Frequently asked questions about the language trip

Yes: each session takes place if at least 40 participants have registered. If this number is not reached, IBZ Dortmund GmbH may cancel the session no later than 20 days before it starts. In that case we refund all payments made in full, within 14 days at the latest. This rule is also set out in your booking confirmation.

20 lessons per week, accommodation in single and double rooms with private bathroom, full board, round-the-clock supervision, the airport transfer from Düsseldorf or Cologne/Bonn, the insurance package, a daily leisure programme, four excursions and two off-campus activities (weather permitting), the placement test, a welcome pack, course materials, a certificate of participation, room cleaning with bed linen and towels, and free Wi-Fi.

Two sessions in 2027: 01.08.–14.08. and 15.08.–28.08. Until 01.02.2027 the early-bird price of 2,699 € applies (saving 271 €); from 02.02.2027 the price is 2,970 €.

20 lessons of 45 minutes each per week, in groups of 9 to 15 participants, matched to your language level. The level is determined in a placement test before the course begins; teaching follows the CEFR.

Accommodation is separated by gender, and supervisors stay on the same corridors. For double rooms we consider gender, age and different native languages.

The Villa Wewersbusch is a historic building and therefore not barrier-free. If you have reduced mobility, it is best to talk to us before booking: together we will look at what is possible for you in the accommodation, in lessons and on the excursions.

In two instalments: 50 % promptly after you receive the confirmation and invoice, and the second instalment no later than eight weeks before the course begins. Details are set out in the Terms and Conditions (AGB).

Around seven to ten days before departure — on-time payment is a requirement for timely dispatch.

Participants without EU citizenship usually need a visa, sometimes also for countries along the route. Apply for it no earlier than six months and ideally twelve weeks before the trip begins, as the embassy needs at least 15 days; obtaining the visa is your own responsibility. Once payment has been received, we send the visa documents as PDFs by email; if you need originals by post, we may charge only the postage costs. We cannot cover costs arising from missing or insufficient documents.

Through our insurance package: international health, liability and accident insurance. It gives you reliable cover throughout the language trip and is also a requirement for the visa.

You arrive on a Sunday and depart on a Saturday. We pick you up in groups at Düsseldorf Airport or Cologne/Bonn Airport and bring you back there for your departure — by coach, with an IBZ chaperone. You tell us which airport when you register. If you need a different arrival day, contact us early.

Please keep in mind: everyday, dining and communication customs of the host country and of the other participants may differ from what you’re used to at home. That’s part of the intercultural experience.

Full board with three meals a day, plus snacks such as fresh fruit and a packed lunch for excursions. Please tell us about any allergies or intolerances when you register.

Young people from all over the world — the groups are internationally mixed. When allocating rooms we also pay attention to different native languages, so you’ll speak German outside lessons too.

You can withdraw at any time before the trip starts — in text form, ideally by email to sommerakademie@ibz-dortmund.com so that receipt can be proven. Up to six weeks before the Sommerakademie begins, a cancellation fee of 300 € applies; after that, 500 € plus the full cost of accommodation and meals. Amounts already paid are refunded minus this fee. No refund is possible once the trip has started. The terms and conditions (AGB) apply. We recommend travel cancellation insurance that covers such costs.