British Boarding School Experience (BBSE)
Spend a term or two studying the British curriculum and improving your English whilst boarding in the heart of one of the UK’s most exciting cities.
Course Benefits:
• Improve your written and spoken English.
• Live and study in one of three beautiful, historic and vibrant British cities.
• Study the globally recognised and admired British curriculum.
• High quality accommodation and pastoral support included.
• Study and live with ambitious students from around the world.
Whilst you study you will become a full member of our diverse student community, with access to our exciting extra-curricular programme of weekly clubs, sports and activities, lectures, and university preparation sessions.
Upon completion of your studies, you will receive a comprehensive academic report and completion certificate to take home. If you enjoy your time here, you can also choose to join the full Year 9, GCSE, A-Level or International Foundation Programme course and complete your university studies in the UK or at home.
British Boarding School Experience Course Duration and Start Dates
| Duration | Starts Every | Available At |
| One or Two Terms | September, January | Cambridge, London, Manchester |
Our College Locations
Abbey College Cambridge
For over 800 years, the city has been home to the world-renowned University of Cambridge, it is consistently voted as one of the world’s best. Cambridge is a quiet, safe and very beautiful city. There are an enormous range of cultural, sporting, leisure and entertainment opportunities within the city and the surrounding countryside.
DLD College London
London is the cultural capital of the UK, with all of the most important museums, libraries and art galleries as well as being the centre of theatre, cinema, fashion, design and architecture. Multi-cultural and tolerant, it is hard to be bored here and easy to find exactly what you are looking for, whether it be an internship at a leading financial company, a foreign newspaper or simply a specific item of food.
Abbey College Manchester
Manchester is modern, thriving and has the cosmopolitan feel of a capital city. There is stunning architecture at every turn that superbly blends the modern with the traditional. The city is well known for its famous football clubs, Manchester United and Manchester City. But there are world leading venues in other sports too such as cricket, badminton, squash and cycling. There is much more to the city than sport though – it is the cultural centre of England’s north, with museums, libraries, business and arts facilities to rival the best in the country.
College Boarding
We know how important it is to feel at home whilst you study. That’s why our college boarding facilities have some of the highest specifications you will find in the UK, with luxury, safety, and comfort our priorities.
Boarding at Abbey College Cambridge
We offer boarding accommodation in more than 400 student rooms, all located either on-campus or within a few minutes’ walk of the college.
Boarding Houses and room types
| Abbey House (On Campus) | Purbeck House (Off Campus) | Tripos Court (Off Campus) | Orchard House (Off Campus) |
| Standard Single Room | Studio Single Room | Standard Single Room |
Standard Single Room |
| Superior Single Room | Apartment Single Room | Superior Single Room | |
| Standard Twin Room | Studio Twin Room | ||
| Superior Twin Room |
Boarding at DLD College London
At DLD College London we offer innovative 21st century ‘Urban Boarding’. Students live directly above the school.
Boarding Houses and room types
| On-Campus Boarding |
| Single Room |
| Premier Single Room |
| Platinum Single Room |
| Twin Room |
Boarding at Abbey College Manchester
For students aged 16+, our Clydesdale House boarding house is located in Central Manchester offering high-quality, safe accommodation within a 10 minute walk of the college.
Boarding Houses and room types
| Clydesdale House |
| Standard Room |
| Corner Room |
| Premium Room |
Host Families
Abbey College Manchester students aged under 16 years at the start of the academic year must stay with a host family unless they live with a parent or other blood relative. Manchester host families are carefully selected to ensure a friendly, safe environment in which students can relax, integrate, and study.
Programme Overview
You will be joining students from around the world studying on our established Year 9 (12 – 13 years), GCSE (14–16 years) and A-Level (16–18 years) programmes. Your weekly study programme will be a combination of academic subjects and English language lessons.
Courses Available
| College | Year 9 (12-13 years) | GCSE (14 – 16 years) | A-Level (16 – 18 years) |
| Abbey College Cambridge | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DLD College London | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Abbey College Manchester | No | Yes | Yes |
Entry Requirements
| Age | 14+ |
| Academic Requirements | School report and interview |
| English Level | IELTS 4.0 (minimum) |
| Locations Available | Cambridge, London, Manchester |
| Start Dates | September, January |
