An English course in England of up to six months can be taken as a Standard Visitor: visa nationals pay £135 ($179), the school must be accredited, and work is not allowed. A course that lasts more than six and up to eleven months and contains only English needs a Short-term study visa (£228, or $302) plus the £776 ($1,027) health surcharge, and you must be 16 or older. In 2026 a week of a standard 20-lesson course costs £300 ($397) in Bournemouth and £365 ($483) in central London on the Kings price list, before accommodation; a homestay room with breakfast and dinner adds £215–275 ($285–364) a week. Russian citizens need a visa for any course length, because the UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is not available to them.
| At a glance | Rules and prices checked on 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Course up to 6 months | Standard Visitor visa, £135 ($179) for visa nationals; accredited provider only; no work |
| English-only course of 6–11 months | Short-term study visa, £228 ($302) plus £776 ($1,027) NHS surcharge; age 16+; cannot be extended |
| Longer course or English mixed with other subjects | Student visa through a licensed sponsor |
| Russian citizens apply | Online on GOV.UK, biometrics at VFS Global visa centres |
| Typical decision time | Within three weeks of the biometrics appointment |
| London price example | Kings Central London: £365 ($483) a week for 20 lessons, 2026 |
| Coastal price example | Kings Bournemouth: £300 ($397) a week for 20 lessons, 2026 |
| Accommodation | Homestay with breakfast and dinner from £215 ($285) a week in Bournemouth and from £275 ($364) in London (zones 4–5, age 18+) |
Who an English course in England suits
A language trip to England makes sense when you need English within the next year and can set aside at least two weeks. A short stay breaks the speaking barrier and gets you used to fast native speech, but it does not replace structured exam preparation. If your goal is an IELTS score for a visa or a university, plan an exam course of eight weeks or more and check which test version you need in our guide to English tests for the UK student visa.
Three common scenarios:
- Holiday with lessons (2–4 weeks). A general course of 15–20 hours a week, a host family, excursions at weekends. Suits adults at any level except complete beginners, whom many schools only accept on set start dates.
- Exam or career preparation (8–24 weeks). An intensive course of 24–30 lessons, IELTS or Cambridge preparation, or Business English. This still fits the Standard Visitor route if the whole programme ends within six months.
- A language year (up to 11 months). A long programme with progress tests and a final certificate under the Short-term study visa. For a school leaver it can be a step before university, but a UK foundation year is often more efficient because it combines English with subjects and leads to a first-year place.
Our overview of universities and admission routes is on the Study in the UK page.
Course types and weekly hours
Schools count lessons, while visa rules and price comparisons work in hours, so convert first. A lesson lasts 45–55 minutes: 20 lessons a week equal 15–18 classroom hours.
| Format | Weekly load | Best for | 2026 price-list example |
|---|---|---|---|
| General English | 20 lessons | holiday, speaking practice, most adults | Kings Bournemouth: £300 ($397); Kings Central London: £365 ($483) |
| Long course (Diploma) | 20 lessons, 24 weeks or more | a language year on the Short-term study visa | Kings Bournemouth: £245 ($324) a week |
| Intensive course | 24–30 lessons | fast progress, academic preparation | Kings Bournemouth Intensive (28 lessons, 21 hours): £370 ($490) |
| IELTS preparation | 28 lessons (21 hours), 8 of them exam-focused | university entry, visa | Kings Bournemouth: £370 ($490); Kings Central London: £460 ($609) |
| English plus a subject module | general English plus business, law or design | professionals | Kings Central London, English Plus Business: £475 ($629) |
Private schools usually cap classes at 14–15 students; Kings allows no more than 14 in the UK. Almost every school starts the first day with a placement test.
Which visa you need for an English course in England
Course length and content decide the visa, not your travel purpose. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) makes every visa decision; the school only issues the letter of acceptance.
Standard Visitor: courses up to six months
The visitor route allows study of up to six months at an accredited institution, and English language courses are named explicitly. You need the school's letter, evidence that you can pay for the trip and your stay, and a credible reason to return home. Paid or unpaid work is not allowed. You cannot stay beyond six months in total, and extending within that limit costs £1,172 ($1,551), so book the full course from the start.
A 24-week programme with two weeks of school holidays can run past the six-month mark. Count the dates from your first lesson to the last day of the course before you choose the visa.
Short-term study visa: six to eleven months
This visa exists only for English language study. According to GOV.UK, you must:
- be accepted on a course longer than six months and no longer than eleven, with no other subjects;
- study with a provider listed by a recognised accreditation body or holding a student sponsor licence;
- be at least 16;
- show money to live without working, for example six months of bank statements or payslips;
- show that the course is paid or that you can pay it.
The fee is £228 ($302), and the Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 ($1,027) because a stay longer than six months is charged as a full year. You can stay for the length of the course plus 30 days, up to eleven months in total. You cannot change course, start a second one, extend, work or bring dependants. If you have lived in Russia or Kazakhstan for the past six months, a stay of six months or more requires a tuberculosis test certificate from an approved clinic.
