English courses in Bournemouth
Bournemouth is without doubt one of the largest and most attractive student towns on the south coast of England. Charming and eclectic, it is a real centre for tourism, study and business. It is linked to the rest of England and Europe by an excellent public transport network. London is only 1? hours away by train.
Westbourne Academy is part of New City College, a government-funded college with a traditional English atmosphere. The school is located in the leafy residential area of Westbourne, between Poole and Bournemouth, 10 minutes by bus from the centre of both towns. The area is very pleasant and has many small shops, cafés and restaurants.
Accreditations: British Council, Cambridge exams and member of English in Britain.
The school offers you:
- 15 spacious classrooms (including two with interactive whiteboards)
- A relaxation room for students
- A patio with table tennis tables
- A computer room
- Wi-Fi in the school and garden
- A language laboratory: you can practise your listening and speaking skills outside the classroom, and watch DVDs or television as part of your learning process
- A bookshop
- A cafeteria (food prepared on site)
- Laundry with token machine (approx. £4)
English courses: general information
- Length of lesson: 40 minutes
- Maximum number of students per class: 12 on average (16 in high season)
- Timetable: lessons are generally given in the morning but can also be organised in the afternoon in high season
- Placement test: on the first day of the course
- Certificate of attendance at the end of the course
- Regular assessment of your progress (stays of 4 weeks or more)
- Teachers are qualified to teach their language to foreigners
Standard courses
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20 lessons of general English per week
Minimum duration: 2 weeks
With this programme, you will have lessons from 9.30am to 12.30pm or from 1.30pm to 4.30pm depending on your level. You will develop the 4 basic skills of written and oral expression, comprehension, listening and reading.
Levels offered: beginner (A1) to advanced (C2)
Specific dates for complete beginners
Intensive course
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28 lessons of general English per week
Minimum duration: 2 weeks
In addition to the standard programme, you will follow 2 lessons per day from Monday to Thursday from 12.25 to 13.10, focusing on oral expression.
Levels offered: beginner (A2) to advanced (C2)
Specific dates for complete beginners
Super Intensive Course
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40 lessons of general English per week
Duration: 1 to 4 weeks
This programme is designed for participants who really want or need to work on their English intensively and want to make rapid progress (writing, oral and written comprehension, conversation, etc.). Classes are held in the mornings and afternoons, from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Levels offered: beginner (A2) to intermediate (B2)
The school organises sports and cultural activities in the afternoons and evenings, in which you are free to participate or not. These activities may be free or at cost, and their frequency varies according to the time of year. The schedule of activities is available at the beginning of each week from the ticket office in the cafeteria. All you have to do is book and pay for the activities at reception.
Example of possible activities:
- Guided tour of the city
- Welcome activity
- Museum visits
- Restaurant / bar / pub / disco parties (between 3 and 10GBP)
- Karaoke
- Boat cruises
- Cinema
- Day trips to London, Bath and Stonehenge, Oxford, Salisbury and Winchester, or to the Dorset coast (approx. £30)
- Various sports: football, table tennis, beach volleyball, badminton
Tennis courts, rugby pitches, hockey pitches, a bowling alley, the local swimming pool, a golf course and a squash court are all available nearby. Windsurfing and sailing are also available.
Homestay (from age 16)
Single room, shared bathroom, half board during the week, full board at weekends
Travel time to school: families are generally located in a residential area within 20 to 45 minutes’ walk or bus ride of the school.
Summer stay: accommodation is usually in a room shared with a student of another nationality. Single rooms are rarer and can be booked at an extra cost and subject to availability (for students aged 18 and over).
Practical information:
- Bed linen provided (but not towels)
- Laundry service available (once a week). Machines are available at the school at cost price
- Room cleaned once a week.
- The accommodation is inspected regularly by the school and is used to receiving foreign students (never more than 4 students per family)
Arrival day: Sunday
Day of departure: Saturday
Arrival station or airport (with approximate travel time): Bournemouth International Airport has daily and weekly flights to many English and European destinations. Poole also offers daily ferries to France.
