - 12:20 - Possible course durations
- 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks
- Minimum required student age
- 18 years
- Students per class
- Maximum: 1 / Average: 1
- Lesson duration
- 50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Super Intensive One-to-One 30For the summer, only limited places left!30 lessons per week | 1 student (max)Starts weekly (every Monday)Offer!from$3,000$2,850 / week More
Super Intensive One-to-One 30
For the summer, only limited places left!
30 lessons per week | 1 student (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
$3,000$2,850 / week
More
FREE changes
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price at school ($) Our price ($) | 3,000 2,850 | 6,000 5,700 | 9,000 8,550 | 12,000 11,400 |
See Availability
- Starting dates
- Every Monday
Course specific data
- General course schedule
- 6 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 8:30 - 12:20
Afternoon: 13:30 - 16:20 - Possible course durations
- 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks
- Minimum required student age
- 18 years
- Students per class
- Maximum: 1 / Average: 1
- Lesson duration
- 50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Our prices for ELS include
- INCLUDED Internet access and use of school computers
- INCLUDED Wireless LAN zone at school
- INCLUDED Free certificate of course attendance
- INCLUDED Language level placement test before arrival
University of St Thomas1/14
University of St. Thomas gym2/14
University of St. Thomas campus3/14
University of St. Thomas sports hall4/14
Students on university campus5/14
ELS Language Technology Center6/14
ELS Classroom7/14
University of St. Thomas library_18/14
ELS students9/14
University of St. Thomas library_210/14
Grounds at University of St. Thomas11/14
ELS Houston entrance area12/14
ELS Houston Reception13/14
University of St Thomas campus14/14
ELS
- Accreditations and Quality seals
- English teacher qualifications
- 100% hold a university degree100% hold a recognised language teaching qualification
- Languages spoken by school staff (cannot be guaranteed by school)
- Student gender mix
- 50% male / 50% female
- Offer for returning students
- When you book here, you will be refunded/waived the school's administration fee if you have already attended a course previously at ELS.
- Year of school foundation
- 1970
General school facilities
Cafeteria
Computer lab
Library
Basketball court
Soccer field / football pitch
Tennis courts
Outdoor swimming pool
Free WIFI
Free parking
Non-smoking (all indoor areas, but not all outdoor areas of school)
Classroom equipment
TV in some classrooms
Air conditioning in all classrooms
Ample natural light in all classrooms
- Number of classrooms: 8
- Number of public PC workstations: 32
Facilities for disabled students
Wheelchair access to classroom
Wheelchair access to reception
Wheelchair access to cafeteria
- The centre and classrooms are handicapped accessible
Additional comment about facilities of school
ELS Houston is affiliated with the University of St. Thomas, giving ELS students access to many of the outstanding facilities that the university offers.
Student Age / Nationality
Top student nationalities
| Student Nationality | Percentage of students |
|---|---|
| Japan | 28% |
| Brazil | 14% |
| Saudi Arabia | 14% |
| China | 5% |
| Vietnam | 2% |
| Turkey | 2% |
| Korea | 2% |
| Italy | 2% |
| France | 2% |
| Switzerland | 1% |
| Spain | 1% |
| Other nationalities | 27% |
- Average number of students
- In summer: 70Throughout the year: 105
- Minimum age of students
- 16 years
- Average number of levels
- Adult courses In summer: 12Adult courses Throughout the year: 12
- Average age of students
- In summer: 24 yearsThroughout the year: 24 years
Information for all courses offered by ELS
- Lesson duration
- 50 minutes
- School's administrative fee
- $200
- Comments about courses
Extra fees:
Student Health Insurance: USD 50 per week.
Facility Fee: USD 20 per week.
Recommended Start Dates:
26 Jan, 23 Feb, 23 Mar, 20 Apr, 18 May, 15 Jun, 13 Jul, 10 Aug, 07 Sep, 05 Oct, 02 Nov, 30 Nov and 28 Dec.
Airport transfer fees:
William P Hobby Airport: USD 190.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport: USD 190.
Each ELS level takes 4-weeks to complete so, where possible the school do recommend coming for 4, 8, 12, etc. weeks starting on a main start date (every 4-weeks). The school strongly advise against starting in the fourth week of a 4-week session.- Days without class
- In 2026 (including national and regional bank holidays):
01 Jan 2026, 19 Jan 2026, 16 Feb 2026, 03 Apr 2026, 25 May 2026, 19 Jun 2026, 06 Jul 2026, 07 Sep 2026, 26 Nov 2026, 27 Nov 2026, 24 Dec 2026, 25 Dec 2026.In 2027 (including national and regional bank holidays):
01 Jan 2027, 18 Jan 2027, 15 Feb 2027, 31 May 2027, 19 Jun 2027, 04 Jul 2027, 06 Sep 2027, 11 Oct 2027, 11 Nov 2027, 25 Nov 2027, 25 Dec 2027.If a bank holiday falls on a weekday there is no refund nor are missed lessons recuperated. This is the case for the majority of language schools. - Level test
- A test to assess your exact language level takes place before the start of the course via email.
