Important information
Documents
Passport and school letters: you will need to have your up-to-date passport (and visa if required) and any letters from the school with you.
Travel & Health Insurance are highly advisable. Please make sure that these are arranged before you travel and you have your insurance documents with you.
EHIC card and Immigration Health Surcharge: please see below
EHIC cards
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If students and group leaders have a valid EHIC issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, they can access medically necessary treatment during their stay, however, students are still advised to purchase travel insurance, either one that is provided by us for an extra charge or they can arrange it themselves, and that covers the duration of their trip for any unforeseen hospitalisation and serious medical treatment, etc.
For more information about EHIC cards, please visit Government Information Site page
Immigration Health Surcharge
If a student's stay in the UK is over 6 months, most students will need to pay the immigration health surcharge. Please visit the UK Government Information site for more details.
Money
Discuss with the school if you need ideas of how much you need to take. If you are taking cash, it is sensible to divide it up and put it into two or more separate secure places.
Your Host family can provide you with a lockable cupboard or safe to enable you to store your money and other valuables.
Medication
If you need medication on a regular basis, please ensure that you have it with you.
If you are in the UK for less than six months, you should apply for private health insurance before you travel, unless your country has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Students from European Union countries should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) their own national health authority and this will give access to treatment for all illnesses.
Customs Arrangements
Explosive caps, fireworks, imitation firearms, knives of any kind, imitation knives (e.g. Flick combs) must not be brought to the UK. (See HM Customs regulations for other restrictions)
Concessions on alcohol (cider, beer, wine and spirits), cigars and cigarettes apply to persons aged 17 and over, so if you are under 17, you should NOT bring these items back as presents.