Frequently Asked Questions

The price includes:

• Accommodation (residential)
• Meals*
• Tuition
• Academic materials
• General sports, social activities and events
• All standard excursions including admission costs
• Wi-Fi & weekly laundry services
• Graduation certificate & an academic progress report
• Travel insurance

*We will endeavour to meet all dietary requirements, e.g. vegetarian, vegan, Halal etc.

There is no formal deadline for applications, however, we give places on a first-come, first-served basis. We also employ a 15% limit on the number of students who speak the same language. This means that there is only a limited number of places for each course per native language. Particularly with our smaller Campuses, e.g. SBC at Eton College, this means that places can fill quickly. We, therefore, advise booking as soon as possible in order to guarantee your place.

1. Application is submitted on the booking form.
2. Your dedicated Admissions Manager will then contact you via your preferred method of contact to confirm any outstanding details. This will be the perfect opportunity to ask any questions before a deposit is paid. Once your details are confirmed, you will be sent a booking confirmation email, which serves as formal confirmation of the student’s place.
3. Once you have received the booking confirmation email, you will then need to pay a deposit of £700.00 per student (for residential courses) OR full payment for Day Camps within 48 hours via your unique Flywire link or a bank transfer to secure your place. We are happy to accept payments via other, non-card payment methods (including domestic and international bank transfer), thanks to our partnership with education payment specialists, Flywire.
4. The remaining balance for residential courses is due on/before 1st May 2024.
5. Congratulations, your child is on their way to study in the UK!

At SBC Canford and Headington Oxford Summer School, students from beginner level (A1+) through to fluent speakers enjoy learning in our supportive and immersive English environment.

At Eton, Oxford College, Cambridge College, Earlscliffe, the minimum level of English language required is intermediate (B1+) or above.

Before the summer, we send an online test for students to complete. We will use the results to confirm their suitability for the course. In the case that a student does not meet the required level on the test, we will conduct an academic consultation to assess the next best step.

If you would like to arrange a free English test for your child, then our Admissions Team can help. Contact us her.

International Student Travel Insurance

This international student travel insurance policy is designed to cater for the insurance needs of persons studying in the UK on a trip arranged by Summer Boarding Courses. The product provides cover including emergency medical assistance and medical costs, protection in the event of cancellation or curtailment, cover for loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal money.

What is Insured?

• Cancelling or cutting short a trip
  We will pay you up to £3,000 for unused and irrecoverable costs if you have to cancel or cut short your trip as a result of an insured event
• Medical emergency and other expenses
  Should you be injured or become unwell whilst on a trip, we will pay up to £2 million for your hospital, ambulance and medical repatriation costs, including up to £500 for emergency dental treatment
• Baggage
  We will cover you if your personal belongings are lost, damaged or stolen up to £1,000 per person. The following limits also apply:• Up to £500 for any one article• Up to £700 for the total of all valuables
• Personal money and passport
  We will cover you if your personal money is lost, damaged or stolen. The following limits apply:• Up to £100 for cash• Up to £100 for all other personal money and documentsWe will also pay up to £500 for additional accommodation and transport costs to obtain a replacement passport if yours is lost, stolen or damaged
• Missed Departure
  We will pay your additional transport costs up to £250 if you miss your public transport from or to your home country as a result of an insured event
• Course Fees
  We will pay you up to £8,000 for irrecoverable pre- paid College, University or Language School fees if you are unable to continue your studies due to an insured event

What is not insured?

• The first £50 of each claim made by each person under each cover section where an excess is payable
• Baggage or valuables left unattended – subject to terms set out in your policy booklet
• Any event which you were aware of at the time of taking this insurance or booking your trip (whichever is later) that could give rise to a claim
• Any trip which has already begun when you take out this insurance
• Any pre-existing medical condition relating to any reason set out under ‘Important conditions relating to health’ in your policy booklet
• Any optional additional cover unless the appropriate additional premium has been paid
• Participation in any professional sports or entertainment
• There is no cover for manual work unless listed within the policy document as acceptable
• Your travel to any country or specified area or event when the FCDO or the World Health Organisation has advised against travel
• Your own unlawful action or any criminal proceedings against you
• Your inability to travel due to your failure to hold, obtain or produce a valid passport or any required visa in time for the booked trip
• Any claims arising from the use of drugs (other than prescribed treatments), drinking too much alcohol or alcohol abuse
• Any amount recoverable from any other source such as your airline, accommodation provider, ATOL bond or debit/credit card provider
• Any claim due to a cause which is not insured under your selected level of cover

Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting its website at https://register.fca.org.uk/.Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited. Company No. 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.

