School Immersion at Chichester College – 16-18 years – 1 term or 1 semester

Discover our school programme in Chichester for young people aged 16 to 20* who want to enjoy an unforgettable experience in the UK and improve their English skills.

Enjoy the authentic experience of a language study holiday in Chichester, a charming British city where young international students aged 16 to 18 (or 19 to 20 on request*) can immerse themselves in the local culture, spend a term or a semester at a renowned college and take part in a programme of courses tailored to their needs. Enrich your educational experience and develop your language skills in a friendly and stimulating environment.

*Please note that additional fees apply for students aged 19 to 20, depending on the subjects chosen.


Chichester

The superb city of Chichester is situated in a beautiful natural area, close to the south coast of England and the rolling green hills of the South Downs National Park. Its rich cultural and historical heritage, remarkably well-preserved Georgian architecture and 11th-century cathedral make it a prime tourist destination. With a population of around 115,000, it offers an excellent quality of life and a safe environment in which to study. London is only 90 minutes away by train.

The campus is set in extensive grounds with breathtaking views of Chichester Cathedral, just a 10-minute walk from the city centre and the city’s many shops and tourist attractions. The College has 15,000 students and offers a wide range of academic and vocational courses. It is also renowned for its excellent A-Levels pass rate.

The campus offers a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities:

  • Classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards
  • Multimedia centre with over 150 computers
  • Library
  • Music room
  • Theatre hall
  • Large multi-purpose sports centre (basketball, football, badminton, trampoline, climbing wall, etc.)
  • Large fitness and gym room with a wide range of equipment
  • Sports pitches (football, hockey, rugby, tennis, etc.)
  • Beauty Spa
  • Student Union
  • Cafeteria
  • Shops
  • Travel agency

Extra-curricular activities during your stay

You can take advantage of the many state-of-the-art sports facilities and practise your favourite sport: tennis, football, badminton, basketball, dance, fitness, climbing, etc. You can also take part inone of the 26 activities offered by the various student clubs (film, theatre, cookery, sports, business, etc.), as well as by the Student Union. An excellent way to make British friends.

Other activities are offered especially for international students, such as:

  • Excursions to London or Brighton
  • International evenings
  • Sports events
  • Theatre evenings, etc.

From the age of 16 and after taking the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education), British students can choose either to take A-Levels during their last 2 years of secondary school if they wish to go on to university, or to choose a practical course, called Vocational Courses, leading to a BTEC diploma. Diplomas are awarded in 2 years. Whichever pathway is chosen, personal study and research are very important, and students must devote at least 4/5 hours per week to each subject.

This combination of formal courses and personal research is an excellent preparation for university studies.

The programme in which international students participate is called the “Study Abroad Programme”. It combines

  • English lessons with international students
  • A-Levels or Vocational courses with the College’s British students
  • Enrichment Activities (extra-curricular activities)

English lessons: minimum 6 hours per week. The exact number of English lessons varies according to the timetable of the other subjects you have chosen.

Total number of lessons per week: approximately 20 hours

a choice of 2 courses:

  • The “A-Levels” academic stream, which are qualifications enabling you to enter a British university. Exams are only taken after a 2-year course.
  • Vocational Courses, which are practical courses geared towards the world of work and which prepare students for a trade. The diploma is awarded after 2 years’ study.

Programme

  • A-Levels: 2 subjects to choose from among those shown in light blue (see table below). 2 subjects represent between 15h and 20h of lessons per week.

Minimum level of English required: B2 or IELTS 5.5

  • Vocational Courses: 1 area to choose from among the subjects shown in dark blue (see table below). You will have approximately 14 hours of lessons per week.

Minimum level of English required: B1 or IELTS 5

(1) Students will not be registered for national exams

(2) For certain outings and activities a supplement applies

(3) Special uniform and equipment required, not included in the price

(4) Interview and/or portfolio required

(5) Very good level of Maths required

Host family (from age 16)

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

Travel time to school: Zone 1: approximately 30 minutes by bus from the campus
Families live in the Chichester area.

Option at extra cost:
Zone 2: families living in Chichester about 20 minutes’ walk from the campus.

Practical information :

  • Bed linen and towels provided
  • One wash a week is included in the accommodation package. Any additional laundry must be requested from the family.

On-campus residence – Westgate Halls (from age 18)

Westgate Halls of residence is home to approximately 160 international and local students and is located on campus.

Features :

  • Single room
  • Private bathroom
  • No meals included

Facilities / services available :

  • Bed linen: bed sheet, fitted sheet, duvet, duvet cover and pillow (towels not provided)
  • 1 shared kitchen per 6-bedroom flat (microwave, oven, cooker, refrigerator)
  • Common room with TV and DVD player
  • Xbox console
  • WIFI access
  • Drinks and snacks dispensers
  • Laundry facilities
  • Secure access badges for each room, flat and building
  • Free access to the campus gym
  • Increased security thanks to staff on duty 24 hours a day

The communal areas and kitchen are cleaned daily. However, students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms and bathrooms.

The residence remains open during the school holidays.

Option with supplement: Kitchen starter packs

  • Basic: plates, cup, cutlery, tea towel, bowl, glass, sponge, washing-up liquid
  • Premium: plates, cup, cutlery, tea towel, bowl, glass, sponge, washing-up liquid, 2 saucepans, 4 chopping boards, frying pan, oven tray, utensils, towel

On-campus residence – Woodlands Halls (16-17 years)

Woodlands Halls of residence is reserved for underage students. The residence accommodates around 90 international and local students and is located on campus.

The residence closes during the Christmas holidays. For students who wish to stay on site, homestay accommodation is available at an additional cost.

