I’m looking for an inexpensive spanish language school in Barcelona. In order to be eligible for a student visa, I need 20 hours a week for more than 90 days. Several people have recommended the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas, but although they are very affordable they don’t offer classes for more than 10 hours a week.
Any suggestions?

I’m in exactly the same position. One of the schools that seems like the best value is Speakeasy school.
http://www.speakeasybcn.com/

I hear that the “best” but most expensive one is Don Quixote.

Here are some links to other pages I have open.
http://www.versionoriginalbcn.com/spanish_courses.htm
http://www.eh.ub.es/Cursos/ANG/Tema1.html

links to 13 schools: http://www.schoolsofspanish.com/spanish-in-spain/programs-in-barcelona.php

Will you please reply or send me a message when you find a good value school? I need to get this situation resolved fast!!

I looked through all of the sites you listed and speakeasy does seem to be the best deal. I found the site http://www.cee-idiomas.com, which lists even cheaper courses, but they don’t offer 20 hours a week. I was thinking about enrolling in an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas Spanish course (they only offer 10 hours) and enrolling in another of their language courses for an additional 10 hours. I’m not sure if I could get any refund, but even if I didn’t and only really showed up for the Spanish course it would be much, much cheaper than any other course I’ve found.
But bad news, I found on the consulate’s website that student visa applicants must present a letter from the university addressed to the Spanish Consulate indicating that they have paid tuition to be a full-time student with course credits that are eligible toward their bachelor’s or master’s degree…guess that rules out language schools for post grads.
Now I’m even more at loss.

That’s bad news for me too..

I looked on the website for the New York consulate and didn’t see where it said the course has to go towards a master’s or bachelor’s program, but I remember seeing something like that before in a different location. Where did you get that information?

I see:
Letter of acceptance as a full time student from Spain’s University/School or US program indicating: name, address and registration number of the school with Spain’s Department of Education; (Ministerio de Educaci?n de Espa?a) full payment of tuition, duration of the program, subjects of the study and hours of study per week which must be no less than 20.

Here is the link I used:  http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/NuevaYork/en/MenuPpal/Documentaci?nyRequisitosparaServiciosConsulares/Solicituddevisados/Paginas/Visas.aspx

http://www.conspainmiami.org/Visados/STUDENT.htm

“Original official certificate of admission addressed to this Consulate in Spanish, issued in Spain, verifying enrollment as a full-time student in an official university or school in Spain, and verification of full payment of tuition (room and board). This letter must mention that you will be eligible for a credit towards your Bachelor’s Degree or other degree and indicate your course of study, duration of program, school’s address and the name and phone number of person to contact at school.
Information about the study program.”

I’ve read that different consulates have different requirements. Also, my idea about signing up for a course and not really taking it wouldn’t work as you have to prove your successful completion of a full-time course load to renew your student visa.

I went to the version original school for a month one year.  Give them a shout - Amara owns the school - you can say you heard about the school from me (I will pm you my name etc) .  She is very helpful and I am sure if you pay the appropriate fees you can get the letter you need.  She also arranges accommodation with a local family if you need.  I had a great time/learnt a lot!

!Buena Suerte!

I don’t know if you are still looking but the cheapest school I found is Escuela Mediterraneo http://www.escuelamediterraneo.com/ 

I’m taking classes there now and the teacher is just as good as a more expensive school I had attended previouly (KingsBrook).  They do not offer a straight 20 hour package but you can add dele prep or coversation class to get the 20 hours.  I was going to do that for the student visa but came on a tourist visa yet again.