• A non-refundable deposit payment of £700.00 per student is due within 48 hours of submitting a booking form. This secures the place. All cancellations must be made in writing and take effect from the date we receive such notice. Where a cancellation is made more than 30 days prior to the Arrival Date, there will be a refund of all Course Fees paid, minus the Deposit.

• Due to the requirement to arrange staffing, transport, airport transfers, accommodation and other aspects of the Course in advance of the Arrival Date, where a cancellation is made less than 30 days prior to the Arrival Date, there will be no refund, except in the case of valid visa refusal or at our sole discretion. Where a booking is amended less than 30 days prior to or after the Arrival Date, there will be no refund for any missed elements of the Course (including the Course itself, English Plus, Academic Options, Transfers, etc.), and there may be a further charge for the additional items. Read our full Terms and Conditions.

Our courses can be broadly divided into three distinct categories: 1) General English* and 2) English Through Academic Subjects (i.e. non-General English), 3.) Subject-specific tuition at Oxford and Cambridge Colleges.

We offer General English courses for all levels of students between 8 and 17 years of age who wish to improve their English for use in everyday situations, as well as for academic purposes. Our tutors use a wide range of modern communicative methodologies that focus on developing confidence and ability in English, giving students the tools that they need to both communicate and study effectively. All skills are taught in our General English courses: speaking, reading, writing and listening. Through our innovative course designs, students always practice and recycle what they have learned during their lessons.

The English Through Academic Subjects programme is specifically designed for intermediate level or above students. These courses are written and delivered to primarily teach the English language through the study of a subject itself. In these courses, teaching English and teaching the subject is integrated together, so that you will learn both at the same time. This language learning methodology is called Content & Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). All of our CLIL subject courses have the following four objectives:

• Communication: Studying through a communicative and collaborative approach to learning, with the aim of improving English language proficiency.
• Content: Improving the knowledge of the subject (e.g. Medicine, International Relations, etc.)
• Cognition: All courses at SBC focus on developing 21st Century Skills, such as critical thinking skills, collaborative skills and presentation skills.
• Culture: All courses include the cross-cultural benefits of studying in a multi-national environment.

Subject-specific tuition is available at Oxford and Cambridge Colleges. In subject-specific courses, the focus is on learning the subject itself, rather than learning English through studying the subject. Students are required to have an intermediate level of English or higher, and the courses accommodate both native and non-native speakers of English. The courses are intended to improve our students’ knowledge of specific subjects, with particular emphasis on preparing students for university-level study. Students will follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest minds, as they explore their chosen subject through a series of engaging lectures, tutorials, 2:1 tutorials and industry workshops, delivered by leading academics and professionals.

All students receive 15-22 hours of tuition per week in their chosen subject, culminating in a Time to Shine presentation. This gives students the opportunity to use their English and demonstrate their learning whilst developing their presentation skills. Every student will also take part in a series of dynamic tasks and projects to enhance their learning.

*includes Think Global! and Routemap English

We are an organisation that contracts with Wadham College (part of the University of Oxford year-round) for the use of the facilities, but we have no formal connection with the University of Oxford. That being said, students at our Oxford College course live and study in the inspiring setting of Oxford University, the world’s #1 ranked university. This is a perfect course to prepare students for future studies.

At SBC, we appreciate that you want the best educational experience for your child, and as such several parents ask us about the qualifications of our teachers. We believe in selecting teachers who are not just knowledgeable in their subject areas, but who also have the right blend of experience, passion, and teaching aptitude, especially in an international context.

Our General English teachers are qualified English as a Foreign language teachers who have undergone rigorous training to ensure the best delivery of English lessons. While the majority of our subject-specific tutors are traditionally qualified teachers or university lecturers, others may be experienced tutors or postgraduate students with specialised expertise. Recent graduates and postgraduates bring a fresh perspective by sharing the latest research in their fields, as well as their recent university experiences, including insights into the application process, offering our students valuable up-to-date knowledge that is relevant to both academic and professional environments.

In our British Council inspection, we were awarded 15/15 strengths, including for ‘teaching’ and ‘course design’. The inspectors noted that: ‘Carefully chosen teams of appropriately qualified staff, led and supported by fully competent academic managers from HO and in the schools, deliver well-structured courses designed to provide maximum possible benefit to students.’ Read more about our British Council accreditation.

It is important to us that each teacher is chosen because they are the most appropriate for their specific role, ensuring that they can provide a high-quality, engaging, and enriching learning experience for our students.  Many of our teaching staff return year after year, a testament to their satisfaction with working at SBC.

Please click below to view our sample timetables.

SBC Canford example

Headington Oxford example

Eton College example

Oxford College example

Cambridge College example

Day Camps example

These are provided for example purposes only and are subject to change.

Further information on the specifics of each course will be provided after the point of booking.

Please go through to the Framework of Levels for Placement Test page to find out more information.

