The Principal Welcomes You to Varndean College

Welcome to Varndean College, a sixth form college with a strong academic reputation, located in the lively and cosmopolitan City of Brighton on a very attractive campus surrounded by playing fields and with views of the sea.

The country's Chief Inspector for Schools and Colleges has identified Varndean as a "particularly successful" college. Varndean has a high reputation for examination results and students progress to university and employment - with many of our former students now prominent in public life. Students at Varndean become involved in a wide range of enrichment opportunities in sport, music, drama and societies and there is a lively student union. Support for students is excellent whether this be from personal tutors or using important services such as welfare, careers guidance and additional support for learning, including language support.

Principal

Choosing Your Courses

Short Study Programmes 2022-2023
A-level or International Baccalaureate Programme 2022-2024

The Programme

  • An opportunity to study in English in a UK college for short programmes of either one term, one semester or one year - see the dates below
  • You choose three subjects to study in A-level classes and/or BTec classes - both are at L3
  • You also study General English (IELTS)
  • There is a practical Sport and Fitness session each week
  • You receive a final report at the end of your study
  • All students (both EU and non-EU) staying on the one-year programme will need a Student visa which also requires you to take an AS exam in at least one of the **subjects in the list below
  • You have the support of the College tutorial sessions and the International team for your pastoral care
  • You live with a UK host family, which is arranged by Varndean College or your agent
  • We provide an induction programme to the college, the local area, and take you on visits to tourist venues

Entry Requirements

  • You need to be age 16 to 18 years old on entry
  • Anyone from around the world can apply. After January 2021 all students (both EU and non-EU) who choose a course of study in the UK longer than 6 months, will need:
    1. UKVI Student visa: www.gov.uk/student-visa
    2. UKVI IELTS test: www.ielts.org
  • To meet our entry requirements, you will need
    1. An IELTS grade of 5.5 with no grade less than 5.0 in any category
    2. Good grades in your latest school report
    3. A good recommendation from your current school
Please look at the Courses tab on Varndean website to see the courses and the entry requirements https://varndean.ac.uk/courses.

Programme Dates and Prices

  • A UKVI Student visa and UKVI IELTS or SELT equivalent are needed for the one year programme
  • All students must be hosted in a host family organised by Varndean College or their agent
  • The accommodation fee includes half-term holidays - one week per term.
  • The accommodation fee does not include the two-week Christmas holiday, nor the two-week Easter holiday. There is an additional supplement of £125 per week for the holiday period. Not all hosts will provide accommodation over the holiday period, so this would be on request.
  • Guardianship includes: allocating the host family, host safeguarding checks, annual visits to the host family, half-termly welfare check-ins with the students, accompanying the student to accident and emergency situations, liaising with the natural parents termly, authorising overnight travel arrangements during the stay, overseeing all accommodation enquiries.
Tuition & Accommodation *
One TermTue 6 Sept 2022 - Fri 16 Dec 2022£7,230
Tue 3 Jan 2023 - Fri 31 Mar 2023£6,270
One SemesterTue 6 Sept 2022 - Fri 3 Feb 2023£9,730
Tue 3 Jan 2023 - Fri 26 May 2023£9,250
One YearTue 6 Sept 2022 - Tue 11 Jul 2023£16,240

The Programme

  • An opportunity to study in English in a UK college for two years studying either:
    • A-levels choosing 3 subjects at A-Level (level 3) plus General English (IELTS) and Sport and Fitness
    • International Baccalaureate (level 3) choosing 6 subjects
  • For both the IB and A-levels, you receive formal qualifications which are recognised by universities and colleges across the world
  • All students (both EU and non-EU) will need a Student visa
  • You have the support of the College tutorial sessions and the International team for your pastoral care
  • You live with a UK host family, which is arranged by Varndean College or your agent
  • We provide an induction programme to the college, the local area, and take you on visits to tourist venues

Entry Requirements

  • You need to be age 16 to 18 years old on entry
  • Anyone from around the world can apply. After January 2021 all students (both EU and non-EU) who choose a course of study in the UK longer than 6 months, will need:
    1. UKVI Student visa: www.gov.uk/student-visa
    2. UKVI IELTS test: www.ielts.org
  • To meet our entry requirements, you will need
    1. An IELTS grade for A-level of 5.5 with no grade less than 5.0 in any category or an IELTS grade for IB of 6.5 with no grade less than 6.0 in any category
    2. Good grades in your latest school report
    3. A good recommendation from your current school
Please look at the Courses tab on Varndean website to see the courses and the entry requirements varndean.ac.uk/courses/.

