If I don’t want to book airport transfer through the school, how else can I reach Canterbury?

There are many ways to reach Canterbury, depending on how you travel. Please visit our “How to Get to Canterbury” page.

If I book homestay accommodation and the bathroom is shared, does it mean I will share it with my family/friends or with the members of the family hosting me?

Some host families have big houses with more than one bathroom. Others live in smaller places and might only have one bathroom. Depending on the homestay accommodation you will be assigned to, you might have to share the bathroom with your host(s). Our families are selected by us and, for quality reasons, we inspect all of them on a regular basis and check that all rooms are kept to a high standard of cleanliness.

If adult students are accommodated in our LanguageUK residence, will they have toiletries, towels and other items commonly found in hotels?

No. Toiletries, towels, food are not provided. Bed linen, pillows and blankets are provided.

For adult students staying in our residence, check-in time is 2pm and check-out time is 11am. If you check in after 8pm, this is considered “late check-in” and you might be charged an extra fee. If you check out before 5am

Can I start my accommodation period during the week?

Usually, our accommodation runs from Sunday to Sunday. We might be able to accommodate you from Saturday to Saturday. Please check with our Sales & Marketing team.

Can I stay a few days longer than one week in accommodation and pay for those extra days?

If there is availability you can. However, if you leave during the week (e.g. on Wednesday), you will still be charged for the entire extra week.

If Group Leaders accompany students on their study holiday, are they accommodated in the same area as their students? Are they in single rooms?

Yes. Group Leaders are accommodated in the same area as their students, so that they can support them if needed. Group Leaders usually have a single room each.

What time do I need to check-in / check-out if I am staying in your residence for adults? 

For adult students staying in our residence, check-in time is 2pm and check-out time is 11am. If you check in after 8pm, this is considered “late check-in” and you might be charged an extra fee. If you check out before 5 am, this is considered “early check-out” and you might be charged an extra fee.

My child is coming to Canterbury alone. They will be in LanguageUK accommodation. Will they be with other students of their nationality?

LanguageUK will try to put different nationalities together in the same accommodation. However, there are times when this is not possible, for some reason. So sometimes, your children will be in the same accommodation as other students of their same nationality. Please remember students spend a minimum amount of time in their accommodation (around 15% of their time with us). For the rest of the time, they are out on trips or in our school.

I want to book an ‘English for Families’ course and come with my children to Canterbury. As parents, we are not studying – only my children are on the course. Can we all book accommodation with LanguageUK?

No. If parents and children come together as a family, they must ALL be on a course to receive accommodation from LanguageUK.

When will I receive my accommodation details (e.g. name of host, address, etc.)?

You will receive your accommodation details a few days before you arrive. This is because sometimes there are last-minute changes.

Do I have to pay for the course all at once? Can I pay in instalments?

If you have booked a short course (e.g. one or two weeks), you will usually be sent a deposit invoice (to be paid within 5 business days from receipt) and then a second invoice to pay off the rest of the amount (the deadline for the payment will be specified on the invoice). If you have booked more than 8 weeks, you can ask to pay in instalments.

Can I pay for my course when I get to Canterbury?

No. If your course if short (under 8 weeks), you need to have completed your payment before you arrive in Canterbury. If your course is of 8 or more weeks, you can pay in instalments. This means that you will pay for part of your course before arriving in Canterbury and for another part when you are already there.

What time do I need to be at the school on my first day of tuition?

If your lessons start at 09:00, please make sure you are at the school at 8:45

If your lessons start at 09:30, please make sure you are at the school at 09:15

If your lessons start at 14:00, please make sure you are at the school at 13:45

As an individual student, when can I start my course?

Most courses at LanguageUK can start 7 days after having received the relevant payment.

Are online courses in groups or 1-1?

All our online courses are 1-1, except for our Conversation Clubs.

If students come in a group and some students are minors and others are adults (18+), do they all take part in the same lessons?

If students are in a “closed-group”, they will have lessons in their own group, not with students of other nationalities. If students come in a group but want to be with other nationalities, adult students will have lessons with other adult students and minors will be together. We can have different groups studying at the same time (one for adults and one for minors).

How big are the classes?

Usually group courses have a maximum number of 15 participants.

Can parents join their children’s lessons on the English for Families course?

Parents cannot join their children’s lessons, so as not to disrupt the course. However, they can walk past their children’s classrooms and see a little of what’s going on.

Do students from 5 to 17 take part in the same activities?

