English courses in Bournemouth

Bournemouth is the place we recommend for those who want to study English in a pleasant beach setting. Our partner English school has been teaching here for almost 30 years and has developed specialised English courses for all levels. Standard, intensive or even super intensive courses allow you to make rapid progress in no time.

Bournemouth is without doubt one of our favourite destinations for a language stay in England.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is without doubt one of the largest and most pleasant 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 via an excellent public transport network, and is only an hour’s train journey from London.

Bournemouth is also a lively town and hosts many sporting events. Pedestrian and shopping areas sit harmoniously alongside large parks and green areas. Its mild climate and beautiful sandy beaches make it an ideal resort for all seasons.

ETC, Educational Training Centre, is a family-run school founded in 1989 under the leadership of Mr. David Jones. ETC is located in the centre of Bournemouth, close to the pedestrian and shopping area, bus routes and less than 10 minutes walk from the beach and park.

The school offers

  • 44 spacious classrooms in several buildings
  • A computer room
  • A library
  • A cafeteria (fresh and healthy meals, hot and cold, from 8am to 3pm)
  • A terrace

Accreditations: British Council and English UK

English course: general information

  • Duration of a lesson: 45 minutes
  • Maximum number of students per class: 14 (18 in high season)
  • Timetable: Classes are usually held in the morning but can also be arranged in the afternoon in high season
  • Level test: on the first day of the course
  • Certificate of attendance at the end of the course
  • Teachers are native speakers and/or qualified teachers
  • Regular assessment of your progress (stay from 4 weeks)

Standard course

——
20 general English lessons per week

With this programme, you will have lessons every morning from 8.45am to 10.15am and from 10.35am to 12.05pm.

You will develop the 4 basic skills of speaking, writing, listening and reading.

Levels offered: beginner to advanced

Super intensive course

——
40 lessons of general English per week

You will follow a double timetable from 8.45am to 12.45pm and from 2pm to 6pm.

Levels offered: beginner to advanced

Medical english in Bournemouth – from the age of 18 years old

——
20 lessons of general English + 10 lessons of medical English per week

In the mornings, you will develop the 4 basic skills of written and oral expression, listening comprehension and reading. In the afternoons, you will develop your medical English skills. You will work on group and individual projects, case studies, seminars and lectures. You will have homework assignments and reports on your progress during your stay.

Medical English is designed for students aged 18 and over, academics and medical professionals with an upper-intermediate level of English.

Accompanied by a doctor

If you would like to add a practical, hands-on dimension to your training, ETC offers you the opportunity to shadow a doctor at a clinic in Bournemouth.


Minimum level required: from intermediate (B1+)

Intensive course

——
28 general English lessons per week

In addition to the standard programme, you will have 8 lessons per day from Monday to Thursday from 1.15pm to 2.45pm, focusing on speaking.

Levels offered: beginner to advanced

Cambridge exam preparation courses (FCE, CAE) or IELTS

——
Minimum duration : 12 weeks (see Dates & Fees)

Preparatory sessions for these exams take place throughout the year: 20 or 24 lessons per week from 8.45am to 10.15am and 10.35am to 12.05pm from Monday to Friday.

Minimum level required: intermediate

The school organises sports and cultural activities in the afternoons and evenings, which you are free to participate in or not. These activities may be free or at cost and their frequency varies according to the time of year.

Examples of possible activities are

  • Guided tour of the city
  • Welcome activity, barbecue, DVD evening
  • Visit to museums
  • Restaurant/bar/pub trips
  • Excursions to London, New Forest, Durdle Door, Corfe Castle, Oxford, Portsmouth, Swanage, Bath, Christchurch, Salisbury and Stonehenge (£25-30)
  • Bowling (approx. £7)
  • Swimming pool (approx. £8)
  • Laser Game (approx. £8)
  • Surfing lessons (approx. £15/session)
  • 12km of sandy beach

Single room, shared bathroom, half board during the week, full board at weekends. *

Travel time to school: families are usually located in a residential area within a 20-30 minute walk of the school or near a direct bus route (up to 50 minutes by bus).