- Bournemouth Airport – Bournemouth: 15 minutes (by taxi)
- Southampton Airport – Bournemouth: 30 minutes (by taxi) to 38 minutes (by train)
- London Heathrow – Bournemouth : 1h30 (by taxi) to 2h24 (by express bus)
- London Gatwick – Bournemouth : 2h (by taxi) to 3h30 minutes (by express bus)
- London Stansted – Bournemouth: 2 hours 30 minutes (by taxi) to 4 hours (by express bus)
Transfer available on request (for a fee, see “Dates & prices” tab) for arrival/departure between 9am and 11pm.
Note: do not book your travel ticket until we have confirmed your stay.
Day of arrival: Sunday
Departure day: Saturday
Curfew (students aged 16 and 17): 22:30 from Sunday to Thursday & 23:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Minors (of any nationality)
- European nationals – Stay of less than 6 months
- European nationals – Stay superior to 6 months
- Other nationalities
Autorisation de sortie de territoire pour les mineurs
The authorization to leave the country is mandatory for unaccompanied minors by a person holding parental authority. It must be presented by minors at the borders along with their identification documents (passport or identity card) and a photocopy of one of their parent’s identity card.
Belgian underage travelers
When a minor child travels abroad alone or with someone other than their parents, it is necessary to obtain a “parental authorization” confirming the parents’ consent for the specific trip.
This document can be obtained from your municipality.
French underage travelers
The authorization for a minor to leave the country (AST) unaccompanied by a person holding parental authority has been reinstated since January 15, 2017. AST forms are available on the Service Public website.
More information: Service public.
The unaccompanied minor must therefore present the following three documents:
- Minor’s identification document: ID card or passport
- AST signed by one of the parents holding parental authority
- Photocopy of the identity document of the signing parent
Starting from late 2024
(date not confirmed by the United Kingdom at this time)
An AVE is an Electronic Travel Authorization that allows travel to the United Kingdom and applies to travelers who do not require a visa for short stays.
An AVE costs £10 per applicant and is valid for two years, as long as the associated passport is still valid. A new passport will require a new AVE application.
AVEs can be used for multiple visits to the UK by using ePassport gates or by a Border Force officer, although they do not guarantee entry into the country.
Applicants can easily complete an AVE application on the UK ETA app or online on the government’s official website. Confirmation of the AVE is received within 3 business days.
Travelers whose application has been approved will receive confirmation via email, and the AVE will be electronically linked to the passport used for the application, which will also be required for travel.
Conditions d’entrée pour un séjour inférieur à 6 mois
Jusqu’à fin 2024
(date non confirmée par le Royaume-Uni à ce jour)
Les citoyens de l’Union européenne peuvent voyager sans visa au Royaume-Uni si leur séjour n’excède pas 6 mois. Ils doivent se munir de leur passeport valide pour la durée du séjour.
À partir de fin 2024
(date non confirmée par le Royaume-Uni à ce jour)
Une AVE est une autorisation de voyage électronique qui permet de voyager au Royaume-Uni et qui s’applique aux voyageurs qui n’ont pas besoin de visa pour les séjours de courte durée et qui n’ont pas d’autre statut d’immigrant au Royaume-Uni avant leur voyage.
Liées électroniquement aux passeports des demandeurs, les AVE sont obligatoires pour :
- se rendre au Royaume-Uni pour une durée maximale de 6 mois à des fins touristiques, pour rendre visite à ses proches, pour raison professionnelle ou pour les études ;
- se rendre au Royaume-Uni pour une durée maximale de 3 mois dans le cadre du visa créatif ;
- transiter par le Royaume-Uni, y compris sans passer par les contrôles frontaliers britanniques.
En résumé…
- Une AVE coûte 10 livres sterling par demandeur
- Les AVE reste valable pendant deux ans, tant que le passeport associé est encore valide
- Les AVE peuvent être utilisées pour effectuer plusieurs visites au Royaume-Uni
- Les AVE ne garantissent pas l’entrée sur le territoire
- Les demandeurs peuvent facilement remplir une demande d’AVE sur l’application UK ETA ou en ligne sur le site officiel du gouvernement
- La confirmation de l’AVE est reçue sous 3 jours ouvrables par courrier électronique
- Le passeport reste requis pour voyager
Conditions d’entrée pour un séjour supérieur à 6 mois
Tous les séjours de plus de 6 mois nécessitent l’obtention d’un visa. Les conditions d’obtention varient selon que vous effectuez un programme scolaire en école secondaire (“College”) ou un séjour linguistique en école de langue.