Lessons needed per English language level
The data above gives some guidance. For more details consult our page How long does it take to learn a language or reach a specific level.
Leisure activities
Examples of leisure activities organized by the school
Adults - Free activities
- - Basketball court
- Gymnasium
- Racquetball/Squash court
- Soccer field
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Tennis court
Adults - Paid activities
- Things to do in the city:
- NASA Johnson Space Center: Learn about NASA’s manned space flight program through exhibits, presentations, and hands-on activities.
- Moody Gardens: Visit one of the largest aquariums in the world, observe tropical animals and plants, and learn from science-focused exhibits.
- Galveston Beaches: Enjoy the beautiful, scenic shoreline of Galveston Island.
Accommodation
Homestay
This accommodation tends to sell out quickly!
Reserve as early as possible to get the best available homestay!
Single room, Breakfast & 1 meal 
Shared bathroom
from
$455/ week Show more
Homestay
This accommodation tends to sell out quickly!
Reserve as early as possible to get the best available homestay!
Single room, Breakfast & 1 meal
Shared bathroom
from
$455/ week
Show more
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | Additional Week | One-time fee (charged by school) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price in $ | 455 | 910 | 1365 | 1820 | 2275 | 2730 | 3185 | 3640 | 4550 | 5460 | 455 | 200 |
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | Additional Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price in $ |
Minimum stay: 2 weeks
Prices based on accommodation from Sunday to Saturday
Price per person
Prices based on accommodation from Sunday to Saturday
Price per person
- Check-in
- Sunday
- Check-out
- Saturday
Note: It is important to inform the school if you plan to arrive or leave outside the standard check in/check out times.
- One-time fee
- The school/accommodation provider will charge a non-refundable one-time fee of 200US$.
- Room Occupancy
- Single room
- Includes
- Towels, Bedding/linen, Access to laundry service, Access to Wifi in building (Free WIFI), Air conditioning, Shared bathroom.
- Meals
- Breakfast & 1 meal.
- Minimum age of students
- 18
No extra nights bookable
Houston Student Residence
This accommodation tends to sell out quickly!
Double room, No meals
Shared bathroom
from
$315/ week Show more
Houston Student Residence
This accommodation tends to sell out quickly!
Double room, No meals
Shared bathroom
from
$315/ week
Show more
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | Additional Week | One-time fee (charged by school) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price in $ | 315 | 630 | 945 | 1260 | 1575 | 1890 | 2205 | 2520 | 3150 | 3780 | 315 | 200 |
| Weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | Additional Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price in $ |
Minimum stay: 4 weeks
Prices based on accommodation from Sunday to Saturday
Price per person
Prices based on accommodation from Sunday to Saturday
Price per person
- Check-in
- Sunday 12:00-17:00
- Check-out
- Saturday 8:00-13:00
Note: It is important to inform the school if you plan to arrive or leave outside the standard check in/check out times.
- One-time fee
- The school/accommodation provider will charge a non-refundable one-time fee of 200US$.
- Room Occupancy
- Double room
- Average distance from school
- 25 minutes by public transport.
- Includes
- Towels, Bedding/linen, Access to laundry service, Access to Wifi in building (Free WIFI), Air conditioning, Shared bathroom.
- Meals
- No meals.
- Minimum age of students
- 18
- Maximum age of students
- 35
No extra nights bookable
Student Testimonial Videos
Note: The video testimonials of students from ELS have been provided by the school and schools do not usually publish negative testimonials.
FAQ about ELS, Houston
What is the best price for a course at ELS, Houston?
“English courses at ELS start at 428 US$ for a American Explorer course with 15 lessons per week. When booking here you benefit from an exclusive discount.”
Is it possible to take a course at ELS as an absolute beginner?
“Yes. The following courses can be attended as an absolute beginner: Semi-Intensive Course , Intensive Course , American Explorer ”
What is the number of students per class at ELS?
“Depending on the chosen course, the maximum number of students at ELS varies from 1 (Super Intensive One-to-One 15) to 18 students (Semi-Intensive Course )”
Which countries are students of ELS from?
“The highest Nationality percentage at ELS comes from Japan with a 28% representation, followed by students from Brazil (14%) and Saudi Arabia (14%).”
ELS offers courses for which ages?
“ELS offers courses from 16 years to 99. The average age is 24 during the summer and 24 the rest of the year.”
Terms of ELS
- First day of course
- Students should arrive at 8:30
- Payment methods accepted for payments made directly to the school
- Legal name/parent company
- ELS EDUCATION SERVICES INC | Tax registration ID: 52-0822348
Visa Documents
Nationals from USA do not require a visa for travelling to USA and attending a language course.
Check visa requirements for nationals from other countries.
Nationals from countries that require a visa will receive documents from the school, related to booking confirmation, which is required for the visa application.
- Full payment of all fees required before school dispatches documents required for visa application
- No
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ELS Houston English School USA | Pay Less
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Find more information about Houston, including climate data and events, on our Houston page, which includes a list of all 2 English schools in Houston.
Class times are as follows;
Monday to Friday: 08:30 to 12:20.
Monday to Thursday: 13:30 to 14:35 and 14:45 to 15:45.