An initial payment of £500 should be made to secure your booking, and the final payment is due at least five weeks before your summer camp starts.

Once paid, fees are non-refundable. Please refer to our Term and Conditions for more information.

Booking Changes: If you find the need to modify your booking, a £50 administrative fee will apply.  

Arrival and Departure Transfers: Our published arrivals and departures are designed to optimise your experience.  Should you arrive or depart outside our advertised transfer window, or to an airport other than Heathrow, please be aware that transfer fees will apply as follows:

Luton/Stansted/Gatwick: £510 each way

Heathrow (out of transfer window): £410 each way

Bristol Airport: £120 each way

Bristol Train Station: £120 each way.

Arriving or departing directly to campus out of hours/not Sunday: £150

Arriving at Heathrow Airport before 9.00 on a Sunday: £150

Unaccompanied Minors (arriving/departing outside of our transfer window): £50

Contact our team for more information.

Extra nights: £150 (subject to availability, transfer not included)

Weekend trips: £125 (days students or those attending the trip on arrival/departure day)

Group Horse Riding: £60 per hour lesson

Day fees: £875 per week for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (8.30 to 17.30). Lunch is included

Once you book a place using our online booking form you will be sent an invoice with various payment options.  Choose the option that works best for you.

TransferMate

TransferMate is free to use with no additional bank charges applied to your transfers.  This service provides competitive currency exchange rates and allows you to pay in your preferred local currency.  Please log in to our portal for more information and to make a payment using TransferMate.

TransferWise

TransferWise is a straightforward method for making international payments while minimising bank charges.  To get started, follow these steps.

1. Visit www.transferwise.com
2. Log in or create a new account
3. Transfer funds from your bank account or debit/credit card to our designated account.

Bank Transfers 

You can make a bank transfer to us.  You will find our bank details on your invoice. When making any payment please ensure you quote the student's name and/or invoice number as a reference so we can trace your payment.  Please allow for bank charges within your payment.

Credit Card Payments

Credit card payments can be made through our online portal.  Sign into your account and click “checkout” to make the payment.  You can also contact info@academiccamp.org for your unique payment link.

All our boarding students are covered by student travel insurance offered through Guard Me. This insurance is included in the Academic Summer Camp student fees. It covers students worldwide, except in their country of origin. Therefore, students are not covered under the insurance if they attend our camps in their country of residence. Academic Summer Camps does not provide insurance for day students attending our camps.

The key features of the Guard Me insurance policy are:

Protection against cancellation or curtailment, including visa refusals

Medical expenses: £10,000,000 (public and private treatments and hospitals)

Digital Doctor giving 24/7 medical doctor telephonic and video support

24-hour helpline for medical emergencies

Baggage, personal money and travel documents

Third-party liability: £2,500,000

No excess

Trip Rearrangement Fee Coverage

Once the student fees are received, the insurance coverage will commence, and Guard Me will email the insurance certificate to your contact email address. 

This is the link to the insurance information offered by Guard Me.

This is the link to the full policy wording. You can find a summary of the cover and claims contact numbers at the front of the booklet via this link.

Questions can also be answered via the Student Help Centre on the Guard Me website. 

Here is your step-by-step guide to making Academic Summer your reality:

1.  Choose your programme, location and dates that align with your interests and schedule.  Should you have any questions, our friendly admissions team is here to help
2. Review the important details:  Take a moment to read our terms and conditions.  By signing the application form, you are indicating your agreement. Make sure you understand the programme you are signing up to
3. Complete the booking form: Fill out our user-friendly online booking form, and don't forget to inform us about any medical or dietary concerns we should be aware of. Safety is our top priority. When you book a place, you will create a login to our portal, where you can go back and add information later
4. Reserve your place:  It's time to make your initial payment of £500 to secure your spot.  This will be offset against your total fees
5. Request your visa letter: You can apply for your visa up to three months before the start of the course.  We advise applying as early as possible.  We will supply you with a letter to support your application
6. Familiarise yourself with the parental portal:  You can add any extra information about yourself, upload a photograph, and when the time comes, check out the student handbook, view your timetable and read your reports
7. Customise your curriculum:  Handpick your academic camps or subjects based on your chosen programme
8. Book your travel arrangements: Book your flights and add the details to the portal.  We want to make your arrival seamless, so please check our airport transfer requirements before making any arrangements
9. The countdown begins:  Five weeks before your course, it's time to make your final payment.  We'll email you a reminder!
10. Take the English assessment: consider this a friendly quiz to ensure we can communicate effectively and have a fantastic time together.  Our teachers will use the results to plan their lessons with you in mind!
11. Verify everything:  Log into your online portal to confirm that you have sent us all the necessary documents and information
12. Pack your bags: Consult our Student Handbook to ensure you've packed everything you need.  And, of course, don't leave home without your sense of adventure!
13. Bon Voyage!

