United Kingdom

For visitors, the beauty of travel in England is the compact nature of the country. By spending less time going between places and more time in them, you can immerse yourself in the scenery. Whether you’re strolling the hillside of Oxford shire, cycling through Norfolk, braving the waves in Brighton or rock-climbing in the Peak District, England is perfect for activity and adventure.

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Program Summary:

Program: Classic program

Program length: Short and Long programs

Vaccinations: Yes

Discounts and Scholarship: Yes

Language criteria: No

Language course: No

Soft Landing Camp: Yes

Classic Program

If you are looking for a cultural experience for 2-3 months, or an Academic Semester or Year, our Classic program will match you with a welcoming host family and place you in a nearby school. We find the host family and choose the school, and you can enjoy what they have to offer while immersing yourself in local culture.

Perfect for students who:
* Who can be more flexible in where and what they study
* Want to have a cultural experience
* Interested in joining sports, clubs, and activities
* Grow as a person and improve language skills

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Classic Program Information

Age and eligibility

Students need to be aged at least 16 years at the start of the school year. Available for 16-17 year old students.

Language criteria

None

Program length

UK offer 3 months or Semester (5-6 months) programs due to visa restrictions. Students can be accepted on a 10 month program in January or September of each year if an EU passport is held.

Area Choice options are available on this program

UK Area Choices

Schools

In the United Kingdom, there are various types of high schools and colleges to choose from. Depending on the program you select, you may attend a Vocational College, Grammar School, or the more commonly found Sixth Form College. When enrolling, you’ll be placed in classes that match your level and prior knowledge. While Math and English are mandatory subjects, you generally have the freedom to choose your own subjects.

The British school year consists of three semesters that begin in September, January, and April. As an exchange student, your start date will be either in September or January.

Vaccinations

All Outbound students are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Your Program Manager can advise if any additional vaccinations are required. Please be sure to note all vaccinations you have received in your application.

Visa

UK offer 3 months or Semester (5-6 months) programs only due to visa restrictions. Students can be accepted on a 10 month program in January or September of each year if an EU passport is held.

Students traveling on Australian & New Zealand passports, with programs up to 90 days, generally travel as “tourists” and do not need to apply for a visa prior departure. However, for programs extending beyond the 90-day period (including Semester & Academic Year programs), students are usually required to apply for the necessary visa.

Program Coordinators will provide the essential visa documents so students can lodge their visa application. Please note that Program Coordinators are not Registered Migration Agents and cannot represent the applicant. Program Coordinators will provide “guidance” where possible, however the responsibility of lodging the visa falls upon the student/parents. Visa application requirements differ per destination and, on top of the visa documents provided by your Program Coordinator, students will need to provide additional documents such as birth certificate, bank statements, police check certificate, passport photos, letter of parental consent, etc.

Visa application fees (set by the foreign Authority) fluctuate depending on the destination and may vary from $180 to $700. These costs exclude expenses such as translations, official stamps (Notary Public stamp, Apostille stamp), national police certificate, passports photos, express post envelopes, etc. In some cases, students must attend an in-person consulate / visa agency appointment, which may incur additional personal expenses for travel such as purchasing flights (Interstate flight or international flight if no representation in your home country), petrol costs, tolls, accommodation, etc.

Canada:
Students must have received their routine childhood vaccinations appropriate for their age. In addition, Canada requires full vaccination against Meningococcal (MenACWY). The Covid-19 vaccine is recommended but not mandatory.

USA:
Students must be up to date with their routine childhood vaccinations for their age group. Additionally, your host school in the USA will require further immunisations to meet national guidelines, such as the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine and a TB test conducted within six months before arrival. While Covid-19 vaccination is recommended, it is not mandatory.

Other Countries:
Students must be up to date with their standard childhood vaccinations. While the Covid-19 vaccine is recommended, it is not compulsory.

Classic Program Prices for United Kingdom

Length	Arrive	Depart	Program fee NZD	Application deadline
Academic Year	Aug 30, 2025	Jun 2026 Subject to school	$34,950	Apr 30, 2025
Academic Semester	Aug 30, 2025	Jan 24, 2026	$16,950	Apr 30, 2025
3 Months	Aug 30, 2025	Dec 20, 2025	$15,950	Apr 30, 2025
Academic Semester	Jan 3, 2026	May 30, 2026	$16,950	Sept 30, 2025
3 Months	Jan 3, 2026	Mar 28, 2026	$15,950	Sept 30, 2025

Each destination has a budget for flights included in the fee. If flight costs are above this budgeted amount, a Flight Surcharge may apply. Please see our Money Matters page for program inclusions, the flight surcharge policy and other important pricing information.

Program start dates are indicative arrivals in the destination & students attending the Soft Landing Camp (if available) will depart earlier. Program start dates serve as approximate arrival dates at the destination and subject to change. We will notify you of your confirmed program dates ahead of time to prevent any confusion or inconvenience.

Scholarship & Early Bird Discount Application Deadlines
October 31, 2024: classic programs departing between April 2025 – September 2025
March 31, 2025: classic programs departing between October 2025 – March 2026
Find out more about Scholarships and Early Bird Discounts.

UK Classic High School Region and City Choices

Classic Program + additional fee	Price NZD
Region Choice – Northern England	$1,195
Region Choice – Midlands	$1,195
Region Choice – Southern England	$2,395
City Choice – Birmingham, England	$3,595
City Choice – Brighton, England	$8,750
City Choice – Liverpool, England	$6,595
City Choice – Torquay, England	$6,595

Area requests are only charged once they are granted. Students applying for a Semester or Academic Year program to the UK have the option to choose the region they would like to live in during their exchange. If applicants are successfully placed in one of their preferred regions, then additional location fee will be applied to the normal program price. Location selection options are on a first come, first served basis, are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. Once all spots are filled, no additional location requests can be considered.

Soft Landing Camp in London

This Soft Landing Camp is optional and an additional fee of NZ$1,295 pp.

Your exciting adventure in the UK can commence in the stunning city of London. During a three-night stay, you will join fellow incoming students from various parts of the world. This time in London will help prepare you for the upcoming year and ensure that you have a fantastic experience in this lively city. You will receive the best possible start to your high school exchange. This camp includes a Welcome, on campus games, workshops and activities. Students explore London with the team, have a quiz night, a cruise on the River Thames plus shopping and dinner in Covent Gardens! London Soft Landing Camp Example Agenda

Please note that the Soft Landing Camp is exclusively offered to students starting their exchange in August and involves an additional cost. The agenda is an example and may be subject to change.

LIVE Online sessions

If you would like to find out more information on our programs, please register for one of our free LIVE Online sessions to:

Meet our staff
Hear comprehensive information on all aspects of exchange
Ask questions
See questions asked by other students and parents

Information evenings run for about an hour.
They are friendly, free and are the best way for us to address your specific questions in person.

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“My exchange was the opportunity of a life time, it was a chance to meet people
that I would otherwise never get the chance to. To live with another family
who I now adore and to see a new part of the world. Anyone who gets a chance
to go should take it with no second thoughts.”

Alice – Australia to the United Kingdom

“I could not describe it in a million words, much less 50. It was daunting, exhilarating, mundane, moving, provincial, inspiring, intoxicating. It was grand cities and quiet evenings. Sunday morning sleep ins and falling out of toboggans. My exchange was gloriously invigorating and I cherish every second.”

Lauren – Australia to the United Kingdom