Frequently Asked Questions
General:
Admissions:
If you wish to apply for a programme with OISC, click here. If you wish to ask for more information about a programme, or to arrange a visit to OISC, click here.
A minimum deposit of 25% of your invoice total is required for all courses. Full payment may be required in advance for those applying for certain categories of visa.
We advise all students who need a visa to study with us to take the UKVI IELTS exam to prove your English Language level. A full list of all acceptable qualifications, and the corresponding CEFR level, is available here.
We will endeavour to issue your visa support documents within 24 hours of receiving both your completed registration and your deposit payment.
Visas:
There are a number of countries, including all EU member countries, from which you can use an online authorisation (ETA) to travel, without requiring a visa. However, from the majority of non-European countries, you will need a visa to travel to the UK.
The simplest way to check the visa requirements for your country is to use the UK Government’s online tool, which can be found here.
If you are refused a visa twice, and show us the letters of refusal, we will refund your full deposit, minus any Registration and Visa Issuing Fees, and an administration fee of £100.
Welfare:
The exact amount will depend on your individual circumstances and lifestyle, however, as a rough guide; we recommend that you allocate a minimum of £1,100 per month to cover living expenses, such as accommodation, food, travel, books, etc.
Our accommodation options all include breakfast and dinner, so if you have booked accommodation with us, your living costs each month will be much lower – around £400/month should be enough for day-to-day expenses.
We usually have a full programme of social activities (2h/day) running throughout the year – and this is guaranteed from June – August. Please contact us if you want to check that the social programme is running for your proposed dates.
For long-term students, our weekly Enrichment programme offers a regular opportunity for social interaction with other students. Our Social Programme Manager is always happy to take suggestions, and to give you ideas of things to do in Oxford!
Accommodation:
You may choose to live with a British host family, in a Student Residence, or in a private home, and we can arrange one of these options for you. We highly encourage you to stay with a British host family, as this environment provides you with the best opportunity to improve your English and experience British life and culture. For further details on our accommodation options, please click here.
If you book a course with host family accommodation as an individual (ie. you are travelling alone), you will have a private bedroom. Students joining as part of an organised group, or with family members, will usually be required to share a bedroom at the host family.
All rooms at the Student Residence are single-occupancy, so you will always have a private room, with private bathroom.
Yes, all our homestays are flexible and cater for Muslim diets, ie. no pork/ham products and no alcohol. Some of our homestays will also gladly serve halal meat upon request.
