Frequently Asked Questions

In order to book a place you will need to complete our application form and any additional forms that might be required depending on the chosen option.

To confirm your place a deposit of 300€ will be payable and approximately 6 weeks before travel the remainder is due. Payments are made via electronic bank transfer.

For school stay and transition year programmes, it is advisable but not essential to book at least 6 months before travel. For all other programmes, we recommend booking at least 12 weeks before travel. Enrolments for summer 2023 will open in November 2022.

This is detailed within each programme description, most programmes are from a Saturday-Saturday, although some of the summer camps are Sunday arrival and Saturday departure.

Yes if you have booked on a junior programme for under 18s you will need to have booked the transfer service and will be meet by our local partner in destination who will have all your flight details beforehand and will be waiting for you with your name clearly visible. You will be given the name of the transfer representative and his or her mobile before travel. For adult and family programmes transfer service is optional but is offered on all options.

Full board includes breakfast, a packed lunch (if attending a school or language academy), lunch and dinner with the host family seven days per week.

Uniform is not typically worn in schools in France, Spain and Germany, but there are some exceptions depending on the host school.

You might have to take regular school assessment exams if staying on the programme for more than 4 weeks but these are not public exams.

This will depend on the location of your host family. Some live within walking distance from the school, others a short bus or train ride away. The host family will accompany you on the first day or two to ensure you know how to do this independently.

If you are on a school stay programme, you will likely be the only international visitor staying with the host family. During the summer months, host families might also be hosting another visitor of another nationality (who will not have English as their native language).

You will either walk or take a short bus or train ride to and from the language school. In any case, the host family will accompany you on the first day or two to ensure you know how to do this independently.

You will take a language level test on the first day of your language classes and be assigned a class suitable for your level. If at any time you feel you have not been placed in a level suitable for your proficiency, you should inform the language school directors, or talk to us directly to see if you can be changed.

No, we absolutely do not recommend calling friends and family frequently. It is important you are immersed in the language as much as possible and by speaking with people in English you are interrupting this special opportunity. It can also be disrespectful towards your host family if you are spending more time speaking with friends and family than with them. We ask that all participants take a mature approach to this and realise that an important objective of a study trip abroad is thinking and speaking in a foreign language.

Yes, we can accept special dietary requirements. Severe peanut allergies might be challenging to place within a host family setting and should be consulted before booking. Gluten-free diets are usually subject to a supplement due to the extra cost of buying these foods for the participant.

No, for under 18s, there is a curfew in place, which is decided by each local partner, and if parents allow their children to go out in the evenings, they must provide written permission to do so, and this must be approved by the local partner in the destination.

Absolutely. We understand a first study trip abroad can be a daunting experience, and it might be easier to travel with a friend. If in host family accommodation, it can be requested to be placed in host families living within a close distance. Sometimes, local partners might also allow two students to share the same host family.

Yes, you can normally attend most of our adult programmes as a beginner. Contact us for more information if you are in doubt.

We do not as we are not a travel agency. Participants or their parents can book a flight once they have received the programme confirmation from Island Abroad which is normally processed several days after receiving the booking. Flight details should be sent to us once purchased and it is important to ensure that if taking a programme transfer that arrival and departure times fall within the stipulated timetable.

We don´t organise insurance, but all participants under 18 must have private travel insurance covering civil responsibility and medical care. A copy of the insurance must be sent to us before travel, and it is also advisable to have an up-to-date EHIC card for all European travel destinations.

This will depend on individual circumstances, and you should refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

You will have our 24-7 helpline available to you throughout your stay, and you will also have contact numbers for local coordinators in the destination.

You should tell your host family or local co-ordinator/residential director as soon as you can, and please also feel free to speak with us if you need to on our helpline.

Yes we would be delighted to put you in contact with other participants who have travelled with Island Abroad. Feel free to ask us.