The Home Office fee table published on 10 September 2026 keeps both amounts unchanged after 8 October 2026.
Student visa
A course longer than eleven months, or English combined with academic subjects as in a foundation year, requires a Student visa through a licensed sponsor. See our UK student visa guide for that route.
Where applicants from Russia and Kazakhstan apply
You complete the form on GOV.UK no earlier than three months before travel and book a visa centre appointment for fingerprints and a photo. The GOV.UK list of visa application centres names VFS Global as the operator for both Russia and Kazakhstan. You may apply from any country where you live legally. A decision usually arrives within three weeks, and you get your passport back on the day of the appointment.
Under-18s travelling alone or with an adult who is not a parent need written consent from both parents covering the trip, accommodation and arrival arrangements, plus details of the adult who will look after them.
How to check a school's accreditation
For visa purposes the school must be an accredited institution. GOV.UK lists the accepted schemes, including the British Accreditation Council (BAC), the Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC), the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), Ofsted, the Office for Students and Accreditation UK, which is run by the British Council (an organisation designated as undesirable in Russia). A student sponsor licence also qualifies.
Two practical signals help:
- English UK membership. English UK, the national association of language schools, admits only providers with a UK government-recognised accreditation, registration or inspection status. Kings Bournemouth states its membership on its website.
- An entry in the public Ofsted, BAC or ISI register. Search by school name and address. For example, every Kings school in the UK is registered with the Department for Education and inspected by Ofsted.
Quality English or a global network brand describes network standards, but the visa depends on the accreditation of the specific centre. Ask the school which body accredits it and for a link to the report; a reliable school answers straight away.
How much English courses in England cost: price-list examples
The prices below come from the official Kings price list for 2026 and 2027: the same course formats in different cities make a like-for-like comparison easy. Flights, visa and insurance are extra.
Kings Central London (central London)
| Course or accommodation, weekly price | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| General English, 20 lessons (15 hours), 2–11 weeks | £365 ($483) | £385 ($509) |
| General English, 12–23 weeks | £330 ($437) | £340 ($450) |
| Intensive English, 2–11 weeks | £460 ($609) | £475 ($629) |
| Diploma of General English, 24–31 weeks | £295 ($390) | £305 ($404) |
| Homestay up to 60 minutes from school (zones 4–5), half board | £275 ($364) | £285 ($377) |
| Homestay up to 45 minutes from school (zones 2–3), half board | £365 ($483) | £375 ($496) |
Registration costs £85 ($112), and the visa letter (Certificate of Acceptance to Study) costs £55 ($73) in 2026 and £25 ($33) in 2027. Kings accepts only students aged 18 or over at its London school and in London homestays. From 14 June to 9 August 2026 a homestay costs £35 ($46) a week more. A studio at The Stay Club Camden residence in zone 2 costs £545 ($721) a week.
Kings Bournemouth (south coast)
| Weekly price | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| General English, 20 lessons (15 hours), 2–11 weeks | £300 ($397) | £310 ($410) |
| General English, 12–23 weeks | £275 ($364) | £285 ($377) |
| Intensive English, 28 lessons (21 hours), 2–11 weeks | £370 ($490) | £380 ($503) |
| Diploma of General English, 24–31 weeks | £245 ($324) | £255 ($337) |
| Homestay single room, half board, low season | £215 ($285) | £220 ($291) |
| Same, high season (14 June – 9 August 2026) | £245 ($324) | £250 ($331) |
Registration is the same £85 ($112), and Bournemouth accepts students from 16. For comparison, the same general course costs £365 ($483) a week at Kings Brighton and £355 ($470) at Kings Oxford.
A four-week budget
| Scenario | Course and fees | Four weeks of housing | Total before flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| London, Kings Central London, 20 lessons, homestay with breakfast and dinner in zones 4–5 | £1,545 ($2,045) | £1,100 ($1,456) | £2,645 ($3,500) |
| Bournemouth, Kings, 20 lessons, homestay with breakfast and dinner | £1,285 ($1,701) | £860 ($1,138) | £2,145 ($2,839) |
Add the £135 ($179) visitor visa fee if you need a visa, plus insurance, transport and meals outside the homestay. In London, the daily commute from zones 4–5 adds noticeably to the budget. Kings charges the same for a London course as for Brighton, so the gap between cities comes mostly from housing and transport.
Where to live during the course
- Homestay. The most common choice: a single or twin room with breakfast, or breakfast and dinner. It gives daily speaking practice, but affordable London hosts live far from the centre: up to an hour away, in zones 4–5, at Kings.
- Residence. A private room, often en-suite, sometimes a studio with a kitchenette. Many residences accept only students aged 18 or over. It costs more than a homestay but is closer to the school.
- Private rental. Possible for a long course, but the visa application needs a clear address for the first weeks.
