Learning German in Bern: free and cheap

How it works

1. Open Deutsch lernen and switch to English. The offers are listed in three sections: “Free”, “Low-cost courses” and “Help with the cost”.
2. Choose an offer. Each line gives the address or contact, the source and the date it was checked.
3. Open the linked source before your first visit, because courses change.

Free and cheap

At Bern Integral Plus, volunteers teach German, from literacy up to B2. denk:mal, the Autonome Schule, has low-threshold courses without registration. Cheap options are isa, with German, literacy and conversation courses from A1 to B1, and “Practise German with childcare” (Deutsch üben mit Kinderbetreuung) run by the Ref. Kirchgemeinde Paulus. The course finder (Kurs-Finder) is the canton's search engine for German courses for migrants.

Help with the costs

The city issues the DeutschBon: vouchers for German courses that you can redeem at 13 language schools. With the KulturLegi Kanton Bern, people on a small budget get courses for less. You apply for the KulturLegi at Caritas.

Where to start?

First open the canton's course finder and choose your level and district. If you cannot afford a course, go straight to Bern Integral Plus or get the DeutschBon. The information comes from bern.ch, be.ch, bern-integral-plus.ch, isabern.ch and kulturlegi.ch and was checked on 25. 9. 2026. The page is also available in French, English and Ukrainian.