You should only book your flights to/from the UK once the deposit payment has been received by SBC International (you will receive confirmation from your Admissions Manager). Thereafter, you may book your flights to/from the UK on published Start and End Dates. Our Admissions Team is happy to assist and review your flight times.

We understand that it is a big commitment to book an overseas course in such times. As such, we would like to provide a sense of security to you when booking. We are pleased to offer the following flexible terms to anyone who books with SBC.

If a student contracts COVID-19 before or during their stay with us, then they would be covered under insurance. Students prevented from travelling to the course on the course start date due to international travel restrictions (i.e. country is on UK government’s Amber or Red travel list) will be entitled to receive a full refund, postponement to a later 2023 date, or rollover to 2024 course, for all fees paid (no charges). In the event of us cancelling our courses, we would offer the option of a full refund or credit for 2024.

Please see here for guidance on travelling to the UK.

Read our full Terms and Conditions here.

If the Standard Visitor visa application is refused then provided you inform us of this and we receive a valid visa refusal letter no later than ten days prior to the Course Start Date, a full refund of any Fees paid will be issued, less a £200 administration fee.

The quickest and easiest way to find out whether you need a Visa is to check via this link here.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can travel to the UK for holidays or short trips without needing a visa. This applies now, after Brexit.

For those that do require a Visa, the application that you will need to apply for is the Standard Visitor Visa.

Upon receipt of your deposit payment (due within 48 hours of receiving the Booking Confirmation Email), we will ask you to send your child’s passport details to your Admissions Manager. They will be able to issue a Visa Support Letter for the purposes of applying for the Visa.

It is important to note that, depending on the country, applications can take around 20 working days (or 3-4 weeks) to process. You are advised to begin the application process as early as possible. Once the Visa is obtained, we will need to receive a scanned copy of the student’s passport and the Visa by e-mail. SBC International reserve the right to cancel a booking, if a copy of the Visa has not been received 4 weeks before the course arrival date.

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact your local embassy which should be able to offer you the correct support and guidance.

Please look at our Dates & Prices here and check the relevant location. The Start Date shows the date on which the student will need to arrive at the School/land in the UK. The End Date shows the date on which the student will need to leave the School/depart from the UK.

If you are accompanying your child to the School, please arrive on the Start Date between 11:00 and 15:00. The exact address will be confirmed in your Welcome Pack or by your Admissions Manager. If you are collecting your child at the end of their stay, please collect on End Date between 09:00 and 11:00.

For those using our Shared Transfer Service, please see details below under ‘’What are your Transfer Fees & Process?’.

We have a range of residential accommodation facilities across all Campuses. Please see below for the options available:

• SBC Canford – Mostly single & twin rooms, some 4-bed dorms.
• Headington – Mostly twin rooms. Some male single rooms and female dorms
• Eton – Single rooms
• Oxford College – Single, twin and triple rooms
• Cambridge College – Single en-suite rooms
• Earlscliffe – Mostly twin and triple en-suite rooms. A few single en-suite

We always room students with someone of a similar age, but different native language. However, we will do our best to meet any specific accommodation requests (e.g. sharing a room with a friend). Contact your Admissions Manager upon booking to arrange this.

Our friendly and supportive staff team are available 24 hours per day to support students. We pride ourselves on offering the best possible care to students, and achieved British Council area of strength in ‘care of students’ and ‘safeguarding under 18s’.

Where possible, we will accommodate male and female students in different boarding houses. On some Campuses, male and female students are housed in the same buildings. However, their rooms are always on separate corridors and/or staircases and are supervised 24/7 by SBC staff.

We have an extremely high ratio of staff to students throughout the summer. At each Campus, we have a Welfare Co-Ordinator, who oversees the welfare and safety of the students and would deal with any pastoral issues. We also have several House Parents/College Mentors, who are responsible for the day-to-day care of the students and are the first point of contact if any student felt as though they were upset in any way. Alongside these members of staff, all employees are trained before the summer in Child Safeguarding and many of the staff are trained in giving First Aid. There will also be a dedicated Admissions Manager for each Campus, who will be the main point of contact for families with any issues or concerns.

Our friendly and supportive staff team are available 24 hours per day to support students. We pride ourselves on offering the best possible care to students, and achieved British Council area of strength in ‘care of students’ and ‘safeguarding under 18s’.

The safety and care of our students is our top priority. We will implement whatever guidance is prescribed by the UK Government at the time of the course. This may include but is not limited to: social distancing, PPE inc. face masks, testing, hand sanitising, ventilation and a limit of the no. of students in one group/class.

Covid Policy

We are pleased to offer you flexibility when booking with us – in the event of any complications due to COVID-19, e.g. travel restrictions or required self-isolation, we will refund all fees paid. Read more here.