No. Students from 5 to 11 have activities appropriate to their age. 12 to 17 year-old students have a slightly different programme which is more suitable to their age. Please ask our Sales & Marketing team for more information on this point.

If students come in a group and some students are minors and others are adults (18+), do they all take part in the same activities?

If students are in a “closed-group”, they will have activities in their own group, not with students of other nationalities. If students come in a group but want to be with other nationalities, adult students will have activities with other adult students and minors will be together. We can have 2 sets of activities (one for adults and one for minors) at the same time. The activities can also be different, depending on the age group and the type of activity.

What will I see on my day trip to London?

On your day trip to London, you will be taken on a walking guided tour. You will see many famous monuments and places while walking. You will not visit the inside of any monument as a group, however, during your free time you can decide to visit a place and then join the rest of your group when they are ready to leave.

Are students accompanied to places outside the school for events and monitored during their activities?

Yes. Students are accompanied by our staff if their activities take place outside the school (e.g. bowling). Staff members will always be around for support and will always let students know where they are. During activities inside the school, staff are present to monitor and help.

Can parents join their children’s activities on the English for Families course?

Parents can be present during their children’s activities and also join them on request. Please ask our Sales & Marketing team for more information on this point.

Is the trip on my course always to London?

No. Many trips can be to London, however, sometimes the destination changes as there are requests to see other areas of England. If London is the only destination you want, please speak to our staff during the booking process.

I want to book a course: what should I do?

Here are the steps for your booking:

1. Send us an email about what you want to book
2. Confirm with our staff what you’d like to book
3. Take our online English level test and email us your score
4. Wait for LanguageUK staff to check if they have accommodation for you
5. Complete any form you receive and send it back to us
6. Send us your passport copy and a passport size photo of you
7. Apply for your visa (if you need to)
8. Book your flight (and send us all details if you need an airport transfer)
9. Wait for your invoice and make the payment
10. Receive our booking confirmation letter
11. Keep us informed of any change (e.g. visa refusal, change of dates, sudden health issues, etc.)
12. Receive your accommodation details (a few days before arriving)

Now you’re ready to come to Canterbury and start your course!

How can I make sure I have a reserved place on the course/in the selected accommodation?

To guarantee your place on our course/programme, you need to have paid a deposit. Without the deposit, no course or programme can be 100% guaranteed.

How can I book my course?

Once you have contacted us and explained exactly what you want to book, our Sales & Marketing Team will send you a booking form, which you must complete and return. At that point, the official booking process can start. Other documents and the final payment will be needed later on.

Can I book my flight as soon as I have completed and returned my booking form?

No. It’s better to wait for confirmation that we have accommodation for you if you have booked this through us. Please ask our Sales & Marketing for information on this point.

Does the Parental Consent Form need to be signed by both parents?

Yes. We need the consent of both parents.

If I book a course last-minute, when do I need to pay?

If you are accepted on one of our courses last-minute, we will send you just one invoice, which you will have to fully pay by the date that is on it.

I want to book an IELTS course in a group: what English level should I be?

If you are studying in preparation for your IELTS exam and want to be in a group, you must be a minimum level of B2.

What do I do if I need a visa?

If you need a visa, you must pay a 20% deposit of all course costs. When LanguageUK receives the payment, you will be sent a letter which you can use for your visa application in your country. If you are refused your visa, you must send us proof of refusal and LanguageUK will refund you all the money, except the registration/ accommodation fees. These fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.

How long does it take to get a visa?

Visas take a long time to get, depending on countries. In some places, visas can take up to 3 months, so make sure you book your course for the suitable time.

If I am on an English for Families course, can I eat with my children?

Yes, for a small extra fee, we allow parents who are studying as well to have lunch in our school canteen. Times for Junior lunches are 12:30-13:30 and times for adult lunches are 13:00-14:00. The school canteen is the same for Juniors and adults, so you will be able to be with your children for some time.

If minors are studying with LanguageUK without their parents, is there someone to accompany them to school/their accommodation every day?

No. Students aged 12 to 17 will need a Parental Consent Form to be signed by their parents so that they can take buses or trains for their commute. They usually travel together with their friends/schoolmates and their journey is quite short and simple.

What happens if I am sick and cannot come to school?

Please inform us as soon as possible. If you can let us know 24 hours in advance, we might still be able to reschedule your lesson (depending on availability). Any later than that, you will miss your lesson and you will not be refunded for it or have it rescheduled.

Can I smoke on the school premises?

If you are a minor, no. If you are an adult, you cannot smoke inside the school. However, please ask our staff to let you know where you can smoke outside.