Staying in summer *: accommodation is by default in a shared room with a student of another nationality. Single rooms are rarer and can be booked for an additional fee and subject to availability (for students aged 18 and over).

Practical information :

  • Sheets and towels provided
  • Possibility of doing your own laundry (the family usually provides a washing machine once a week or tells you when the laundry is done)
  • Lunch can be taken in the school cafeteria or in one of the many snack bars or small restaurants in the area

To note

The students taking part in short-term stays in this destination often stay with a “bed & breakfast” host family. This more affordable option, which differs from a full, typical family immersion, is nevertheless a practical, high-quality solution for young people and adults alike.

Features:

  • Shared rooms (double or large triple rooms on request and subject to availability)
  • Bedding, wardrobe, radiator, wardrobe with drawers
  • Toilet and bathroom in each room
  • No meals included
  • Travel time to school: 1 minute (on-site residence)
  • Location: 500 metres from the city centre and a few minutes from the beach
  • Capacity: 90 students
  • Deposit to be paid on site (see price table), refundable by the school at the end of the stay if no damage is found

Facilities / Services available :

  • Laundry (fee payable)
  • Study rooms with desks in a quiet area
  • Bed linen provided (not towels)
  • Internet connection via Wi-Fi throughout the building
  • Supervised access
  • 24-hour reception
  • The residence and rooms are cleaned once a week. However, the rooms are inspected every day. The rest of the time, as in all shared accommodation, cleaning is the responsibility of each individual.

Options with extra charge:

  • Half board (in the school cafeteria)
  • Mini-fridge for rent at the residence reception
  • Bath towels for hire at the residence reception

Features:

  • Flats with 6-8 single rooms, fully equipped kitchen and lounge.
  • Bedroom with large bed, desk and leather armchair
  • Toilet and bathroom in each room
  • No meals included
  • Travel time to school: 12 minutes by bike, 15 minutes by bus, 30 minutes on foot
  • Location: just next to Bournemouth station and a hypermarket
  • Deposit to be paid on site (see price table), refundable by the school at the end of the stay if no damage is found

Facilities / Services available :

  • Modern, fully equipped shared kitchen (microwave, cooker and hob, large fridge, )
  • Laundry (with charge)
  • Bed linen and towels provided
  • Internet connection via Wi-Fi throughout the building
  • Bicycle garage
  • The residence and rooms are cleaned once a week. However, the rooms are inspected every day. The rest of the time, as in any shared apartment, cleaning is the responsibility of each individual.

Arrival day: Sunday (from 4pm in residence)
Departure day: Saturday (morning in residence)

Arrival station or airport (with approximate travel time): Bournemouth International Airport has daily and weekly flights to many English and European destinations. Poole also has 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: 1.5 hours (by taxi) to 2.24 hours (by express bus)
  • London Gatwick-Bournemouth : 2 hours (by taxi) to 3h30 minutes (by express bus)
  • London Stansted-Bournemouth : 2h30 (by taxi) to 4h00 (by express bus)

Transfer available on request (chargeable, see price table)

Note: do not book your ticket until we have confirmed your stay (approximately 4 days after payment of your deposit).

For European nationals:

Entry conditions from 01/01/2021

Stay of less than 6 months

EU citizens can travel to the UK without a visa if their stay does not exceed 6 months. They must bring their passport valid for the duration of their stay.

Staying for more than 6 months

All stays over 6 months require a visa. The conditions for obtaining a visa vary depending on whether you are doing a secondary school (“College”) programme or a language school stay.

Visa requirements (all programmes) :

  • Provide a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from our partner school
  • Be able to prove that you will have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in the UK

AND

For students over 16 years of age on a language school course:

  • If you are a minor: have the consent of your parent or legal guardian to study in the UK. You will be asked for official permission to leave the country.
  • Approximatecost of the Language School Visa (subject to change): £186

More information: please see the following links

https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas

https://www.gov.uk/study-visit-visa

Other nationalities

Please visit the official UK government website and select your nationality.

Permission to leave the country for minors

An exit permit is required for minors who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian. It must be presented by minors at the border together with their identity documents (passport or identity card) and a photocopy of the identity card of one of their parents.