For the Short-term study visa, GOV.UK advises not paying for accommodation or travel before the visa is granted. For a short course this means booking through the school with clear cancellation terms. Renting as a degree student is covered in our guide to student housing in the UK.
London or the coast
| Criterion | London | Bournemouth, Brighton, Oxford |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly course price | £365 ($483) at Kings Central London | £300–365 ($397–483) at Kings |
| Housing | homestay £275–365 ($364–483), up to an hour from school | homestay from £215 ($285), often closer to school |
| Age | 18+ at Kings and in many residences | 16+ on adult courses |
| Setting | museums, theatres, business English | quieter, many teenagers in summer |
If you plan to study for a degree, look at the universities too: universities in London often run summer pre-sessional courses, though admission rarely requires them. If budget and climate matter most, compare England with English courses in Malta, where courses and housing cost less and the visa is a Schengen one.
Paying from Russia
Schools invoice in pounds and expect a bank transfer or card payment. From Russia, use only lawful routes: a transfer from a bank that can still send pounds, or payment by a relative from an account abroad with documented origin of funds. Keep every confirmation, because the visa application asks for it too. Details are in our guide on how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Step-by-step plan
- 4–5 months ahead. Decide the goal and length, because length determines the visa. Take the school's online level test.
- 3–4 months ahead. Choose the school, check its accreditation and English UK membership, book the course and get a letter showing dates, hours and price.
- 3 months ahead. Prepare six months of bank statements, a letter from your employer or university, and proof of payment. For a course longer than six months, take the TB test.
- 2–3 months ahead. Complete the GOV.UK form, pay the fee, give biometrics at VFS Global.
- After the visa. Pay for accommodation and flights, buy insurance, and print the school letter for the border.
Common mistakes
- Booking 26 weeks on a visitor visa. With holidays, the course easily crosses six months and then needs a Short-term study visa.
- Choosing an unaccredited school. The teaching may be good, but the visa will be refused.
- Mixing English with other subjects. The Short-term study route covers English only; a programme with maths or business modules needs a Student visa.
- Planning to work. Neither the visitor route nor Short-term study allows work.
- Going for two or three weeks as a total beginner. Many schools open beginner groups only on set dates, and a short stay is spent adapting.
FAQ
Yes, if the course lasts no more than six months and the school is accredited: the Standard Visitor route explicitly allows study. UK Visas and Immigration decides the application, so the school letter should clearly state the dates, hours and fees.
Kings Bournemouth charges £300 ($397) and Kings Central London £365 ($483) for one week of 20 lessons in 2026. Four weeks with a homestay come to roughly £2,145–2,645 ($2,839–3,500), excluding flights and the visa.
Adult courses usually start at 16, while London schools and residences often require 18. Children and teenagers join summer camps; a minor needs written parental consent for the visa, and UK Visas and Immigration decides whether to issue it.
No. The British Embassy Moscow page on GOV.UK describes consular services for British nationals and sends visa applicants to the visa application centre; the embassy does not run language courses. Options are private schools in Russia or a course in England itself, choosing a school by the accreditation list on GOV.UK.
No. Neither the Standard Visitor nor the Short-term study visa allows work, including unpaid internships. If part-time work matters, look at English courses in Ireland, where a programme of 25 weeks or more comes with limited work rights under immigration rules.
No. Enrolment needs only the school's level test, online or on the first day. IELTS matters later, for a student visa or university admission, and then you must take the right version at an approved test centre.
On the visitor route, only within six months in total and for a £1,172 ($1,551) fee. The Short-term study visa cannot be extended, so a new course means a new application from home. UK Visas and Immigration approves or refuses such applications.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Standard Visitor — study up to 6 months, fees and application — checked 01.10.2026
- GOV.UK: Short-term study visa (English language) — checked 01.10.2026
- Home Office: immigration and nationality fees from 8 October 2026 — checked 01.10.2026
- GOV.UK: Immigration Health Surcharge amounts — checked 01.10.2026
- GOV.UK: countries where you need a TB test — checked 01.10.2026
- GOV.UK: accreditation bodies accepted for Short-term study — checked 01.10.2026
- GOV.UK: visa application centres by country and British Embassy Moscow — checked 01.10.2026
- English UK: membership criteria for language centres — checked 01.10.2026
- Kings Education: 2026–2027 prices by school, General English, IELTS preparation and Kings Bournemouth — checked 01.10.2026
Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298 and €1 = £0.85373, so £1 ≈ $1.3234.
If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, the school makes the enrolment decision, and the consulate decides on the visa.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Cranfield University: Postgraduate Admission, 2027/28 Fees and Scholarships
- University of Essex: Admission, Fees and Scholarships for 2027
- Studying in the UK for international applicants
- Foundation Year in the UK: Types, Entry Requirements, Costs and Progression
- UK Student Visa in 2026: CAS, 28-Day Funds, TB Test, Fees and Applying from Russia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia
- Student Housing in the UK in 2026: Halls, Private Halls or a Shared House — Prices, Deposits and the New Renting Rules
