Cultural information

Britain in general

Here are a few cultural tips to help you adjust to life in Britain

  • Be polite - in Britain it is polite to use "Please" or "Thank you" whenever you ask for or receive something.
  • Be punctual for classes, meals, social outings etc. Not being punctual can show disrespect.
  • Respect all cultures.
  • English pubs:
    • you will be expected to pay for your drinks when you receive them
    • you will be expected to pay for a drink in small change, not large denomination notes
    • you will be expected to order more drinks if you stay in the pub and you may be asked to leave if you spend a whole evening in a pub with only one drink. Pubs are different from bars.
  • Queuing is a British pastime, so when in Britain please observe this custom. It is considered rude to push in front of people queuing and you may not get served if you push in front.
  • People respond positively if you smile!

Police, doctors and dentists

Britain is different from your home country. Here are a few cultural tips about the police, doctors and dentists.

  • The police in Britain are very friendly. Please do not be afraid to ask them for any help or information.
  • The possession and use of drugs is illegal in Britain and carries severe penalties, including deportation from the country.
  • In an emergency, treatment in the Accident and Emergency department at the hospital is free. However you will have to pay to visit the doctor (GP), for any medical tests and x-rays, for any medication from the pharmacy and if you need to stay in hospital.
  • Reception staff at the School can help you make a doctor’s appointment. Private homestay families will help you with this at weekends or when you are not at School.
  • Reception staff at the School can help you make a dentist’s appointment. You will always have to pay to visit the dentist and so it is advisable to ask how much the treatment will cost before the treatment starts. Check your medical insurance as many insurance policies do not include dental treatment and make sure that you keep all your receipts.

Private homestay accommodation

Here are a few cultural tips to help you adjust to life in Britain and to living with a private home stay family (if you have chosen this option)

  • Most private home stay families serve evening meals between 5.30 - 7.30 pm; please make sure you check the time with your family and be punctual.
  • Expect  English houses to have:
    - only one bathroom (therefore no private bathroom facilities)
    - lower room temperatures
    - smaller rooms
    - no servants
    - probably pets (cats/dogs) living in the house
    - women have careers & work outside the home

Your private home stay family is not a hotel or a service. To help you get the most out of your stay, offer to help with simple tasks around the home, e.g. make your bed each day, help clear the dinner table. By doing this you will make yourself a part of the family which, after all, is one of the reasons for choosing to stay with a family.

If you have a question about your private homestay family you may find the answer in the list below. Please contact us if you cannot find it here.

  • How can I be sure I will stay with a nice family in a clean home?
    We only allocate carefully selected private home stay families who are regularly inspected.
  • I'm a vegetarian. Can you meet my dietary needs?
    We promise to do our best to provide a private home stay family able to meet your special dietary and medical needs.
  • Do you meet all accommodation requests?
    We do our best to meet any other accommodation requests, but we cannot guarantee to meet all requests.
  • Will I be in a family with another student with the same mother tongue?
    We guarantee that you will not be placed in the same private home stay family as a student with the same mother tongue, unless you specifically request this or the school seeks your agreement in advance.
  • How far do I have to travel to school?
    We will arrange private home stay accommodation within reasonable distance of the school (e.g. maximum 20-25 minutes walk or a local bus journey for Cambridge an average of 40 minutes on public transport in London).
  • Can you describe the sort of bedroom I can expect?
    We provide a single room and a place where you can study. Rooms will have: a bed with a good supply of bedding, ample drawer and hanging space, a mirror, adequate lighting and heating and normally a writing desk or table.
  • What are the laundry arrangements?
    Private home stay families will provide and launder bed linen and hand and bath towels. Private home stay families will be prepared to launder a reasonable amount of clothes each week for you, or to allow you use of the washing machine. You will also have access to an iron and be able to hand wash light garments.
  • How often can you use the shower or bath?
    We guarantee that you will have adequate access to bathroom facilities and can have a daily shower or bath but you will normally be expected to share the facilities with family members and any other students.
  • Can I stay with a family after my course finishes?
    We pay private home stay families directly for the course dates. Private arrangements outside the dates of the course are your responsibility.
  • What happens if I do not like the private home stay family?
    We do all we can to help if you want to change your private home stay family provided that you give the private home stay family one week's notice or pay one week's accommodation charge.
  • Will I be able to come and go as I please in the family?
    You will be free to come and go as you please provided you respect the family. We care about your well being and therefore require private home stay families to inform the school if you are unexpectedly absent overnight. You should inform them if you will be away for a night or weekend.
  • Do you ask the students for information about the families?
    We value your comments as they help us to improve our service to students at the school. While at the school we obtain written feedback from you during and at the end of the course but we encourage you to discuss your feelings or problems with any member of staff.
  • What happens if there is an emergency outside school hours?
    We provide a 24-hour emergency telephone number on the school's answerphone in case of real emergency, e.g. accident or serious illness. Your private home stay family is also available to help you.
  • Can I use the phone at my private homestay family?
    It will be possible to take a reasonable amount of incoming calls at the family at reasonable times of the day (not early morning or late at night), but you are asked not to monopolise the telephone. Please note that there are phones in the school which accept coins, telephone or credit cards
  • Can I plug my laptop computer in at the private homestay family?
    Because your private homestay family cannot get a detailed bill quickly from the telephone company they will not want you plugging your computer in at the house. We recommend that you hire a mobile phone to connect your laptop computer to your Internet Service Provider. Please remember that you also have email and other internet facilities at the school.