Programme Dates and Prices

A level and BTEC L3
Year 1Tue 6 Sept 2022 - Tue 11 July 2023£16,240
Year 2Mon 4 Sept 2023 - Fri 12 July 2024£16,060
  • A UKVI Student visa and UKVI IELTS or SELT equivalent are needed for all programmes longer than 6 months
  • All students must be hosted in a host family organised by Varndean College or their agent
  • The accommodation fee includes half-term holidays - one week per term.
  • The accommodation fee does not include the two-week Christmas holiday, nor the two-week Easter holiday. There is an additional supplement of £125 per week for the holiday period. Not all hosts will provide accommodation over the holiday period, so this would be on request.
  • Guardianship includes: allocating the host family, host safeguarding checks, annual visits to the host family, half-termly welfare check-ins with the students, accompanying the student to accident and emergency situations, liaising with the natural parents termly, authorising overnight travel arrangements during the stay, overseeing all accommodation enquiries.
International Baccalaureate
Year 1Tue 6 Sept 2022 - Tue 11 July 2023£18,830
Year 2Mon 4 Sept 2023 - Fri 24 May 2024£15,110

** All one year short courses need to take at least one formal AS qualification as a requirement of the Student visa. Only some subjects are available as an AS - they are annotated with **
No.SubjectQualificationSeptember EntryJanuary Entry
1ArtA Level
2BiologyA Level
3Biology (Applied)BTEC Level 3 Single
4Business StudiesA Level
5Business Studies (Vocational)BTEC Level 3 Single and Double
6**Carbon Literacy QualificationCLQ
7ChemistryA LevelNot Available
8Classical CivilisationA Level
9Computer Games DevelopmentBTEC Level 3 Single
10Computer ScienceA Level
11CriminologySingle Level 3 Diploma
12DanceBTEC Level 3 Single
13Design - 3DA Level
14Design - GraphicA Level
15Drama and Theatre StudiesA LevelNot Available
16EconomicsA Level
17EngineeringCTEC Level 3 Single
18English LanguageA Level
19English LiteratureA Level
20English Language & LiteratureA Level
21Environmental SustainabilityBTEC Level 3 Single
22**Film StudiesA LevelNot Available
23Forensic Science and Criminal InvestigationDouble BTEC Level 3 National Diploma
24FrenchA Level
25GeographyA Level
26GermanA Level
27Health & Social CareBTEC Level 3 Single and Double
28History - Early ModernA Level
29History - ModernA Level
30Information TechnologyBTEC Level 3 Single
31International BaccalaureateIB Diploma
32**LawA Level
33Law (Applied)BTEC Level 3 Single
34MathematicsA Level
35Media StudiesA Level
36Music TechnologyA Level
37**Performing ArtsBTEC Level 3 Single and DoubleNot Available
38PhilosophyA Level
39PhotographyA Level
40Physical EducationA Level
41PhysicsA LevelNot Available
42PoliticsA Level
43**Protective ServicesBTEC Level 3 Single
44**PsychologyA Level
45Psychology (Applied)BTEC Level 3
46SociologyA Level
47SpanishA Level
48TextilesA Level
49Travel & TourismBTEC Level 3 Single

Group 1English Literature
Group 2French / German / Spanish / Spanish for beginners / Mandarin / Mandarin for beginners
Group 3History / Global Politics / Psychology
Group 4Biology / Physics
Group 5Mathematics - Analysis & Approaches / Mathematics - Applications & Interpretations
Group 6Chemistry / Film / Philosophy / Visual Arts
Plus the core programme of:
  • Extended essay: 4,000 words on a topic of particular interest in any subject
  • Theory of knowledge: A study of the foundations of knowledge
  • Creativity, activity, service: A programme of extra-curricular activities

Covid-19 addendum to policy: for September 2021 entry, all deposits will be fully refunded if
  1. The course does not run at Varndean due to Covid-19 implications
  2. The student decides to withdraw from the programme due to Covid-19 reasons, before they arrive.

Once the student arrives in UK, the normal refund and cancellation policy applies, regardless of Covid-19 implications. This is as follows:

  1. Withdrawal after paying the deposit, before full payment, for non-Covid-19 related reasons: For students who do not need a visa:
    1. All deposits are non-refundable - they guarantee and hold a place for the student at Varndean College.
    2. All deposits are non-refundable for any reason except a visa refusal (see 1.3)
    3. 85% of the deposit will be refunded if a visa has been denied
  2. Withdrawal after paying the full amount, before arrival:
    1. If a student pays the full fees and then withdraws for any reason except a visa refusal (see 2.2)
      • the deposit will not be refunded
      • 85% of the balance of tuition fees will be refunded
      • the full accommodation fees will be refunded
    2. If a student pays the full fees and the visa is refused:
      • 85% of the full fees, including the deposit, will be refunded
      • the full accommodation fees will be refunded
  3. Withdrawal after arrival, or if a student is sent home for any reason:
    1. If any student withdraws after arrival, unless there are exceptional circumstances (see 3.2)
      • the deposit will not be refunded
      • the tuition fees will not be refunded
      • any remaining accommodation fees will be refunded less two weeks notice period for host family
    2. If there are exceptional personal circumstances, such as bereavement, a percentage refund may be considered, on appeal to the Principal of the college
  4. Full payment is needed before the student lands in the UK
    5. The deadline for payment is one month before scheduled flight to UK. In the event of non-payment:
    • the student's place will be withdrawn
    • the deposit will not be refunded
  5. Agent's commission in connection with refunds and cancellations
    1. No commission will be paid to the agent if the student is not enrolled in College, for any reason

Application Checklist

Please email your application to Shaun Clark at scl@varndean.ac.uk, including:

  • the application form as a scan or attachment
  • a scan of your passport
  • a scan of your latest school report with subjects and grades
  • a scan of any additional learning needs support plan if applicable
  • a scan of your current school's recommendation from your tutor or principal
  • a scan of any IELTs or English Language certificate you may have

We will then contact you with the next steps in the process.

For any general enquiries about study programmes for International students, please contact us at:

Email: international@varndean.ac.uk
Tel: +44 01273 508011

Application Form