The Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas (EOI) (English: Official School of Languages) are a nation-wide network of publicly funded language schools in Spain that are found in most substantial towns. They are dedicated to the specialized teaching of modern languages, not just Spanish as a second or foreign language but any modern language for which there is a significant demand. The EOIs are centers that are both funded and managed by the regional education authorities of the various Autonomous communities of Spain, and they are framed within the non-university special regime, which facilitates subsidized or grant-assisted access and support to suitable candidates.
Foreign students of all levels of competence are welcome, and may enroll locally at the advertised times (usually in September). However, to ensure suitable placement, prospective students are often required to provide documentary evidence of their level of educational achievement. This should ordinarily be a certificate recognized in their country of origin, but in exceptional cases, a testimonial from a former teacher can be sufficient.