At Academic Summer Camp, we prioritise convenience and comfort for our students.  As part of your all-inclusive package, we provide airport transfers from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on our published arrival and departure days.  Your flight should arrive or depart between 09.00 and 17.00 on these days.

How do we make transfer days better?

• We rent a dedicated function suite at Hilton Terminal 4, Heathrow Airport, to streamline your arrival and departure experience
• Students can enjoy a comfortable waiting area with amenities, including snacks, a hot lunch, Wi-Fi, and fun entertainment, ensuring a relaxed start to their summer camp. Students have a chance to get to know people before they arrive at school
• Scheduled transport by coach to ensure that you can seamlessly transition to and from our camps

Bristol arrival dates:

Sunday 6 July 2025

Sunday 20 July 2025

Sunday 3 August 2025

Bristol departure dates:

Sunday 20 July 2025

Sunday 3 August  2025

Sunday 17 August 2025

Additional Information:

• If you're meeting us at the airport, please come to Hilton Terminal 4, Hounslow, TW6 3AF, for drop-off and pick-up. Enjoy a coffee with us. 
• Should you arrive or depart outside our advertised transfer window or to an airport other than Heathrow, please be aware that transfer fees apply
• Your flight should arrive or depart between 09.00 and 17.00 on our published arrival and departure days
• If you arrive at school directly, please arrive between 15.00 and 17.00 on the arrival Sunday. Do not arrive before 15.00 as we are getting your room ready and preparing
• If you arrive direct to school on a non-arrival Sunday you should arrive at 18.00. If you arrive on another day please contact us to arrange a suitable time
• If you depart directly from school, please depart before 11.00 on the departure Sunday
• On departure day, the final coach for Heathrow will leave the school before 10.30, and students with a later flight will be able to enjoy the amenities at Hilton Terminal 4 until their check-in

Arriving at times outside our transfer window

Our published arrivals and departures are designed to optimise your experience.  Should you arrive or depart outside our advertised transfer window, or to an airport other than Heathrow, please be aware that transfer fees will apply as follows:

Luton/Stansted/Gatwick: £510 each way

Heathrow (out of transfer window): £410 each way (If you have a later flight on departure day, the charge is £250 as you can travel on our coach to Heathrow. We will feed you and look after you at Heathrow - however, be prepared for a long wait!)

Bristol Airport: £120 each way

Bristol Train Station: £120 each way

Arriving or departing directly to campus out of hours/not Sunday: £150. Suitable arrangements must be discussed with us

Arriving at Heathrow Airport before 9.00 on a Sunday: £150

Unaccompanied Minors (arriving/departing outside of our transfer window): £50 each way

Contact our team for more information

Sidcot School, Oakridge Lane, Winscombe, BS25 1PD

If you are coming to the UK from another country to participate in our programmes, you may need to obtain a Standard Visitor Visa or an ETA.

Please note that the rules will change in April 2025 and countries who previously did not need to apply for entry clearance before travel may now need to obtain an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

From April 2025 visitors from certain countries including the EU will need an electronic travel authorisation ETA.  The ETA can take up to 72 hours to be approved, will cost £10 and will last for 2 years.

You can check what type of visa you need here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa .  Select the purpose of your visit as “Tourism”

Here's a step-by-step guide on how the admissions and visa process works:

Apply to Academic Summer

Complete a booking form www.academiccamp.org/book-now

To secure your please, make an initial payment of £500

Request a Visa Support Letter

Once we receive your initial payment, you can request a visa support letter from us. People under 18 may need to show a letter from your parent or guardian giving

• their contact details and consent for you to travel to the UK
• the name, date of birth, address and relationship to you of the person you’re staying with
• their consent for you to stay with the person named in the letter

 We will email this letter to you without charge. If you need an original visa support letter sent by courier (this is not a requirement of UKVA, they will accept electronic format), there will be a charge of £75.

Please carefully review the letter and ensure that all the details and information are correct.

