A small, close-knit Japanese-style school
With about 65 beds, most people you meet around school are familiar faces. The school says some graduates found this reassuring, and it makes settling in easier for first-timers abroad.

STARGATE GLOBAL EDUCATION · CEBU
ABOUT STARGATE
STARGATE (Star Gate Global Education) opened in Cebu City in July 2017 and is located in the Tancor 5 residential building in Kasambagan. Classrooms, the dining hall, the student lounge and the dormitory are all in the same building, so there is no commute between class and your room. The building has 24-hour security, and the rooftop has an infinity pool and gym.
The school has about 65 beds, and most students are from Japan and Taiwan. The school itself says that "being small is a weakness, and also a strength": with fewer people, students and teachers get to know each other quickly, making it easier for first-timers abroad and those wary of big schools to fit in. Free time after class is yours to plan, there are free elective classes on Monday to Thursday evenings, and the school will also help organise group outings to wherever students want to go.
Want to compare first? Take a look at I.BREEZE, CPILS, GLC and CBOA, among other Cebu language schools, or book a free study tour planning consultation to check together whether STARGATE is right for you.
WHY STARGATE
With about 65 beds, most people you meet around school are familiar faces. The school says some graduates found this reassuring, and it makes settling in easier for first-timers abroad.
Even General English includes 4 one-to-one lessons a day. If you want to get speaking, choose Power Speaking; if you would rather skip group classes, choose Man to Man with 6 one-to-one lessons a day.
Choose morning or afternoon; the other half of the day is yours for remote work, sightseeing or your own plans. You need to decide your lesson time slot when you apply, and the earlier you do, the easier it is to schedule.
Beginners use the school's own textbooks, with vocabulary glossed in Chinese and Japanese. Group classes have up to 6 students and are grouped by level.
Every room has a free washing machine on the balcony, so you can wash and dry your own clothes; rooms have a refrigerator and water heater, and the dormitory is cleaned twice a week.
A doctor visits the school on weekday afternoons from Monday to Friday, so you don't have to go to a hospital on your own when you are sick.
CAMPUS FACILITIES
Items in light grey are facilities STARGATE does not currently have or that are not yet confirmed. Every room has a free washing machine on the balcony; the study rooms are open 24 hours, with one for speaking practice and one for quiet study; no cooking in rooms. Refer to the school's announcements for pool and gym opening hours.
EXPLORE STARGATE
Standard Course is STARGATE's basic course. It focuses on speaking while covering listening, speaking, reading and writing, and leaves time for preview and review.
If this is your first study-abroad trip, you are not sure which course to choose, and you still want group classes to interact with classmates, this course is a good place to start.
Beginner to advanced students on their first study-abroad trip who want to improve their English overall.
Power Speaking adds one extra one-to-one speaking lesson to the General English course, giving you more time to speak and be corrected.
Students who aren't preparing for an exam and simply want to speak English.
Man to Man has 6 lessons a day, all one-to-one, with content tailored to your weak areas.
No fixed group classes; if you want to meet other students, you can also join the evening electives.
Beginner and intermediate students who don't like group classes, want short-term intensive practice, or are studying for 4 weeks or less.
Enjoy Course has 3 one-to-one lessons a day, in either the morning or the afternoon. The rest of the day is yours for remote work, sightseeing or your own plans.
You need to tell the school which time slot you want when you apply; scheduling is harder close to your departure date. This course also requires staying in the on-campus dormitory.
Adults who need to work remotely during their stay, or want more weekday time for sightseeing and activities.
The TOEIC course focuses on TOEIC reading and listening, with 4 one-to-one TOEIC lessons a day.
Group classes are General English, because there may not be enough TOEIC students at the same time to form a class.
This course requires a certain level of English. If your level is not high enough when you arrive, TOEIC students will switch to Man to Man and TOEIC Mix students to Power Speaking; the school says the tuition is the same.
Intermediate or higher students who need a TOEIC score for job hunting or promotion.
TOEIC Mix combines TOEIC and General English, so you are not just practising for the test while still afraid to speak.
The school says this course also suits students who are not yet sure which course to choose.
This course requires a certain level of English. If your level is not high enough when you arrive, TOEIC students will switch to Man to Man and TOEIC Mix students to Power Speaking; the school says the tuition is the same.
Students who want to raise their TOEIC score and improve everyday English communication at the same time.
Business English focuses on workplace situations, with practice in business conversation, workplace communication, business writing and discussions in English.
This course requires a certain level of English; if your level is not high enough, the school will suggest choosing another course first.
Working professionals at intermediate level or above who are preparing for English job interviews or want to improve their workplace English.
Courses and lesson numbers are based on the STARGATE official website and the school's explanations during our visit in September 2026; actual subjects and time slots depend on placement and the current timetable.
This is the Monday–Thursday timetable published in the STARGATE school regulations. Each student's schedule depends on their course, so you won't have lessons in every slot. On Friday each lesson is 40 minutes, with a graduation ceremony in the early evening; on weekends and public holidays only brunch (10:00–12:00) is served.
An approx. 40 m² studio suite for one person: two beds, sofa, cable TV, dressing table, wardrobe, fridge, kitchen counter and dining table, private bathroom, and a washing machine in the room.