Conditions d’obtention du visa (tous programmes) :
- Fournir une Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), transmise par notre école partenaire
- Être en mesure de prouver que vous aurez suffisamment de fonds pour couvrir vos dépenses pendant votre séjour au Royaume-Uni
ET
Pour les étudiants effectuant un programme scolaire en college :
- Avoir le niveau d’anglais B1 minimum requis. Un test officiel sera nécessaire pour en attester
- Si vous êtes mineur : avoir le consentement de votre parent ou tuteur légal pour étudier au Royaume-Uni. Une autorisation de sortie de territoire officielle vous sera demandée.
- Coût approximatif du visa Etudes (sujet à modification) : 348£
Pour les étudiants âgés de plus de 16 ans effectuant un séjour linguistique en école de langue :
- Si vous êtes mineur : avoir le consentement de votre parent ou tuteur légal pour étudier au Royaume-Uni. Une autorisation de sortie de territoire officielle vous sera demandée.
- Coût approximatif du visa Séjour linguistique en école de langue (sujet à modification) : 186 £
Plus d’information : veuillez consulter les liens suivants
Veuillez consulter le site officiel du gouvernement britannique et sélectionner votre nationalité.
Dates 2025
Start dates: the majority of courses start on Mondays throughout the year, unless otherwise stated below. If Monday is a public holiday, the session starts on Tuesday.
Beginners must start on the following dates only: 6/01, 3/03, 28/04, 23/06, 1/09, 27/10
Public holidays (no lessons will be given on these dates or made up later; no compensation will be given): 1/01, 18/04, 21/04, 5/05, 26/05, 25/08
Christmas holidays: from 19/12/25 to 4/01/26
Start dates for exam preparation sessions: please contact us
Prices 2025
Including course, accommodation, meals as described, all taxes and registration fees
| Courses & family accommodation - Single room (shared in summer), half board | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 20 lessons | 28 lessons | 40 lessons |
| 1 week | € 675 | € 725 | € 825 |
| 2 weeks | € 1.185 | € 1.290 | € 1.445 |
| 3 weeks | € 1.695 | € 1.855 | € 2.065 |
| 4 weeks | € 2.205 | € 2.415 | € 2.685 |
| 6 weeks | € 3.075 | € 3.395 | - |
| 8 weeks | € 3.955 | € 4.355 | - |
| 12 weeks | € 5.705 | € 6.265 | - |
| 16 weeks | € 7.550 | € 8.300 | - |
| 18 weeks | € 8.475 | € 9.315 | - |
| 20 weeks | € 9.395 | € 10.330 | - |
| 24 weeks | € 10.895 | € 11.785 | - |
| 32 weeks | € 14.470 | € 15.660 | - |
| 36 weeks | € 16.260 | € 17.595 | - |
| Extra week | € 520 | € 560 | - |
| Family supplements (per week) | |||
| Summer (21/06-30/08) - shared room | € 20 | ||
| Summer (21/06-30/08) - single room | € 55 | ||
| Christmas (20/12-1/01) - single room | € 55 | ||
| Special diet (lactose-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan) | € 35 | ||
| Airport transfer to accommodation (per trip)* | |||
| Bournemouth | € 100 | ||
| Southampton | € 160 | ||
| Heathrow | € 250 | ||
| Luton | € 345 | ||
| Gatwick | € 290 | ||
| *Supplement of £35/hour for any waiting at the airport | |||
Our prices include:
- The course formula chosen
- Teaching material
- Accommodation with a family in a single room
- Half board during the week (full board at weekends) with a host family
- All taxes and school administration costs
Not included:
- Travel to and from Bournemouth
- Transfers on arrival and departure
- Lunch from Monday to Friday
- Local transport
- Examination fees where applicable (Cambridge)
- Optional insurance
Similar programmes
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English in Bournemouth – Westbourne Academy
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