12 Study Abroad in England for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
As a high school student, studying in a country away from home can be a great opportunity for you to step beyond the classroom and explore new academic and cultural environments. This is where study abroad programs come in, offering you opportunities to live and learn in a new country and build independence, adaptability, and confidence. Studying abroad also broadens your global perspective, which can add value to your college essays and interviews. Additionally, certifications or coursework completed overseas can add to your application.
England, in particular, is a popular destination for various study abroad opportunities open to high schoolers around the world. Home to some of the world’s top-ranked universities, the country offers various opportunities to combine rigorous academics with rich cultural exploration. You can visit world-class museums, historic landmarks, and research institutions while connecting with peers from around the globe.
To help you get started, we have curated a list of 12 study abroad programs in England for high school students.
12 Study Abroad in England for High School Students
Location: Various sites around the world, including Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston.
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Program dates: Two weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students who are 13 – 18 years old and currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Here, you will work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4–10 students. You will attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with your tutor. The program offers practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. You can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Various small and medium-sized towns across England
Cost: Academic UK Term: $15,660 | Academic Semester: $17,510 | Academic Year: $26,990
Application deadline: Spring: September 15 | Fall: March 15
Program dates: Term: Over three months; Semester: Four to six months; Academic Year: September–May; exact dates vary by host school placement
Eligibility: U.S. or Canadian high school students, ages 16 and 17, with a minimum GPA of 2.75/4.0; check other eligibility details here.
Greenheart Travel offers high school students from the U.S. and Canada academic and cultural exchange experiences in England. As a participant, you will live in England with host families for full cultural immersion while attending local schools in small to medium-sized towns. The program offers flexible commitment options, allowing you to choose between a term, a semester, or a full academic year. Greenheart Travel typically offers information about the general curriculum common for your age level in England. You can indicate your preferences for certain courses or fields you want to explore while in England; however, the host school will set the curriculum for you.
Location: Schools and host families within England, Scotland, and Wales
Cost: Academic Year: $25,000 | Semester: $16,000 | Trimester: Details available on contacting ICES for availability and pricing
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Program dates: Academic Year: Late August – mid June; early January – late November | Semester: Late August – late February; Early January – mid June | Trimester: September – November; January – March
Eligibility: U.S. high school students, ages 13 – 18, who have not yet graduated and hold a minimum GPA of 2.5.
ICES’s High School Study Abroad Program is an opportunity to experience academic life in England, Scotland, or Wales. You will attend a local public or private high school and live with a screened host family, engaging with the regional high school curriculum and exploring British education, culture, and everyday life. You can choose to attend one term/semester or the full academic year. The program offers opportunities for cultural immersion and academic growth. You will join school activities, clubs, and sports while exploring locations like Oxford, London, and Brighton during your stay.
Location: Dorset, United Kingdom
Cost: Varies by program length; starts at 6340 GBP ($8260.64)
Application deadline: April 15
Program dates: Early September – end of June
Eligibility: Students, ages 16 – 19, with an intermediate level of English (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent) fluency or native English speakers
The Nacel Classic High School Exchange in England offers opportunities to experience living abroad while preparing for A-Levels or BTEC qualifications in a local college in Dorset. You will live with a host family and attend classes alongside British students, building academic and cultural collaboration skills. You can choose to study for a trimester, semester, or full academic year, specializing in three to four A-Level subjects or pursuing a vocational BTEC track. You will access facilities like the on-premises theatre, restaurant, media and skills centers, sports complexes, and a library, and engage in outdoor activities such as sailing and beach sports at Weymouth’s seaside adventure centers. Weekly tutorials are part of the experience to help you adapt to coursework and British teaching methods.
Location: Rookwood School, Hampshire, England
Cost: £7,764 ($10,124) + additional boarding costs; specifics available here.
Program dates: Academic year starting in September; international boarders can opt for a minimum of half a term.
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: International students, ages 8 – 18
Rookwood School offers international high school students the opportunity to join its boarding community in England, offering a British boarding-school experience. Here, you will explore the regular British secondary school curriculum based on your grade level. You will live in modern boarding houses designed to provide a “home-from-home” environment under the supervision and support of school staff. Academically, you will follow the UK high school curriculum, progressing through GCSEs to A-Levels in the senior years. The program emphasizes cultural immersion alongside academic preparation. While living on campus, you will join a diverse community of learners from around the world and explore the local culture.
Location: Various British Boarding Schools across England, Scotland, and Wales
Cost: Tuition covered by merit-based scholarship; travel and other costs not specified
Application deadline: December 15
Program dates: August – July
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens
The English-Speaking Union’s Secondary School Exchange (SSE) Scholarship is a merit-based opportunity that allows you to spend a gap year studying at a British boarding school. This exchange program provides full scholarships covering academic and cultural immersion in the United Kingdom. The program bridges high school and college, giving you the chance to explore new academic subjects and social experiences within the British education system before committing to a college degree. You will attend boarding institutions like Dollar Academy, Wells Cathedral School, Langley School, or Benenden School, where you will study alongside local students and participate in clubs, sports, and cultural activities. The program begins with a summer orientation in the U.S., followed by departure to the U.K. in late August or early September. Following the move, you will live on campus at your assigned British schools and return home the following July.
