Adult English course FAQs

Studio Cambridge is a founder member of English UK, accredited by the British Council and a member of IALC (International Association of Language Centres).

On average, we have some 200 adult students present at any one time between September and June, and 400 in July and August. This is the optimum size. It is big enough to allow us to provide a wide range of academic programmes at all levels and a varied choice of social activities, and small enough that we can give you the personal attention you deserve.

You are not required to buy books, as educational materials are included in the cost of the course. Books and tapes are also available for reference and on loan, free of charge in our Learning Centre. You may however, wish to buy a dictionary or other reference books. There are additional costs for required course books for students taking the IELTS and the University of Cambridge examination courses.

On the first day in school you take a placement test, which is both written and spoken, covering:

1. Grammar
2. Vocabulary
3. Speaking
4. Listening
5. Writing

You will then be placed in a class at your level, and your teachers will carefully monitor your progress. Please see our page on ‘Testing’ for further details.

If you have different levels of skills, and depending on the course you have chosen, you may be placed in different classes for each of these skills.

We can place you and your friend together, but only if you have the same level of English. If you do not want to be in the same class as your friend, this can often be arranged – but it will depend on the availability of places.

If your class is at the wrong level for you we will make every effort to change your class after the first few days.

You will start using the language from your first day – not by translating or interpreting from your own language but by using it. Your textbooks will be especially designed for beginners and your teachers will be experienced in teaching English at the beginner level. Everyone else in your class will be doing the same. They, and your homestay hosts, will support and help you every step of the way. Very soon you will gain confidence and be able to use English far more effectively. In the unlikely event that there are no other students at your level, we may offer you private lessons in place of group lessons. There is no extra charge for this, but the number of private lessons will be provided at the ratio of one private lesson = three group lessons.

The true answer is that learning a language is a life-long experience, and your progress will depend on your ability, motivation and study habits. At Studio we have six main levels of English (each level is subdivided). It typically takes about 6 weeks to move from one main level to the next. So, if you apply yourself, you can expect to go from an Elementary level to an Advanced level in about 7 months.

We use only English in the classroom. However, we have staff who speak some other languages including: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish. Remember, we are here to help you at all times.

No. All classes at Studio are mixed, with men and women studying together.

You will receive a Course Certificate and Academic Record from Studio Cambridge. The school is accredited by the British Council. If you are taking an external examination (IELTS or the University of Cambridge) you will also receive an examination certificate.

It is not necessary to bring your own computer, as our Learning Centre has lots of computers which you can use between or after classes. However, most areas of the school building also have Wi-Fi access and you will be able to use your own laptop if you wish to do so.

You may choose to leave your course for any reason by giving us 4 weeks’ notice. Please contact us for further information on our cancellation policy.

Yes, there are usually places available. However, if you are visiting the UK with a Student Visa, any extensions may depend on your expected date of departure from the UK.

Yes. A change to another course of the same or higher intensity (lessons per week) can normally be arranged within a week. However, a change to a less intensive course requires four weeks’ notice.

Our students range from 16 to 60+ years of age. The EFL-28 course tends to attract slightly older students, while the IELTS and Cambridge examination courses are more suitable for students planning on entering university.

As we have 60 to 70 different nationalities at Studio every year, it is very likely that you will meet someone from that country. We teach English without regard to sex, nationality, religion or political persuasion and expect all our students to be tolerant and understanding of each other.

To take full advantage of living and studying with us here in the UK you should continue to speak English after your classes are finished for the day.  Studio Cambridge provides a social programme to introduce students to each other and the opportunities available, to gain greater benefit from their time in Cambridge.  The aims of the social programme are to offer entertainment and the opportunity for social interaction, to offer the opportunity to participate in physical (sporting) activities, to offer a cultural experience, to offer an opportunity for students to use spoken English in a natural context and to offer students an introduction to British culture.

We provide one after-school activity per weekday and the frequency with which activities are repeated is determined by demand. Please note that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the social programme consists partly or entirely of online activities.

Activities include the following:  sports (e.g.  football, basketball, table tennis etc.); film showings; arts and crafts (e.g.  bag design, charcoal sketching, cupcake decoration), museum visits, College tours, conversation club, discos, quizzes, bowling and cinema.

The activities for the week are advertised on noticeboards as you enter the school, on social media, and the various screens in the school. Further information about any social activities can be requested from Reception. A social programme calendar is produced for each month and you can pick up a copy from Reception or find it on our website.

The social activities are available to all students on a first-come, first-served basis. You can sign up for them when you are at the school. All the advertised social programme activities are free of charge.

Yes, for each activity students are accompanied by a group leader, who may be a teacher, member of the administration staff, or activities staff.

Yes, for each activity students are accompanied by a group leader, who may be a teacher, member of the administration staff, or activities staff.

Yes, all excursions are at extra cost. A full-day excursion to London, for example, costs approximately £25.

The excursions for the weekend are advertised on noticeboards as you enter the school, on social media, and the various screens in the school. You can book excursions and request further information from Reception.

It is the aim of Studio Cambridge that all activities and excursions are carried out with due regard to health and safety. We have comprehensive instructions for staff involved in social programme activities (based on social programme activities risk assessments) and these are made available to Social Programme group leaders before they engage in an activity. The group leader has full instructions including what to do in the event of an emergency and all under 18s are identified to the staff member accompanying the group. When taking a group of students on an excursion, a risk assessment, itinerary, list of all students on the excursion and a first aid kit is provided to staff members leading the excursion. In addition, a student information sheet provides students on excursions with important safety information including the school phone number and emergency number. You can find all our policies, including Health and Safety, here.

During times that Cambridge is in Tier 1 or 2, a mixture of online social activities and carefully selected regular activities are offered to students. All activities, as well as undergoing a regular risk assessment, are risk assessed in relation to COVID-19. Students are required to wear face coverings in areas where it is mandated by the government and are asked to bring their own hand sanitiser and to use this regularly. During times that Cambridge is in Tier 3 or above, all social activities take place online.

Yes, absolutely! It is our aim to get feedback on all aspects of your experience during your time at Studio Cambridge. This includes not only your learning experience but also your accommodation, facilities available, the social programme and the airport transfer service. It is also our aim to deal with issues arising out of feedback promptly and to the satisfaction of all concerned.

We offer students a chance to complete a feedback questionnaire at the end of their first week (in their welcome pack) and we hold regular focus group meetings with students to get verbal feedback about all aspects of their stay. In addition, we provide electronic end of course questionnaires to all leavers. Information gathered is fed back to teachers and admin staff at their regular meetings and complaints are passed on to relevant staff immediately. Serious complaints are dealt with as set out in our Complaints Policy.

During the welcome talk, students are advised on who to speak to if they have a problem i.e. their teacher about their classes; the Head of Accommodation about their accommodation; Reception about the social programme; any member of staff if they have any personal problems of any kind. During the induction tour on their first day in the school they are introduced to some of these staff and shown where to find the others.

With a minimum of 1 weeks’ notice and with the agreement of the Director of Studies, students who have been studying for 12 weeks or longer, may take a 1-week holiday for every 12 weeks of their studies. Any holiday will need to begin and end on weekends.

Subject to your accommodation provider’s agreement, you may return to, and leave your belongings in your accommodation during your holiday. In this case, a fee will be charged.

Refunds are not given for holiday periods, but you may be able to extend your course.