Taking a year out to improve your English expands your horizons. Not only will your English improve significantly, but you will also meet people from all over the world, gain life experience and enjoy the independence and excitement of living abroad.
You could improve up to 5 levels by taking an Academic year course. The syllabus is carefully structured to promote continual progress across all language skills and to maintain a high level of motivation throughout the course. You will be monitored by your teachers and receive regular assessments of your level so that you can discuss your progress, address areas for improvement and plan your further development.
Cactus has been working with our partner schools for 8 years. We are extremely well respected within the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) industry, and were nominated by the schools we work with as Agency of the Year in 2007 at the Language Travel Awards.
Cactus regularly attends the ICEF Conference in Berlin and StudyWorld in London, where the best schools meet the best agents in the world, to discuss study abroad, inform themselves of changes within the industry and to continue to support our long established relationships with our school colleagues.
All the schools we work with are accredited by the British Council.
Find out more - Click on the titles below for more information
Why take an academic year?
As an Academic year student you will receive a certificate to mark your achievement stating the length of time you have studied, your starting level and the level you have achieved.
Improve by up to 5 levels
Achieve greater fluency and accuracy across the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills
Speak with confidence
Improve your range of vocabulary
Use intonation, idioms and colloquial language correctly and with ease
Understand English spoken with different accents
Enjoy reading in English and write accurately
Get advice on which exam to take to validate your knowledge, and which university course or degree to follow after your academic year
Apply for better degrees or better paid jobs around the world, and help raise your career prospects
Get assistance and support from the teachers and staff at school throughout your course, to guide and help you improve as much as possible
Taking an exam – the next step
Many students choose to study for an internationally recognized exam qualification whilst on an Academic Year programme. An FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS or TOEFL certificate is invaluable for your career, when applying for a job or entering university. The teachers at school are there to help you decide which exam is right for you, depending on what your objectives are.
Multi-Destination Academic Year is the perfect way to combine your studies and discover different destinations or countries! This is available in selected cities across the UK. Start your course in one centre for 12 weeks and move to another city to complete your studies. Your syllabus is completely transferable.
Please contact us for details on +44 1273 725 200
Level & How long to study
A student can have any level to enter a year long course. Students choose the number of weeks to study depending on their level when they begin. Lower level students, with higher objectives, will need to study longer. Many students come onto the courses at elementary level.
Below is a general guide depending on your starting level. Please note this is only a guideline and improvement will vary depending on each student’s personal profile (mother tongue, commitment to the course, level of immersion outside the classroom etc…).
Estimated level at start of course
Length of course
Estimated level at end of course
Beginners
36 weeks 48 weeks
Intermediate to upper-int. Upper-int. to advanced
Elementary
36 weeks 48 weeks
Upper-intermediate Advanced
Lower intermediate
36 weeks 48 weeks
Advanced to proficient Proficient
Hours & timetable
Most students on year programmes tend to study for approximately 25 hours a week. You can also choose to study for 20 hours a week with classes in the mornings only. However, the more intensive the course is, the faster you will progress.
A standard course will generally have lessons taking place Monday to Friday between 9am and 12.30/1pm. More intensive courses will also have lessons in the afternoon, but you will always be free from around 4pm and at week ends too – when you can use your free time to study, work part time or explore the city and go on excursions.
Course content
Course structured and designed to make you progress at a steady pace
Work on 4 language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening
Grammar and vocabulary
Aspects of local culture
Daily homework
Teachers use interactive methods of teaching to make students practice
In some schools, you can add a specific component or module, for example exam preparation or business. Please note that you can take this option once you have reached and intermediate level of English.
Teachers & Other students
Teachers
Native English speakers
Qualified (mostly a University degree)
Experienced in teaching English to speakers of other languages
Used to teaching to students of all levels, ages and nationalities
Personal advice to guide you throughout your course
Other students
Students of all nationalities take a year out to study English as it is the best way to be immersed in the language and really improve. However, the nationalities that are most likely to follow such a course are Korean, Saudi, Libyan, Turkish, Taiwanese, South East Asian, Chinese, as well as students coming from Middle Eastern and Latin America countries.
