School Immersion at Itchen College – 16-18 years old – 1 term, 1 academic semester or a school year

This programme is aimed at students aged 16 – 18 years old who wish to study in an excellent English college with British students in the South of England.

Southampton

Southampton is a thriving maritime and university city with 250,000 inhabitants, the largest in Hampshire. Surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty (such as the New Forest National Park) it is one of the greenest cities in England, just an hour drive from London.

The city offers rich history, cultural spaces, museums and theatres as well as great sporting events. There is plenty to do such as sailing and water sports, leisure centres, live music and world-class restaurants.

Educational projects play an extremely important role in the political life of this southern coastal city. The University of Southampton is part of the Russell Group, and its level of academic and scientific research is among the highest in the world. This university city welcomes around 40,000 students each year.

Southampton boasts excellent transport infrastructure, including an international airport, which connects it easily to other regions of England and the rest of Europe.

Itchen Sixth Form College is ideally located in a quiet residential area and enrolls around 1,400 students each year. It has been welcoming international students for nearly 30 years. With this experience, it offers personalized support to foreign students and has created a warm, family-like atmosphere where every student feels part of the college community.

Itchen College offers state-of-the-art facilities :

  • Modern, spacious classrooms
  • Learning Resource Centre
  • IT suites
  • Study hall and student lounge areas
  • Library
  • Science laboratories
  • Creative facilities
  • Sports facilities: Fitness Suite, Sports Hall, Aerobic and Dance Studio, climbing wall, full-size football pitches and netball courts
  • Canteen
  • Shops
  • Vending machines

Extracurricular activities during your stay

Social life is an important aspect of student life. Aside from academic courses, you will have the chance to enjoy several activities or events organized by the college. You will get involved with wider College life, learn a lot of new things and spend quality time with some british students.

Here are a few examples of activities :

National Citizen Service (NCS), Charity fundraising events, Choregraphy for the annual Rock Challenge, College band, College radio station, the Duke of Edingburgh’s Award…

Additionally, the International Service e organizes a program of activities and excursions included in the cost of the stay. These activities are mandatory and provide students with opportunities to meet and interact with each other.

Examples of activities organized by the International Service

Welcome activity, college and city tour, Welcome Party with live music and games. Activities with NCS (National Citizen Service), sports competitions, excursion to Thorpe Park, New Forest National Park, and more.

From the age of 16, after completing the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education), British students can choose to either pursue A-Levels during their final two years of secondary school if they wish to continue to university, or opt for a vocational path, known as Vocational Courses, which leads to a BTEC diploma and prepares them for entering the workforce. Qualifications are obtained over 2 years (A-Levels) or 2-3 years (Vocational Courses). Regardless of the chosen path, personal study and research are very important, with students required to dedicate at least 4-5 hours per week per subject.

This approach, combining formal classes with personal research, provides excellent preparation for university studies.

This program is aimed at young people aged 16 to 18 who wish to immerse themselves in the daily life of a British college and study their chosen A Level academic or vocational subjects for a specified period. Students do not take any exams at the end of their stay but receive a certificate of participation.

You will attend up to 25 hours of classes per week, supplemented by several hours of personal study to be completed at home or in the library/multimedia center. Classes typically finish around 4:00 PM.

You will study 4 or 5 subjects : 3 or 4 elective subjects (A-Level* or Vocational**) + English as a Foreign Language

Number of class hours : 20 to 25 hours per week

Minimum English proficiency required : B1 or IELTS 5.0

Subjects

Many subjects are offered. Here is the full list.

*A-levels are a 2-year programme for those wishing to go on to further study at the university level.

**It is also possible to choose a more practical and vocational training, known as “Vocational Programs” which allows students to acquire the necessary skills in their chosen field and either enter the job market directly or continue to university. These qualifications are studied over 2 or 3 years. At the end of the first year, students take exams and receive a CTEC or BTEC Year 1 qualification.

This programme, designed for young people aged 16 to 18, is an excellent springboard to higher education, particularly for students considering attending a British university after their stay.

Students are fully integrated into local school life and attend classes with British students. They develop essential skills such as critical thinking, analysis, research, public speaking and independence.