The same approx. 40 m² studio suite as the Premium Single, shared by two. Only for family members or friends who apply together; couples and married couples are welcome. You cannot book it alone and be matched with a roommate.
An approx. 90 m² two-bedroom unit, with one person per bedroom: each bedroom has two beds, a dressing table, a wardrobe and its own bathroom; the living room has a sofa, partitioned study desks, a kitchen counter and a fridge, and the balcony has a washing machine. Everyone gets a lockable locker, and students in the unit share the electricity for the living-room air conditioner.
The same approx. 90 m² two-bedroom unit as the Share Single, with two people sharing a bedroom. The living room, study desks, kitchen counter and balcony washing machine are shared with the other students in the unit. Everyone gets a lockable locker.
Approx. 50 m² with four loft beds, each with a desk and lockable locker underneath, plus a sofa, kitchen counter and fridge, bathroom, and a washing machine on the balcony. The most budget-friendly room.
Approx. 100 m²: two bedrooms with two single beds and a bathroom each, plus two bunk beds, a sofa, kitchen counter and fridge in the living room, and a washing machine on the balcony; up to 8 people. Single beds and bunk beds are priced differently. Groups get priority, so please check availability with a counsellor.
All room types have a balcony, free washing machine, refrigerator, water heater, counter space for instant noodles, hairdryer and Wi-Fi router; no cooking in rooms. Room types are assigned based on availability at the time of application.
Generally 18 or older. Students aged 15–17 need a parental consent form; please check the admission requirements with a counsellor first.
Curfew is 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 01:00 on Friday, Saturday and the day before a public holiday. You can go out during the lunch break and when you have no scheduled lessons; take your student ID with you. As a rule, you cannot go out before 6 a.m. Overnight stays outside are not allowed on weekdays; weekend overnight stays or trips require a form submitted in advance.
Check in from 08:00 on the day before your course starts (Sunday); check out by 12:00 on Saturday of your final week, and you can still use the building facilities until 21:00 that day. Early check-in or late check-out depends on room availability and costs PHP 2,000 per night for single/twin rooms or PHP 1,500 for quad rooms/Big Room; advance booking is required.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served Monday to Friday; on weekends and Philippine public holidays only brunch (10:00–12:00) is served.
The school requires you to take out overseas travel insurance before departure. If you have a chronic illness, are pregnant or need long-term medication, please inform the school before applying.
No alcohol on campus. No cooking in rooms; the microwave is in a common area. Every room has a free washing machine on the balcony; bring your own detergent and hangers. The dormitory is cleaned twice a week.
※ Compiled from the STARGATE school regulations (effective January 5, 2026) and the 2026 price list. School rules and fees may change according to school policy; STARGATE's current announcements prevail.
PHOTO GALLERY
Building exterior, teaching-area entrance, lounges and break areas, study room, clinic and office
Student cafeteria, salad bar and daily meals
1:1 classrooms, small-group rooms, and one-to-one and group lessons in progress
Rooftop infinity pool, gym, school events and weekend trips
LOCATION
On the 3rd floor of the Tancor 5 residential building in Kasambagan, Cebu City. About 5 minutes by taxi to Ayala Center Cebu and about 20–45 minutes to Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
No. You can go out when you have no scheduled lessons, and evening electives are optional. Curfew is 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 01:00 on Friday, Saturday and the day before a public holiday. Overnight stays outside are not allowed on weekdays.
People studying abroad for the first time who would rather not attend a large school; people who mainly want to practise speaking; people who don't like group classes and want all one-to-one lessons; people who need to work remotely for half the day (Enjoy Course); people on a limited budget who want to study longer (Quad Room); couples or married couples (Premium Twin).
People preparing for IELTS (the school has no IELTS course); people who want a large campus with classmates from many countries (most students are from Japan and Taiwan); people who need strict school supervision with mandatory evening study.
Yes. General English, Power Speaking and Man to Man are all open to beginners, and beginners also get the school's own textbooks with vocabulary in Chinese and Japanese.
Man to Man: 6 lessons; Power Speaking: 5 lessons; Standard Course, TOEIC and Business English: 4 lessons; Enjoy Course: 3 lessons. Group classes have up to 6 students.
Yes, there are two courses: TOEIC and TOEIC Mix. A certain level of English is required; if your level is not high enough when you arrive, the school will move you to Man to Man or Power Speaking at the same price.
Yes. STARGATE's price list includes prices from 1 week.
Every room has a free washing machine on the balcony; bring your own detergent and hangers, and you can dry clothes on the balcony. There are also paid laundry shops near the school.
Yes, in a Premium Twin. Premium Twin rooms are only for two family members or friends applying together; you cannot apply alone and be assigned a random roommate.
The estimate combines course, accommodation and meals (three meals on weekdays, brunch on weekends and public holidays). There is also a registration fee of USD 100. Local fees such as SSP, management fee, utilities and deposit (about PHP 20,600 for 4 weeks) are paid in pesos on arrival; textbooks and airport pickup are charged separately.
Tell an Ambitious Learner counsellor your planned departure date, number of weeks, English level and learning goals. We will help you confirm the course, room availability and fees, and then complete your application.