A-Levels in York
There are few better places to study than York. The ancient capital of Northern England is home to nearly 25,000 students. Our A-Level programme, based at the city’s first rate Further Education College, is suitable for anyone aged 16 or over. It is designed as an extension of high school study, providing two distinct options:

The first is our one year study programme. Students will spend September to June studying a range of A-Level subjects alongside UK students. This option provides an outstanding study abroad experience to enrich and inspire further study at home or abroad.

Our two year programme is designed for those wanting to access University education in the UK. Students will spend two academic years working towards a full set of 3 A-Level qualifications with the option to progress to University thereafter.

All our students live in homestay accommodation with dedicated local families. We work with them to provide all the care and support needed to thrive away from home! We are also on hand to resolve any issues encountered along the way.

Finally, we run a comprehensive series of welcome events in September and an extensive social programme throughout the year. This autumn, we are launching our Hobstone community platform, which will give access to a wide range of activities, resources and information for students here and around the world. As a Hobstone student, your membership is free! Applications are open now and will run until the summer. Join us as the world re-opens!

How to Apply
Applying is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Here is a simple guide for those applying directly to us. If you are applying via a partner organisation the process may be slightly different, but is likely to be similar. Before you apply, read the information on this page and let us know if you have any questions.

Application & References

1
Do some research and send in your application form. Let’s get started!

Read our website, think about what you want from your time overseas. Ask us any questions you like. We are happy to help. Once you are ready, here is what you need to do to start your application.

  1. Send in your main application form. This can be done online here.
  2. Talk to one of your teachers and ask them for an academic reference, available here.
  3. Send in your homestay preferences, available here.
  4. Send us a copy of your latest school report including your latest grades.
  5. Send us any formal qualification you have, especially English qualifications.


Once we have your application, we will contact you to arrange an online consultation to talk everything through. This is an informal, relaxed discussion. There is nothing to worry about. You can ask us anything you like and at the end, we will make sure you are comfortable and understand what to expect next

Offers & Visas

2
Paperwork, college interviews, offers, language tests and student visas

Once we have had our first consultation, we will arrange a course interview with staff from York College. They will talk to you about the academic side of life and explain both the academic entry requirements and the visa application process.

After the interview, you will receive a formal offer. This will either be unconditional, meaning you have everything you need to apply for your visa, or conditional, meaning there are still some things you need to do first… usually this is a Secure English Language Test (SELT).

The College will guide you through the visa process so that you understand what to do at each stage. Before you apply, they will send you a CAS number. This is your formal offer which you need to have before you can make a visa application. The College will aim to send your CAS three months in advance of your course start date.

Once you have submitted your visa application and have your visa, we move to the final stage… preparing to arrive!

Preparation & Community

3
During the summer months, we will help you get ready for your new adventure.

Before you arrive, we will:

  1. Confirm your homestay placement and put you in touch with your host family.
  2. Welcome you to our Hobstone community and introduce you to other students on your course.
  3. Run online activities so you can get to know each other before you even arrive.
  4. Confirm study arrangements and finalise payment.
  5. Confirm your travel plans and tell you everything you need to know about travel and airport transfers.
  6. Speak to you personally in the days before you leave and give you a chance to ask any questions.


We encourage everyone to arrive on the same day. This year, that is Friday 3rd September. We will provide a meet and greet service at Manchester airport on that day and take you to your host family. Finally, we are preparing a fantastic course welcome prior to you starting College the following week. A sneak preview of our draft welcome timetable is available here


Study Information
Classes on the Programme take place at York College, one of the UK’s top Further Education Colleges. Students study three A-Level subjects from a choice of more than 30! Those on the one year course work receive an official report at the end of the year to take back to schools and colleges at home. Those studying on the two year programme will work towards full A-Level qualifications. A-Levels are universally accepted by UK universities and widely accepted by universities the to world over.

Life in York
York is uniquely beautiful city. Home to 200,000 people, including nearly 25,000 students. It blends 2000 years of history with the creativity and forward thinking you would expect from a place with the fastest broadband in the country!