You will attend between 20 and 25 hours of classes per week, in addition to personal study time. Classes are held from Monday to Friday, usually until 4pm. A weekly compulsory tutorial session ensures personalised support.

You will study 4 or 5 subjects, either 3 or 4 subjects of your choice (A-level* or Vocational**) + English as a Foreign Language.

Number of hours of lessons: 20 to 25 hours per week.

Minimum English level required: B1 or IELTS 5.0.

Subjects

Subjects are selected based on your level, interests, or career goals. Many subjects are available. Find the complete list here.

Please note: The full A Level qualification is obtained after two years of study (AS Level + A2 Level). One-year stays do not therefore lead to the final qualification, but they do offer valuable immersion in the British school system, as well as an end-of-programme report attesting to your level and commitment.

Host families are a key component of the program. The college’s International Office has developed its own network of carefully selected and regularly monitored host families. Most of these families have children attending the college and live in the neighborhood.

Travel time to school : Approximately 30 minutes on foot. Placement is arranged by the school based on availability at the time of booking. Students often travel together.

Practical information:

  • Single room, shared bathroom, half-board during the week, full-board on weekends and during school holidays
  • Bedding provided
  • Laundry facilities available (the host family usually allows access to their washing machine once a week or designates a laundry day)
  • Internet access
  • Be between 16-18 years old
  • Have a good level of English (IELTS 5.0 or 5.5 depending on the programme)
  • Have achieved good academic results in the last 2 years
  • A willingness to make new friends and share the daily life of a host family
  • Demonstrate motivation, maturity and adaptability

Do you meet the requirements for participation?

  • Fill in the pre-registration form as soon as possible.
  • Upon receipt, we will send you a provisional confirmation with the total amount of the stay, a request for payment of 100€ (for the language test and the motivation interview), as well as the complete application form for the chosen program. We will also ask you to send us a copy of your report cards for the last 3 school years.
  • We then invite you to come and take the language test and interview at our offices in Brussels or Paris. This costs 100€ and is payable on receipt of the pre-confirmation. This amount is non-refundable, but deductible from the balance of the stay in case of definitive registration and acceptance to the program. A 1st part of the file received must be completed and brought with you at the time of the interview.
  • We will confirm you the result at the latest 8 days after our interview.
  • If the interview is positive, we ask you to pay a deposit of 25% of the total amount of the stay (with a minimum of 1,800€) and to complete all the elements of the file which includes, in particular, letters of recommendation from your teachers and other information necessary for the study of your file on site. As soon as it is complete and we have received the payment of the deposit, we will send it to our partner.
  • Final acceptance to the program is granted by the college after a review of your application and a telephone interview. You will be accepted in the courses of your choice depending on availability, your level of English, your previous academic background (the College requires good grades in the desired subjects) and the date of enrolment.
  • Your place is guaranteed as soon as you receive the letter of acceptance from the College.

The deadlines for submitting applications are :

  • July 5th for the September intake (subject to availability)

Beyond these dates, registration will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A late registration fee of €100 will apply.

You will be accepted into your chosen courses based on availability, your English proficiency, your previous academic performance (the College requires good grades in the desired subjects), and the date of registration.

Your place is guaranteed once you receive the College’s acceptance letter. For exceptional reasons (e.g., unforeseen changes in the College’s conditions), we reserve the right to transfer you to another school (in the same region and for the same program) or to request that you modify your course selection.

Day of arrival:

  • 29/08/2024

Free Meet and Greet Airport Collection service is provided for students arriving on flights before 10 am local time at Heathrow Airport.

Days of departures :

  • 20/12/2024 (Autumn term)
  • 24/01/2025 (1st academic semester)
  • 14/02/2025 (6 months)

Please note: Do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course.

For European citizens:

Entry conditions to the UK since 01/01/2021

Have a valid passport for the duration of your stay

  • For stays shorter than 6 months
    European Union citizens can travel to the UK without a visa if their stay does not exceed 6 months. They only need to have their passport.

Starting in 2024 (exact date not yet known), travelers will need to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization).