Visa Application

You can check to see if you need a visa to enter the UK here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa  

Even if you don't need a visa, you still need to bring the required documents, such as confirmation of your place at Academic Summer and financial evidence to prove you have paid for your course, to show the border officer.

Visa Application Timing

If you do need a visa, you can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa up to three months before your planned travel date to the UK.

Visa processing typically takes about three weeks but you can check the guide processing times for specific information related to your country.  It is best to apply as soon as you can because we cannot refund fees because you do not receive your visa on time.

Visa Support from Academic Summer

Academic Summer is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC), allowing us to support your visa application.

We provide a visa support letter to international students which you should use when applying for your visa at a Visa Application Centre in your country.

If you are not familiar with the visa application process we strongly advise you enlist the support of an immigration specialist or Education Travel Agent in your country.  Please contact us if you would like us to recommend someone.

For more information on Standard Visitor Visa please visit:  https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english 

Long-Term Study in the UK

Please note that Academic Summer is not a Tier 4 Sponsor and cannot issue CAS.

If you plan to study in the UK at a boarding school immediately after your Academic Summer Programme please let us know as you may be able to attend the course using your Tier 4 Child Student Visa sponsored by your future school.

We have many partner schools who can include the Academic Summer programme on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) as a Pre-Sessional course.  Your Tier 4 Child Student Visa will then be valid for both the Academic Summer course and your full-time studies in the independent boarding school.

Police Registration and BRP Collection

If you come to the UK on a Tier 4 Child Student Visa, you may need to register with the police if it is a visa condition (as indicated on your entry clearance vignette).  Academic Summer staff will assist you with this process. A registration fee will apply.

Those staying in the UK for more than six months will receive a 30 day entry clearance vignette and must collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) upon arrival.  Academic Summer will coordinate with your boarding school to facilitate this process.

For more information on Tier 4 Child Student Visas, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/child-study-visa 

These are our recommended levels:

Adventurers:  A2

Explorers:  B1

Engagers:  B2

Remember to take your free CLIL test before arrival.  You can log into the portal using your unique test link.

Travelling to the UK – ETA Guidance

If your child is travelling to the UK to attend one of our summer camps, you may need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel.

The ETA is a new entry requirement for visitors from many countries and it’s quick, simple and affordable to apply.

Who needs an ETA?

Citizens of several countries—including many European nations such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and others such as Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia—are now required to obtain an ETA before travelling to the UK.

You can find out if your child needs an ETA by using this official government tool:
 Check if you need a UK visa

How do you apply?

1. Visit the official ETA application page: gov.uk/eta
2. Complete the form online – it takes just a few minutes.
3. Pay the £16 fee using a debit or credit card.
4. Receive a decision within 3 working days – often much quicker.
5. The ETA will be electronically linked to the passport and is valid for multiple visits over 2 years.

What you’ll need:

• A valid passport
• A recent digital photo
• Payment method (credit/debit card)

We recommend applying at least one week before travel to allow enough time for approval.

If you need any help with the ETA process, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@academiccamp.org – our team is happy to support you.

12-year-olds: Adventurers or Explorers

Ask yourself:

Supervision: are you comfortable with your child having some independence, exploring various locations and enjoying free time without constant staff supervision?

Academic confidence: is your child confident in a classroom setting?

Maturity: are they at ease around older students?

Experience: Are they already in secondary school or still in primary school? Have they been to summer school before?

Devices: Are you happy for them to have more use of their mobile?

Engagers or Explorers?

Explorers is specifically designed for learners aged 12-14 to prepare them for what is yet to come.

Engagers is for students age 15+.  Engagers is the right programme for you whether you are about to start your final year of GCSE or your first year of A Levels / IB.  We cover core topics from the GCSE syllabus to ensure the programme is relevant and stimulating. Having a good knowledge of key GCSE topics will help you prepare for A Levels to ensure you have a strong foundation for the next stage.

We always have dedicated staff on duty, ensuring supervision during breaks, in the evenings and on weekends.  Supervision is 24/7.  Students are not allowed out without a member of staff in the evenings. During trips, you will have free time and will be given space to explore with your campmates. There will always be a staff member close by at a designated meeting point who is contactable by phone should you need them.  Adventurers are never left unsupervised. 

Last year we welcomed students from over 60 different nationalities to our programmes from countries including UK, Italy, France, Switzerland, Ghana, Canada, Japan, China, Ukraine, and many more!