ILC Colchester was established in 1969 by Oxford University Press. Colchester is famous for being Britain’s oldest recorded city.
ILC Colchester offers programmes in General English, Exam Preparation, Work Experience and Junior Courses (11-17 years). ILC Colchester also focuses on specialised and tailored programmes. Since 1969, we have designed and run more than 1,250 specialised courses for a wide range of clients such as; nurses, engineers, diplomats and business professionals.
We deliver learning opportunities of a high level to students who wish to improve their knowledge of English as a foreign language for academic or career purposes. We foster a learning environment which is friendly, supportive and professional. Our entire team takes pride in the welfare and support we provide to each individual to help them reach their goals.
The Centre is open all year round for adult students aged 16 and over. ILC also runs year round closed group courses for students aged 11 – 17 and a junior summer programme under the name of International Language Holidays.
We are proud to have homestay providers who have been working with us for more than 30 years. 99% of our homestay providers are native English speakers. By living with one of our carefully selected friendly and welcoming homestay providers, students will learn more about British life as well as improving their speaking and listening skills. This provides an important cultural immersion experience.
The Centre is only 50 minutes by train to London and is easily accessible from London airports. This not only enables us to offer students a genuinely British cultural experience without distraction during their studies, but also provides an opportunity for them to travel easily to England’s capital. This makes us a popular base for international students.
The nationality and age mix at ILC Colchester varies over different time periods, courses and levels. Throughout the year, the average age is 25. In the summer, the average age is 21.
ILC does not hold classes on the holiday dates below. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.
The centre is located in a pleasant tree-lined residential area in the town of Colchester in East Anglia, about five minutes’ walk from the town centre.
It is easily accessible by train from London Liverpool Street station (45 – 60 minutes) and from London’s Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
The expansive coastline of Essex is on our doorstep, only 25 minutes away.
Homestays are carefully selected and offer students the opportunity to learn more about the local culture in a comfortable setting while studying English in Colchester. These homes are often between 5 - 25 minutes away from the school by public transport. Families usually offer affordable meal plans that allow you to sample the local cuisine. If you have special requests or diet restrictions (because of religion or health reasons), please let us know in advance. Your housing starts on the Sunday before your first day of class and ends on the Saturday after your last day of class, unless otherwise noted. Learn more about homestay housing
We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.
If you are studying in the UK for over 11 months, you will receive a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that you need to submit to the UK embassy along with your General Student Visa application. Students who have successfully booked a language course and have paid their fees will receive a CAS from ILC. Please note that UK law states that a CAS can only be issued to students who intend to pursue English language studies for over 11 months.
If you are studying in the UK for 11 months or less, you have to apply for a special visitor visa called a Student Visitor Visa. As a student visitor, you will not be able to work part-time while studying. If you plan to study in the UK for 11 months or less, a letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you.
Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Colchester based on your budget, schedule and preferences.
Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.
The centre is located in a pleasant tree-lined residential area in the town of Colchester in East Anglia, about five minutes’ walk from the town centre.
It is easily accessible by train from London Liverpool Street station (45 – 60 minutes) and from London’s Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
The expansive coastline of Essex is on our doorstep, only 25 minutes away.
Have questions? Get answers from ILC Colchester staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.
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