Frequently Asked Questions

International

How much money do I need to live on?

You need to have enough money for the following:

About £90 per week to cover general living expenses including things like clothes, travel and leisure.
About £65 and £105 for accommodation. Rent is normally paid directly to the landlord. The first two weeks are paid in advance when you arrive and after that, each week is paid one week in advance.
Your course fees, which should be paid by the end of the first week of term, include tuition and course books. Payment in installments is available.
Insurance: You are strongly urged to take out adequate health insurance to cover medical and dental treatment in the United Kingdom as well as your possessions.

Can I work in England?

This will depend on your visa. If you have a student visa and studying a degree level course, you are allowed to work part-time (20 hours per week) during the term and full-time during vacations. If you are studying a course below degree level then you are only permitted to work 10 hours per week and full-time during vacations.For further information go to: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/working_during_studies.php

If you are a European national then different rules apply for working in the UK. For more information please visit the UKCISA website:http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/eea.php

Do I need a visa to study in the UK?

Most students who do not hold a British or European passport will be required to apply for a student visa to enter the UK for study. Below are a few links with more information:

Applying to Study in the UK as a Student Visitor

Applying from outdie of the UK to Study as a Tier 4 General Student

Applying to extend your Tier 4 Student Visa in the UK

Alternatively, visit the Home Office website at: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/

Will I be able to spend time with British students?

Studying in an English college means that you can meet British students and will be able to develop the language skills you have learnt. You may even have the chance to study other subjects at the college alongside British students whilst you are studying EFL or after you finish your course. Some of our students go to British universities or continue studying at Colchester Institute.

Where is Colchester?

Colchester Institute offers a friendly and supportive learning environment close to the centre of the historic town of Colchester, only 50 minutes from London by train. With good road and rail links to the rest of the UK, easy access to Europe through the ports of Harwich, Felixstowe, Dover and the Channel Tunnel, Colchester is an ideal place to study. Besides its Roman past, it has a large Norman castle and to the north lies the countryside made famous by the painter John Constable. The area offers a wide range of leisure and sporting activities, including golf, swimming, football, riding and sailing Colchester is in the region of England called East Anglia and it is situated about 100km north-east of London. The main road from London to East Anglia is the A12. Harwich is about 25km away and from there you can take ferries to Belgium, Holland and North Germany.