Accommodation
Most students stay with host family accommodation for the whole of their stay in order to maximize their learning. However, a lot of students choose to book a few weeks homestay accommodation only at the beginning, either to see if they like living with an English family, or to give them time to find other accommodation, such as a room in a house that is shared with other students. Some students book a room in a residence if the school has this option.
Cactus recommends that you book 4 weeks host family accommodation so that you will not have to worry about it when you arrive in the country, and are looked after on arrival. It is likely that you will make friends and want to find your own accommodation afterwards but of course you can also extend your stay in the family if you like it!
Money & Free time
Money
Cactus would advise you to bring approximately £75-100 per week for living expenses in the south of England and £60 – 75 in the north (excluding accommodation expenses).
Free time
The schools always have an activity program (sometimes there is even a dedicated activity officer) so that the students can join excursions to discover the area, or get together for a meal or a night out and get to know each other. Some activities are free while others (especially excursions out of the city) may incur a small fee, but schools get very competitive rates so that you can make the most of your time abroad.
Work
Some students on academic year programmes like to work part-time whilst in the UK, and some schools will advise you on where to look for work and who are good local employers. Working during your course gives you the chance to practice your English, meet people, get some professional experience and finance your studies. Many students also choose not to work during this period, focusing purely on their studies.
In most touristy or coastal cities like Bournemouth, Brighton or London for example, it is easier to find work as there are lots of opportunities for jobs in hotels, bars and restaurants. You will probably have to wait until you reach a lower intermediate level of English in order to be able to communicate enough to work in an English environment.
Visas & Health insurance
Visas
Depending on where you are coming from, you might need to get a student visa in order to be able to study long term abroad. Please refer to our visa section for more details.
Health insurance
Some schools (mostly in the US and Canada) will not accept you in the course if you can’t show a proof of insurance, in this case you will be able to purchase the school’s own insurance. However Cactus recommends that you purchase this in your own country before you leave, as it will often be a better and cheaper arrangement.
What the schools say about the academic year programmes
John Harrison - Group Marketing Manager (Brighton Hove, Oxford North and Edinburgh schools)
"We can guarantee progress and help achieve your pre-determined language goals through our intensive Academic Year Programme. In our schools the intensive programme means a full day of study because our innovative Active English Workshop allows students to practise what they have been learning in real-life situations. Most students require an IELTS examination and the Academic Year Programme can feature 15 hours of general English + 7 hours of IELTS exam preparation + 3 hours of Active IELTS workshops per week. Any student taking the Academic Year Programme is entitled to a Cambridge University accredited work experience placement in a British company. Study for 24 weeks or 32 weeks, complete a 4 week work placement in a British company then return home with significantly improved language skills and certificate from Cambridge University."
Robin Garforth - Group Marketing Manager (Brighton Central, London Russell Square, San Francisco schools)
"Our International Semester Courses continue to grow in popularity. Students like our choice of location, and are often choosing multi-centre options to really maximize their exposure to British or American culture. It’s the flexibility and individuality of these courses that really works, with our students expecting much more than just language training. It’s very much a first step. Sometimes this can be towards undergraduate entry through our University Pathway courses in the UK or USA, towards a range of practical skills-based internship placements, or for language and communication skills for life."
Mark Henwood – Director (Bournemouth School)
"Last year our school welcomed 2500 adult students onto our standard programmes. The Foundation course booking season is upon us and our Diploma programmes from September have always proven popular. There are real product differences at our school and in terms of Management and Business training focus in language learning we remain an industry leader. Bournemouth has sandy beaches, good weather & job opportunities, which mean that a year studying at MLS is a great choice all round."