Features :

  • Single or shared room, full board
  • Shared bathrooms and toilets on each floor

Facilities / services available :

  • Bed linen: bed sheet, fitted sheet, duvet, duvet cover and pillow
  • Bath towels
  • 1 reception
  • 2 common rooms
  • Wide-screen TV
  • Pool and table tennis tables
  • Xbox and Wii game console
  • WIFI access
  • Free access to the campus gym and sports classes
  • Coin-operated laundry facilities
  • 24-hour supervision
  • Surveillance camera in all corridors
  • Compulsory weekly study session
  • Evening and weekend activity programme

  • Students must be aged between 16 and 18. Students aged between 19 and 20 can be accepted on request: a course supplement is applicable in this case and varies according to the subjects chosen
  • Have a good level of English (IELTS 5.0 or 5.5 depending on the programme)
  • Good academic results over the last 2 years
  • Be willing to make new friends and share the daily life of a host family
  • Demonstrate motivation, maturity and adaptability

Do you meet the conditions for taking part?

  1. Fill in the pre-registration form as soon as possible
  2. When we receive it, we’ll send you a provisional confirmation, including the total cost of the stay, a request for payment of €100 (for the language test and the motivation interview), and the full application form for the chosen programme. We will also ask you to send us a copy of your school reports for the last 2 years.
  3. 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 can be deducted from the balance of your stay if you are definitively enrolled and accepted on the programme. Part 1 of the application form must be completed and brought with you to the interview.
  4. We will confirm the result no later than 8 days after our interview
  5. If the interview is positive, we ask you to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of your stay (with a minimum of €1,500) and to complete all the elements of your application, including letters of recommendation from your teachers and other information needed for us to study your application on site. As soon as your application is complete and we have received payment of the deposit, we will forward it to our partner.
  6. Final acceptance to the programme is given by our partner

You will be accepted on the courses of your choice according to availability, your level of English, your previous academic record (the College requires good marks in the desired subjects) and the date of enrolment.

Your place is guaranteed as soon as you receive the College’s letter of acceptance. For exceptional reasons (e.g. unexpected changes to the conditions set by the College), we reserve the right to change you to another school (in the same region and for the same programme as the one you have chosen) or to ask you to change your choice of course.

The application deadlines are :

  • 15 July for the start of the school year in September
  • 15 November for the start of the new academic year in January

After these dates, applications will be examined on a case-by-case basis. A late registration fee of €100 will be applied.

Day of arrival: Sunday
Day of departure: Saturday

Arrival airports:

  • London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick or Southampton)

Transfer available on request (chargeable, see price table)

Note: do not book your ticket until we have confirmed your stay.

Conditions for entering the United Kingdom

  • Stay of less than 6 months

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

From 2024 (exact date not yet known), travellers will need to apply for anAVE(electronic travel authorisation).

  • Stays of more than 6 months

All stays of more than 6 months require a visa. Visa applicants are required to provide a Confirmation of Acceptance for Sudies (CAS), issued by our partner school, in order to apply for a visa.

For students aged 14 to 17 you must also:

  • Be able to prove that you will have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in the UK
  • Have the consent of your parent or legal guardian to study in the UK. Proof will be required

For students over the age of 16 you must also:

  • Have a minimum certified level of English B1

More information

Medical/accident/repatriation and civil liability insurance is compulsory for this type of stay. You will be asked for a certificate when you submit your application.

Langues Vivantes offers you a complete insurance package tailored to young people’s stays abroad, see Insurance and guarantees

For stays of more than 6 months subject to a visa, the British authorities require you to take out additional NHS medical insurance.

Dates 2024-2025

The school year is divided into 3 terms. You can choose to study for 1 term or 1 semester (no visa required for stays of up to 6 months).

You can start in September or January. However, it is recommended that you start the programme at the beginning of the school year with the British students, to ensure a better integration.

Programme start dates :

  • 2/09/24 for the 1st term or semester
  • 6/01/25 for the 2nd term or semester

College closing dates and public holidays

  • October holidays: 28/10/24 – 31/10/24
  • Christmas holidays : 23/12/24 – 3/01/25
  • February holidays : 17/02/25 – 21/02/25
  • Easter holidays : 7/04/25 – 18/04/25
  • Public holidays: 30/09, 7/11, 18/04, 21/04, 5/05, 26/05

Prices 2024-2025

WPCS 42.0.3
Tuition fees + family accommodation Zone 1 - single room, half board
Start of program1 quarter1 semester (6 months)
September 2024 or January 2025 7.900 10.850
Family accommodation supplement (per week)
Family Zone 2 25
Tuition fees + accommodation in residence (+18 years old) - single room, without meals
Start of program1 quarter1 semester (6 months)
September 2024 or January 2025 7.900 10.850
Starter Pack supplement (basic or premium)£18 to £65 to be paid on site
Tuition fees + accommodation in residence (16-17 years old) - shared room, full board
Start session1 quarter1 semester (6 months)
September 2024 or January 2025 9.830 13.560
Single room supplement (per week) 30
Transfers (per trip)
London Gatwick 210
London Heathrow 270
Southampton 195

Our prices include:

  • English test and pre-registration interview
  • The course
  • Accommodation according to the chosen formula, including short breaks
  • Access to College facilities and services
  • Follow-up by a College tutor
  • Assistance from the College medical service
  • Assistance from Langues Vivantes before, during and after your stay
  • All school taxes and administrative costs

Not included:

  • Return journey to Chichester
  • Transfers on arrival and departure
  • Local transport
  • Books
  • Optional insurance
  • Any additional costs associated with Covid (e.g. quarantine, tests, etc.)