Dates 2023/24
  • 2 September – UK Arrival Day
  • 3 to 8 September – Welcome & orientation
  • 9 September – Classes start at York College
  • 25 October to 3 – November Half Term Break
  • 20 December – End of Term
  • 21 December to 5 Jan – Christmas Break
  • 7 January – First day back in College
  • 15 to 24 February – Half Term Break
  • 5 to 21 April – Easter Break
  • 22 April – First day back in College
  • 26 May to 1 June – Half Term Break
  • 20 June – Last day of the programme
  • 21 June – UK Departure Day

What’s Included
  • Expert advice and guidance throughout the application process
  • A-Level Tuition at York College
  • Homestay accommodation with a local family
  • Local support and guidance provided by Hobstone Education
  • 24/7 urgent support throughout the programme
  • Airport transfers at the start and end of the programme
  • Course welcome and induction events
  • Social programme with local trips and activities
  • Application support and guidance
  • UK Student Visa sponsorship
  • Free access to Hobstone’s community portal

Homestay
All of our students stay with local families during the programme. This is a huge part of the experience. Following the links to see what is included, plus our comprehensive A to Z with lots of tips an advice for making the most of the opportunity.


Welcome Timetable
We believe it is vital to get things right from the start. Our 2021 arrival day is 3rd September. Our course welcome activities will start on the 4th. Get our draft programme below!


Costs & Finance
Most applicants to the programme are supported by study abroad agents in their home country who are responsible for setting the fee. However, a fee for direct applicants is available on request. Contact us for more details. In both cases, the fee includes all of the following:

  • Expert advice and guidance throughout the application process
  • A-Level Tuition at York College
  • Homestay accommodation with a local family
  • Local support and guidance provided by Hobstone Education
  • 24/7 urgent support throughout the programme
  • Airport transfers at the start and end of the programme
  • Course welcome and induction events
  • Social programme with local trips and activities
  • Application support and guidance
  • UK Student Visa sponsorship


For direct applicants, a deposit of £2000 is required to confirm a place following a formal offer. This is non-refundable, accept where visa applications are rejected, in which case £1750 is refundable. The remaining balance is due no later than 15th August. UK visa costs, personal insurance and flights to an from the UK are not included.

Homestay accommodation does not include the Christmas period during which most students return to their home countries.


Care & Support
We take pride in our ability to provide local and meaningful support. We meet all students regularly and assist them should they have any concerns. Students will also have a 24 hour urgent support number which they can call should they need to.

Our aim is to build a team of dedicated people around each students to help make their time abroad a success. This includes, teachers, parents, homestay hosts, study abroad partners.

As individuals, we have nearly 20 years experience working and guiding young people. We understand the need to balance staying safe with growing independence. Students on our programmes are encouraged to meet and mix with local people and fellow international students. Our trips and social programme all add value to this.


Covid-19 Update
The Coronavirus pandemic continues to challenge the world. However, the UK is making good progress with its vaccination programme and the Government has published a timetable towards normality.

It is anticipated that legal restrictions on activity will be lifted by the summer, potentially as early as June. Meanwhile, a target of 31st July has been set to vaccinate every adult in the country, with a booster dose set form later in the year.

In view of this, we are confidant that study abroad activity will be fully operational by September

In the meantime, we will of continue to monitor the situation and take all reasonable precautions to limit the spread of Covid-19. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this.

Updated: 17 March 2021

Partner with Us
We are looking to build powerful business partnerships with study abroad organisations from around the world. Our York programme is one example of our work and offers a high quality opportunity for young people to access UK Universities or simply to grow as individuals by spending time overseas. If you would like to discover more, please get in touch.


A-Level Subjects
Students study three subjects from a list of over 30 A-Levels. Classes run subject to demand and you are not obliged to make a final decision about subjects until August. We are here to guide and advise you throughout the process.

  • Ancient History
  • Biology
  • Business Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Drama & Theatre
  • Early Modern History
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • Film Studies
  • Financial Studies
  • Fine Art
  • French
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • German

  • Law
  • Mathematics (Core)
  • Mathematics (Further)
  • Media Studies
  • Modern History
  • Music
  • Music Technology
  • Philosophy
  • Photography
  • Physical Education
  • Physics
  • Politics
  • Product Design
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Textiles


Entry Requirements
This programme is open to anyone aged 16 or over. One of the most important things we look for when students apply for our programmes is the right attitude and maturity to study away from home. You will need to be committed, self-motivated and enthusiastic to make the most from your time with us. However, it is also important that you have the right academic background to succeed. A-Level courses are challenging and you will need to work hard. You will need to show you have good academic grades and demonstrate you have the right level of English.


York College require students to achieve IELTS level 6 to study A-Levels, with a minimum of 5.5 in all four language areas. Equivalent scores in other recognised tests are acceptable. There is also an English language requirement for UK visa applications. More information about visa is available here. If you have any questions about any of this, don’t hesitate to contact us.


Study in one of England’s most beautiful cities at one of the country’s best colleges. Choose between our one year study programme and the full two year A-Level experience! Suitable for applicants aged 16 and over.

Further Reading