Dates 2024

Start dates: most courses start on Mondays throughout the year, unless otherwise stated below. In the event that Monday is a public holiday, the session starts on Tuesday.

Public holidays: 01/01- 01/05, 03/29, 04/01, 05/06, 05/27, 08/26, 12/23 – 12/27

Cambridge exam preparation dates: please contact us

Fees 2024

WPCS 42.0.3
Course & accommodation in host family, Individual room*, half board #colspan# #colspan# #colspan#
Duration 20 lessons/week 28 lessons/week 40 lessons/week
1 week€ 565€ 625€ 805
2 weeks€ 985€ 1.110€ 1.460
3 weeks€ 1.400€ 1.590€ 2.125
4 weeks€ 1.820€ 2.070€ 2.780
6 weeks€ 2.655€ 3.030€ 4.095
8 weeks€ 3.490€ 3.990€ 5.410
12 weeks€ 5.160€ 5.915€ 8.040
16 weeks€ 6.830€ 7.830€ 10.675
18 weeks€ 7.665€ 8.795€ 11.990
20 weeks€ 8.500€ 9.755€ 13.305
24 weeks€ 10.170€ 11.675€ 15.940
32 weeks€ 13.510€ 15.520€ 21.195
36 weeks€ 15.185€ 17.435€ 23.830
Host family - Extra's (per week)
Special diet (vegetarian, glucose -free)€ 35
High Season - Summer (05/26 - 08/31), Shared room€ 35
High Season - Summer (05/26 - 08/31), single room€ 60
Christmas holiday supplement€ 60
High Season - Summer (05/28 - 08/26), minor student€ 85
Minor student (other than during the summer time)€ 10
lessons & accommodation in residence, shared room, without meals
Duration 20 lessons/week 28 lessons/week 40 lessons/week
1 week€ 540€ 600€ 780
2 weeks€ 935€ 1.055€ 1.415
3 weeks€ 1.325€ 1.510€ 2.045
4 weeks€ 1.715€ 1.965€ 2.680
6 weeks€ 2.500€ 2.875€ 3.935
8 weeks€ 3.280€ 3.785€ 5.200
12 weeks€ 4.845€ 5.600€ 7.725
16 weeks€ 6.410€ 7.415€ 10.255
18 weeks€ 7.200€ 8.320€ 11.520
20 weeks€ 7.980€ 9.230€ 12.780
24 weeks€ 9.545€ 11.050€ 15.310
32 weeks€ 12.675€ 14.685€ 20.360
36 weeks€ 14.245€ 16.495€ 22.890
Options Residence etc (per week), private bathroom - excluding summer only (unavailable from 07/08 to 08/20)
Single room (very limited availability)€ 55
Double room with simple occupation€ 115
Double room with simple occupation (05/26 - 07/07 & 08/24 - 08/31)€ 240
Breakfast€ 45
Half Board€ 100
Special diet (vegetarian, glucose -free)€ 25
Dorchester House residence, single room, without meals - summer only (9/07 - 26/08)
Supplement per week€ 80
Airport-housing transfer (by journey)
Bournemouth€ 55
Southampton€ 125
Heathrow€ 210
Gatwick€ 245
London Center (Eurostar)€ 295
Supplement of £ 30 per hour for all expectations of more than 1 hour at the airport
To be paid on site if applicable
Background in residence€ 245
Class books - 1 to 4 weeksLent by the school
Course books/level - from 5 weeks (first book included)€ 45

Our prices include:

  • The chosen course and accommodation formula
  • With a family: accommodation in a single room (except in summer) / in a shared room (summer)
  • In residence: accommodation in a shared room
  • With a family: full board on weekends and half board on course days
  • Certificate of participation at the end of the course
  • All taxes and administrative costs of the school

They do not include:

  • Travel to and from Bournemouth
  • Transfers from the train station or airport on arrival and departure
  • In residence: meals
  • Deposit for residence accommodation (to be paid on site, credit card possible)
  • Course books (to be paid locally)
  • Examination fees (if applicable)
  • Optional insurance

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