Location: Various locations across the United Kingdom
Cost: Academic Year: $28,995 | Semester: $18,995 | Trimester: $16,095
Program dates: Academic Year: Mid-August – late June | Fall Semester: Mid-August – mid-January | Spring Semester: Early January – late June | Fall Trimester: Mid-August – late December | Spring Trimester: Early January – late March
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students who meet the age requirements for the chosen term; English proficiency and strong academic performance are required.
The Youth For Understanding (YFU) United Kingdom Program offers an opportunity to experience life as a British teenager while attending a private school. Before leaving for the UK, you will attend a comprehensive 3-day orientation in the U.S., followed by a three-day workshop in Ireland or the UK, where you will learn about certain key cultural differences. You will enroll as a Sixth Form student, which is the UK equivalent of high school, and prepare for university studies. You can choose three or four academic subjects while taking additional general courses, such as critical thinking. The program emphasizes both academic rigor and cultural immersion, offering you opportunities to explore the British education system.
Location: TASIS England, Coldharbour Lane, England
Cost: £35,740
Program dates: Applications are accepted throughout the year; the academic year typically follows the UK school calendar
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 18
TASIS England Upper School is an international boarding and day school that allows high schoolers from around the world to enroll in its academic program in London. You can choose between two academic tracks, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme or the American High School Diploma, offering a wide range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Both diplomas are widely recognized by global universities, ensuring flexibility with your academic preparation. The school offers support to prepare students for universities across the U.S., U.K., and worldwide. You can choose from courses such as art history, biology, calculus, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, economics, physics, psychology, statistics, U.S. history, and multiple foreign languages.
Location: Leighton Park, Berkshire, England
Cost: £18,660 ($24,332)/term
Program dates: Academic year begins in September.
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: International students of all ages
Leighton Park School offers international students a full boarding school experience in England, combining a rigorous academic curriculum and opportunities to connect with a global student community. With around 20% of its student body made up of students from over 45 countries, spending a term in the school can help you connect with peers from diverse backgrounds. Academically, the school is an IB World School, offering both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and A-Level pathways and allowing you to engage in project-based, inquiry-driven learning. You will have access to the school’s specialist art studios, design and engineering workshops, and a co-curricular program while living in a supportive, community-oriented setting. This program also allows you to prepare for international university pathways.
Location: Summer School at Leighton Park, Reading, England
Cost: £2,995 ($3,905)/two-week course
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Program dates: Course 1: July 7 – 21 | Course 2: July 21 – August 4 | Course 3: August 4 – August 18
Eligibility: International students, ages 8 – 17
The International Summer School at Leighton Park is a short study abroad experience that combines English language study, professional-led academies, and cultural exploration. Each year, the program is open to approximately 230 students from over 20 nationalities, maintaining a 60:40 female-to-male student ratio. As a participant, you will have access to 30 hours of English language tuition each course, led by experienced instructors, alongside a diverse program of activities, creative workshops, and excursions. The curriculum is designed to help you build linguistic, academic, and cultural awareness and prepare you for higher education. You will also engage in visits to historic and culturally rich cities in the UK. Beyond academics, you will participate in team-building challenges, multicultural events, and sports, connecting with peers from diverse backgrounds.
Location: Taunton School, Taunton, England
Cost: ~£34,380 ($44,832)/year
Program dates: Academic year starts in September
Eligibility: Students of all ages; students, ages 14 – 18, qualify for the one-year GCSE/Pre-IB school or Sixth Form pathways.
Taunton School offers students the opportunity to live and study at a UK boarding school within an international community and explore advanced academic pathways. Here, you will explore the regular British secondary school curriculum based on your grade level. The school offers educational options ranging from GCSEs, BTECs, and the IB Diploma to A-Levels. The curriculum is designed to prepare you for global university pathways. For example, you can join the one- or two-year GCSE/Pre-IB programme, which combines academics with sports, arts, and clubs. You will engage in core courses of English as a First Language or English as a Second Language, and math, along with taking on coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, business, social sciences, economics, tech, arts, or media studies, among other options.
12. EF Academy
Location: EF Academy, Oxford, England
Cost: $77,125/year for boarding students, excluding 20% VAT applicable; merit-based scholarships available
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Program dates: Academic year ends June 13
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 19
EF Academy offers students around the world the opportunity to study in the city of Oxford. You can choose between two high school diploma tracks, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or the A-Level Program. As an EF Academy student, you will get access to core courses in STEM, arts, business, and social sciences. The institute’s “pathway system” allows you to align academics with your interests, encouraging participation in clubs and creative projects alongside coursework and offering access to labs, art and music studios, and tech-equipped classrooms. You can also choose from 40+ extracurriculars ranging from Model UN and Public Speaking to Rock Climbing, Film Club, and Design Studio. Trips to universities will also be a part of the experience.
One other option—Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you want to pursue independent research under the guidance of a mentor, consider applying to Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, which are selective high school programs founded in partnership with Harvard and Oxford researchers. In the past, 4,000+ students applied for just 500 spots in the research program. You can learn about the application and available programs on the application form here.
Also, you can check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation—a non-profit research program for talented low-income students. Last year, it offered 150 students full need-based financial assistance.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Rookwood School logo