  • For stays longer than 6 months
    European Union citizens will need to obtain a Student Visa.

A medical/accident/repatriation and civil liability insurance is compulsory for this type of stay. You will be asked for a certificate when you compile your file.

Easy Languages offers you a complete insurance adapted to the stays of young people abroad, see our Insurance and guarantees page.

Dates 2025-2026

The school year is divided into three terms, each including a half-term break. The organization of the courses for the 2025-2026 school year is as follows:

  • Autumn term : 29/08 – 19/12
  • Spring term : 5/01 – 27/03
  • Summer term : 13/04 – 26/06

EU Study Abroad Programme dates

  • Term (Autumn term) : 29/08 – 19/12
  • Academic semester (5 months) : 28/08 – 30/01
  • Calendar semester  (6 months) : 28/08 – 13/02

School holidays

  • October : 27/10 – 31/10
  • Christmas : 20/12 – 4/01
  • February : 16/02 – 20/02
  • Spring : 28/03 – 12/04
  • May : 25/05 – 29/05

Prices 2025-2026

WPCS 42.0.3

Programme EU Study Abroad
Tuition + homestay accommodation (half board during the week, full board during the weekend)
TermPrices
Term 1 - Autumn term (17 weeks)€ 11.245
Semester 1 (23 weeks)€ 13.335
6 months (25 weeks)€ 14.835
Supplement
Special diet (gluten free, lactose free, dairy free, coeliac, Halal, vegan) per week€ 30

Prices include 

  • The English test and pre-registration interview
  • Tuition
  • Homestay accommodation, single room, half-board during the week, full board on weekends and during school holidays
  • Access to the College’s facilities and services
  • Mentorship within the College
  • Assistance and support from the international service
  • Support from Easy Language before, during, and after the stay
  • Activities organized by the international service
  • Work Experience Placement for participants in the one-year A-Level program
  • Transfer upon arrival (for arrival on 29/08 before 10:00 AM at Heathrow Airport)

Prices do not include

  • Round-trip travel to the destination
  • Transfer upon arrival outside of the scheduled dates or times or from airports other than London Heathrow
  • School supplies, sports or artistic equipment
  • Certain extracurricular activities or optional courses
  • Optional insurance

Dates 2026-2027

The school year is divided into three terms, each including a half-term break. The organization of the courses for the 2025-2026 school year is as follows:

  • Autumn term : 27/08 – 18/12
  • Spring term : 4/01 – 26/03
  • Summer term : 12/04 – 25/06

EU Study Abroad Programme dates

  • Term 1 (Autumn term) : 27/08 – 19/12
  • Semester 1 : 27/08 – 30/01
  • Term 2 (Spring term) : 10/01 – 3/04
  • Semester 2 : 10/01 – 22/05
  • Academic year : 27/08 – 26/06

School holidays

  • October : 26/10 – 30/10
  • Christmas : 19/12 – 3/01
  • February : 15/02 – 19/02
  • Spring : 27/03 – 11/04
  • May : 31/05 – 4/06

Prices 2026-2027

WPCS 42.0.3

High School ProgrammePrices
Term 1 - Autumn term€ 13.745
School semester 1€ 13.835
Term 2 - Spring term€ 7.665
School semester 2€ 10.025
A Level Programme
Academic year€ 24.495
Extras
Supplement for special diet (gluten-free, lactose-free, vegan, etc.) per week€ 30

Prices include 

  • The English test and pre-registration interview
  • Tuition
  • Homestay accommodation, single room, half-board during the week, full board on weekends and during school holidays
  • Access to the College’s facilities and services
  • Mentorship within the College
  • Assistance and support from the international service
  • Support from Easy Language before, during, and after the stay
  • Activities organized by the international service
  • Work Experience Placement for participants in the one-year A-Level program
  • Transfer upon arrival (for arrival on 29/08 before 10:00 AM at Heathrow Airport)

Prices do not include

  • Round-trip travel to the destination
  • Transfer upon arrival outside of the scheduled dates or times or from airports other than London Heathrow
  • School supplies, sports or artistic equipment
  • Certain extracurricular activities or optional courses
  • Optional insurance