Overview

Studying abroad in England is an adventure that will take you out of the everyday classroom experience and into a global learning environment. Explore the historical and beautiful landscapes of Great Britain, make lifelong international friends, and have unforgettable experiences. With only around 1% of high school students studying abroad each year, this is your chance to embark on a unique academic travel adventure that will set you apart from most high school students in your class. 

Program at a Glance:

  • Host family accommodation provides full cultural immersion.
  • No foreign language experience required — they speak English!
  • Program fee includes accommodation and much more.
  • You can choose between trimester, semester, or academic year lengths.
  • Straightforward online application process
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Program Details
Support and Budget
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*Video courtesy of Visit Britain

Program Dates

Application Deadline: March 15th

  • Term: September – December
  • Semester: September – February
  • Academic Year: September – June

The exact dates for England depend on the school in which students are placed. Most schools (or “colleges” as they’re referred to!) begin the first week of September in the fall and the first week of January in the spring. You’ll know your exact arrival and departure guidelines when you are placed.

Please note: We offer a UK “Term” as the shortest length for exchange students instead of a trimester. The “Term” is generally around three months and a couple of weeks (over 90 days).

Arrival and Departure 

All students are required to book flights on their own. An airport transfer upon arrival is included in the cost of the program. You will be provided your exact arrival and departure dates after acceptance, as well as the exact timeframes you should arrive/depart, so that you can start to search for possible flights. Prior approval of a proposed itinerary is required before you purchase any flights.

Inclusions

Packaged into the Price:

  • Airport pickup upon arrival
  • Host family accommodation and 2 meals per day Monday-Friday, 3 meals per day on weekends
  • Tuition in a semi-private Sixth Form College
  • Comprehensive medical/accident insurance
  • 4-day Welcome Weekend in London in September for Fall students (COVID-19 restrictions dependent)
  • Arrival Orientation in England host placement region
  • Excursion to London or Dublin depending on the season (COVID-19 restrictions dependent)
  • Certificate of Completion upon successful completion of the program for use on college applications.

Payment Details

  • $1,500 Application Fee due by the program deadline to formally apply.
  • $5,000 Commitment Payment due 14 days after acceptance
  • Remaining balance is due 16 weeks prior to your start date. If your program starts within 16 weeks of acceptance, the remaining program balance payment will be due at the same time as the commitment payment. 

Academic Info

So, what about credits?

The host school abroad will provide high school credit. All credit must be granted through your home school in the U.S. or Canada. All U.S./Canadian schools have different policies. It is strongly recommended prior to departure each student confirms with the home school whether courses will be transferable or accepted. 

In England, there is no guarantee your host school will provide you an official transcript, but students are provided performance reports. It is the student’s responsibility to request and receive any additional documentation or letters from the host school verifying completion of course work. Students must have good attendance, standing, and behavior in their host school for such requests to be fulfilled.

It is then the student’s responsibility to provide their home school with such documentation as proof of completion. The student’s home school will determine whether credit shall be awarded or not.

Before You Go Abroad

You should meet with your US high school before you leave and share the general curriculum guidelines for the UK with your guidance counselor and/or teachers.

Each host school has varying curricula and students are not guaranteed specific classes.

You will be provided information about the general curriculum for your age level in England, and once you are placed in a school you will be assigned courses.

Once You’re Abroad

Please keep in mind that the grading system in other countries is different from the US. Many host schools will not put grades on documentation, and rather provide a pass/fail grade or written assessment of students’ performance. If your host school is able to evaluate using a grading scale, these grades may not be an exact match to grades provided at students’ home schools.

Support and Services: 

  • Visa Assistance in applying for the visa ahead of arrival, including visa paperwork and extensive directions and support.
  • Extensive pre-departure advice and support from your US-based program manager. They will be with you from your first inquiry, all the way through preparing to leave and your arrival in England.
  • Support from in-country staff upon arrival to England.
  • Online pre-departure cultural and logistical orientation before you leave.
  • 24-hour in-country and emergency support for the duration of the program, including 24-hour emergency phone numbers to reach a program manager at any time.

Additional Expenses to Budget For:

  • International airfare to/from England
  • Personal expenses for entertainment and personal items such as toiletries
  • Public transportation costs
  • Optional trips/excursions through the program and/or your host school

Eligibility

In researching a study abroad program, you have already shown you are a leader and open-minded in your academic pursuits. These are just a few of the traits that our exchange students possess. You’re motivated to immerse yourself in another culture and flexible enough to live outside your comfort zone. You should also:

  • Be between 16 and 19 years of age (at the time of travel)
  • Be from the United States or Canada
  • Possess a high school cumulative GPA of at least 2.75/4.0
  • Be in great mental* and physical health
  • Have a genuine interest in becoming a part of your host family and community
  • Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before departure

*What does it mean to be in good mental health?

Moving to a new culture and staying in unfamiliar surroundings without your normal support structure can be very stressful, even to a well-adjusted student. Sending a student with pre-existing conditions on a long-term exchange program could exacerbate whatever challenges the student was previously facing. In order to ensure the safety of our participants, we must be rigorous in our pre-screening of all high school abroad applicants.

Therefore, students who have struggled with any kind of mental illness, specifically within the last 2 years and/or are reliant on medication to address their existing mental health condition, may not be accepted. Each student will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and ultimately it is the in-country partner who holds the right to accept or decline a student based on their individual policy.

These include, but are not limited to:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Chronic debilitating migraines
  • Bipolar Disorder

All students who currently experience one or more of these conditions will be required to submit an addendum to the terms and conditions as well as a letter of support from their current mental health specialist. If the student’s mental health issue has been managed (post-medication) for over 2 years, we will still require a note from his/her relevant practitioner (psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, etc) as part of the application process.  We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

Please note that students who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD will not be guaranteed any academic accommodations plans by the host school abroad.